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Questions and Answers
What was the primary reason for the Union's initial retreat during the First Battle of Bull Run?
What was the primary reason for the Union's initial retreat during the First Battle of Bull Run?
What was the primary reaction in the North after the Union's defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run?
What was the primary reaction in the North after the Union's defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run?
What was one of the immediate consequences of the First Battle of Bull Run for the Union?
What was one of the immediate consequences of the First Battle of Bull Run for the Union?
Which of the following statements about the First Battle of Bull Run casualties is true?
Which of the following statements about the First Battle of Bull Run casualties is true?
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How did the Confederacy react to their victory at the First Battle of Bull Run?
How did the Confederacy react to their victory at the First Battle of Bull Run?
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What was the primary reason for the Union's inability to pursue the retreating Confederate forces after the First Battle of Bull Run?
What was the primary reason for the Union's inability to pursue the retreating Confederate forces after the First Battle of Bull Run?
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Who replaced General McDowell as the commander of the Union's Army of the Potomac after the First Battle of Bull Run?
Who replaced General McDowell as the commander of the Union's Army of the Potomac after the First Battle of Bull Run?
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What was the primary objective of General McClellan after taking command of the Union's Army of the Potomac?
What was the primary objective of General McClellan after taking command of the Union's Army of the Potomac?
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Who eventually took command of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia after the First Battle of Bull Run?
Who eventually took command of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia after the First Battle of Bull Run?
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Which of the following statements best describes the state of the Union and Confederate armies after the First Battle of Bull Run?
Which of the following statements best describes the state of the Union and Confederate armies after the First Battle of Bull Run?
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What was the primary cause of the disorganized Union retreat from the battlefield during the First Battle of Bull Run?
What was the primary cause of the disorganized Union retreat from the battlefield during the First Battle of Bull Run?
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What was the immediate impact of the Confederate victory at the First Battle of Bull Run on the Union?
What was the immediate impact of the Confederate victory at the First Battle of Bull Run on the Union?
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What was the primary reason the Confederacy was unable to pursue the retreating Union forces after the First Battle of Bull Run?
What was the primary reason the Confederacy was unable to pursue the retreating Union forces after the First Battle of Bull Run?
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How did the Confederate victory at the First Battle of Bull Run impact the Confederacy's diplomatic efforts?
How did the Confederate victory at the First Battle of Bull Run impact the Confederacy's diplomatic efforts?
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What was the primary objective of General McClellan after he took command of the Union's Army of the Potomac following the First Battle of Bull Run?
What was the primary objective of General McClellan after he took command of the Union's Army of the Potomac following the First Battle of Bull Run?
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Which of the following statements about the casualties at the First Battle of Bull Run is true?
Which of the following statements about the casualties at the First Battle of Bull Run is true?
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How did the Union's defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run impact President Lincoln's actions?
How did the Union's defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run impact President Lincoln's actions?
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Which of the following statements best describes the state of the Confederate armies after the First Battle of Bull Run?
Which of the following statements best describes the state of the Confederate armies after the First Battle of Bull Run?
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Study Notes
The First Battle of Bull Run
- First major battle of the American Civil War: fought on July 21, 1861
- Approximately 60,000 men got their first combat experience
- Confederate victory: turned back the first Union attempt to capture Richmond
- Demonstrated that the war was going to be much longer and bloodier than expected
Background
- Abraham Lincoln won the presidency in 1860: southern states began seceding from the United States of America and formed the Confederate States of America
- Lincoln was faced with a crisis of immense proportions: believing that secession was illegal, he knew that action must be taken
- Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, became an important test for Lincoln: the fort had been ordered to surrender by the Confederates, but its commander, Major Robert Anderson, refused
Ramping Up the War Effort
- The South's decision to fire the first shots of the war: gave Lincoln the justification he needed to call for troops to defend the Union
- President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers: to suppress the rebellion
- Four more states, including Virginia, seceded from the Union: immediately after the call for volunteers
The Armies
- The army organized in Washington: came to be known as the Army of Northeastern Virginia
- Major Irvin McDowell was promoted to the rank of brigadier general: and given command of this army
- The Confederates moved their capital to Richmond: and began organizing a military to fight the war
- Jefferson Davis, the new president of the Confederacy, began building a Confederate army: before Fort Sumter was attacked
The Battle
- McDowell's army moved slowly: as the men were still not conditioned for long marches
- Delays were frequent: it took two days for the Union Army to get close to Beauregard
- The Union Army was routed: despite their inexperience, the retreat from the battlefield was relatively orderly
Aftermath
- The Union Army was disorganized and disheartened: after the battle, they did not stop until they reached the safety of Washington
- The South celebrated their victory: and a boost of morale and confidence filled the soldiers of Beauregard's and Johnston's armies
Casualties
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Killed: 480 Union, 390 Confederate
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Wounded: 1,000 Union, 1,600 Confederate
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Missing: 1,200 Union, 12 Confederate
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Total: 2,680 Union, 2,002 Confederate### The First Battle of Bull Run
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The battle took place on July 21, 1861, near Bull Run Creek and Manassas Junction, Virginia
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The Union Army, led by General McDowell, aimed to seize Manassas Junction and capture Richmond
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The Confederate Army, led by General Beauregard and General Johnston, defended Manassas Junction by placing their men along Bull Run
The Battle Begins
- Union forces crossed Bull Run at Sudley Springs Ford, while demonstrating at Stone Bridge and Mitchell's Ford to distract the Confederates
- Confederate Colonel Nathan Evans realized the diversion and shifted his men to meet the main threat from the Union's left flank
- The Union march was delayed, allowing Evans to reposition his men on Matthews Hill
The Battle Turns
- The Confederates were initially forced to retreat, but General Thomas Jackson's Virginia brigade arrived and took a position on Henry House Hill
- General Bee rallied his men by shouting, "There stands Jackson like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!"
- Confederate reinforcements arrived, and the battle shifted back and forth across Henry House Hill
- A Confederate counterattack gained them an advantage, and the Union soldiers retreated
Aftermath
- The Union Army was routed, and despite being disorganized, they eventually stopped in Washington
- The Confederacy celebrated their victory, boosting morale and confidence
- The North realized the war would be more difficult and bloody than anticipated
- The battle had high casualties: 480 killed, 1000 wounded, and 1200 missing for the Union; 390 killed, 1600 wounded, and 12 missing for the Confederacy
Consequences
- President Lincoln signed a bill to recruit 500,000 more men for three-year enlistments
- General McDowell was replaced by Major General George B. McClellan, who reorganized and trained the Army of the Potomac
- Jefferson Davis also called for 500,000 volunteers for three-year enlistments
- Robert E. Lee eventually took command of the Army of Northern Virginia in May 1862
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Description
Test your knowledge on the First Battle of Bull Run, the first major battle of the American Civil War fought on July 21, 1861. Explore the details of this Confederate victory and its impact on the course of the war.
