First Battle of Bull Run

• The First Battle of Bull Run, the Civil War's first major battle, occurred on July 21, 1861.
• Around 60,000 men gained their first combat experience at Bull Run.
• The Confederate victory at Bull Run stopped the initial Union attempt to seize Richmond.
• It demonstrated the war would be longer and bloodier than anticipated.

Background

• Following his presidential win in 1860, southern states seceded, forming the Confederate States of America in February 1861.
• Lincoln faced the secession crisis upon inauguration on March 4, 1861.
• Lincoln aimed to act without provoking more states to leave the Union, believing secession was illegal.
• Fort Sumter became a test when its commander, Major Robert Anderson, refused Confederate surrender orders.
• Lincoln's decision to resupply the fort led to Confederate forces opening fire on April 12, 1861, marking the start of the Civil War.

The War Effort Ramps Up

• The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter allowed Lincoln to request troops.
• Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to defend the Union.
• Virginia was among the four states that then seceded from the Union.
• Washington was vulnerable as recruits needed time to organize.
• Lincoln sent troops to Baltimore over pro-secessionist issues.
• The Army of Northeastern Virginia was formed in Washington, under Brigadier General Irvin McDowell.
• McDowell divided and trained the army.

Confederate Organization

• After Virginia's secession, the Confederate capital moved to Richmond.
• Jefferson Davis started building a Confederate army before Fort Sumter.
• Recruitment of 600,000 volunteers was approved by May.
• The Army of the Potomac, led by Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard, was stationed near Manassas Junction, Virginia.
• Brigadier General Joseph E. Johnston commanded a second army, the Army of the Shenandoah, in Winchester, Virginia.
• The South's defensive position was a strategic advantage.
• The Union had advantages in population and industry.
• General Winfield Scott proposed the Anaconda Plan: blockading ports and seizing the Mississippi River.
• Though initially mocked, the Anaconda plan was eventually adopted.

First Battle

• By early July, McDowell had 35,000 men, facing pressure to attack Beauregard.
• McDowell delayed due to his troops' inexperience, but Lincoln insisted.
• On July 16, McDowell's army marched towards Manassas Junction.
• McDowell aimed to defeat Beauregard before Johnston's arrival.
• Johnston moved his army by train to assist Beauregard.
• The armies were roughly equal in size when McDowell prepared to attack.

Location

• The First Battle of Bull Run took place near Bull Run Creek and Manassas Junction, west of Centreville, Virginia.
• Control of the junction was important for controlling supply and troop movement.
• Beauregard and Johnston defended Manassas Junction along Bull Run.
• McDowell planned to capture Richmond by seizing the junction.
• The Union named battles after creeks or rivers while the Confederates used nearby towns or railroad junctions, hence the name First Battle of Manassas.

The Start

• On July 21, McDowell sent two divisions to attack the Confederate left flank at Sudley Springs Ford.
• The rest of the Union Army feigned attacks at Stone Bridge and Mitchell's Ford to distract Beauregard.
• McDowell's artillery opened fire on Confederate positions at Stone Bridge at 5:30 A.M.
• Colonel Nathan Evans shifted his men to counter the main Union threat.
• The Union march was delayed, with crossing at 9:30 A.M., allowing Evans to take a defensive position on Matthews Hill.
• Despite reinforcements, the outnumbered Confederates were pushed back.

How the Battle Turned

• General Thomas Jackson's Virginia brigade arrived on Henry House Hill.
• General Bee's call to rally behind Jackson led to his nickname "Stonewall".
• A pause for Union reorganization enabled more Confederate troops to reinforce Henry House Hill.
• Confederate counterattack on the Union's right flank resulted in a Union retreat.
• The Union retreat turned into a rout due to civilians blocking the road to Washington.
• By 4:00 P.M., the battle ended with a Confederate victory.

Aftermath

• Confederate armies were unable to pursue the routed Union Army.
• Washington was fearful of a Confederate attack.
• The South gained morale and confidence from the victory; Jefferson Davis hoped they would gain foreign allies.
• Expectations of a quick Union win disappeared.
• Both sides realized the war's potential difficulty and bloodshed after seeing the casualties.

Casualties

• Union casualties: 480 killed, 1000 wounded, 1200 missing, totaling 2680.
• Confederate casualties: 390 killed, 1600 wounded, 12 missing, totaling 2002.
• McDowell lost 9.5% of his force, while Beauregard and Johnston lost 6.5%.
• The casualties woke the nation up to the realities of the conflict.

Next Steps

• Lincoln signed a bill for 500,000 more men the day after the battle.
• General McDowell was replaced by Major General George B. McClellan on July 25.
• McClellan reorganized and trained the army in Washington, renaming it the Army of the Potomac.
• Davis called up another 500,000 volunteers.
• Joseph Johnston commanded when the army saw battle in the spring of 1862.
• Robert E. Lee replaced the wounded Johnston in May 1862.
• The Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia were larger and better trained than those at Bull Run.
• Stonewall Jackson became Lee's main corps commander.