The Battles of Bull Run
by Kinlon

Painting of the Battle of Bull Run

The first Battle of Bull Run, also known as the first Battle of Manassas was fought on July 21, 1861.  It was the first major land conflict of the American Civil War.  In 1861 most American’s did not know what war was.  They had lived in peace so long that the wars and battles they heard about seemed like adventure stories.  

The Union and Confederate armies consisted of soldiers that were mostly 90-day volunteers, most of which were young men that had no war experience.  The Union army (the North) under the leadership of Brigadier General Irvin McDowell was 35,000 strong.  The Confederate army (the South), about 22,000 strong, was under the command of Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard. 

The Union army, under pressure to defeat the Confederates in the South, marched towards Richmond, but met the Confederate forces coming north from Manassas, a Southern base.  During this battle Thomas J. Jackson, a Confederate General held his position and pushed back the opposition of Union attack, for this, Jackson earned the name “Stonewall” Jackson, for he stood like a stone wall that day. Thanks to Jackson the Confederates were able to hold out until General Johnston showed up with 9000 reinforcements to help out Beauregard near Henry House Hill.

The battle proved that this was not going to be an easy victory for either side, as they predicted in the beginning. The battle set a sense of victory in the South, encouraging them to continue on, and leaving the North wanting revenge.

The second Battle of Bull Run or second Battle of Manassas was fought in August of 1862.  Lead into battle by Union Major General John Pope and Confederate General Robert E. Lee and Major General Thomas J. Jackson these armies met for a second time on the plains of Manassas.

The enemy forces were now made up of experienced men knowing the real meaning of war. The naive excitement that had taken place in the earlier battle was now gone. The recruits no longer thought it was the exciting adventure they first thought it to be.  War was brutal and threatening.   

The Second Battle of Bull Run was a very important victory for the South. In fact, it was the most decisive battle in the Northern Virginia campaign for the Confederates. The second Battle of Bull Run, lasting three days, had far more casualties than the first battle, and brought the Confederacy to the height of its power.

The Battles had two different names, the Union named the battle for the flowing stream, on the battlefield near where they fought which was Bull Run. The Confederate’s named the battle for the location of where it was fought near the Manassas, Virginia railway junction.  Both battles ended in victory for the Confederates.

Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself can not stand”.  I think what he meant by this is a country divided in two would collapse.

Sources:

Civil War Battles and Leaders, DK Publishing, Inc., Aaron R. Murray, Editor
http://americancivilwar.com/statepic/va/va004.html
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-BullRun.html http://www.civilwarhome.com/1manassas.htmhttp://www.historycentral.com/civilwar/bullrun/photos/colorbattle.html