On July 21, 1861, in the first major land battle of the Civil War, a large Union force under General Irvin McDowell is routed by a Confederate army under General Pierre G.T. Beauregard.
Three months after the Civil War erupted at Fort Sumter, Union military command still believed that the Confederacy could be crushed quickly and with little loss of life. In July, this overconfidence led to a premature offensive into northern Virginia by General McDowell. Searching out the Confederate forces, McDowell led 34,000 troops—mostly inexperienced and poorly trained militiamen—toward the railroad junction of Manassas, located just 30 miles from Washington, D.C. Alerted to the Union advance, General Beauregard massed some 20,000 troops there and was soon joined by General Joseph Johnston, who brought some 9,000 more troops by railroad.
On the morning of July 21, hearing of the proximity of the two opposing forces, hundreds of civilians–men, women, and children–turned out to watch the first major battle of the Civil War. The fighting commenced with three Union divisions crossing the Bull Run stream, and the Confederate flank was driven back to Henry House Hill. However, at this strategic location, Beauregard had fashioned a strong defensive line anchored by a brigade of Virginia infantry under General Thomas J. Jackson. Firing from a concealed slope, Jackson’s men repulsed a series of Federal charges, winning Jackson his famous nickname “Stonewall.”
Meanwhile, Confederate cavalry under J.E.B. Stuart captured the Union artillery, and Beauregard ordered a counterattack on the exposed Union right flank. The rebels came charging down the hill, yelling furiously, and McDowell’s line was broken, forcing his troops in a hasty retreat across Bull Run. The retreat soon became an unorganized flight, and supplies littered the road back to Washington. Union forces endured a loss of 3,000 men killed, wounded, or missing in action while the Confederates suffered 2,000 casualties. The scale of this bloodshed horrified not only the frightened spectators at Bull Run but also the U.S. government in Washington, which was faced with an uncertain military strategy in quelling the “Southern insurrection.”
It is my sincere desire to provide readers of this site with the best unbiased information available, and a forum where it can be discussed openly, as our Founders intended. But it is not easy nor inexpensive to do so, especially when those who wish to prevent us from making the truth known, attack us without mercy on all fronts on a daily basis. So each time you visit the site, I would ask that you consider the value that you receive and have received from The Burning Platform and the community of which you are a vital part. I can't do it all alone, and I need your help and support to keep it alive. Please consider contributing an amount commensurate to the value that you receive from this site and community, or even by becoming a sustaining supporter through periodic contributions. [Burning Platform LLC - PO Box 1520 Kulpsville, PA 19443] or Paypal
-----------------------------------------------------
To donate via Stripe, click here.
-----------------------------------------------------
Use promo code ILMF2, and save up to 66% on all MyPillow purchases. (The Burning Platform benefits when you use this promo code.)
The war of northern aggression.
“Whupped ’em again, Jose!”
The greatest loss of opportunity to this day…the South could have marched to DC and ended the war.
Taking Dictator Lincoln prisoner, or executing him, and dictating a political end to the War of Northern Aggression.
War is hell…and the South should have given it to the North with both barrels…
I was just going to say that. I’m no Civil War historian, but why didn’t they pursue them back to DC? Were they worried that there were Union reinforcements waiting for them or something?
The original Fighting Irish, see below.
These days will be remembered, by America’s noble sons
If it hadn’ta been for Irishmen, what would your Union done?
Hand to hand we fought ’em, all in the burning sun
Stripped to the pants, we did advance, at the Battle of Bull Run.
The all Irish 69th Infantry Brigade of NY who kept order, held their ground and even mounted counter attacks, covering the Union retreat, possibly saving them from complete destruction. In their last counter attack they got the idea that they should fight naked like their Keltic warrior ancestors and stripped down as far as propriety would allow.
Frank Proffitt of North Carolina (Alan Lomax’s source for Tom Dooley) remembered his father singing an extensive ballad about the 69th’s action, but the above is all he could remember of it.
The Northern flight back to Washington after Bull Run came to be known as “The Great Skedaddle”, however that sobriquet is more deservedly applied to the Battle of Bladensburg, Maryland during the War of 1812. A Veteran British force from the Spanish campaign against Napoleon made its way from landing at Benedict (in southern Maryland) toward Washington. On paper the U.S. had some 15,000 troops (regulars + militia) but in reality it wasn’t even close to that. It wound up being a handful of regular troops backed by raw militia. Suffice it to say the seasoned Redcoats went thru U.S. forces like a hot knife thru butter, creating mass panic & a pell mell run to the rear. It was this utter humiliation that allowed the British forces to occupy Washington, DC & burn the White House to the ground.
Any chance we could get them to come back & finish the job?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bladensburg
Gen. Augustus Bee uttered, “There stands Jackson’s men like a stone wall.”
Sadly, he died in battle later that day.