The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the US Civil War. The issue of slavery had been tearing the fabric of the nation since its founding. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 proved to be the match that lit the fuse of war. In December 1South Carolina became the first state to pass an ordinance of secession. In February 1861, seceding states adopted the Constitution of the Confederate States of America. On 12 April 1861, Confederate forces attacked the United States Army position in Fort Sumter. Three days later, President Lincoln declared the southern states were in rebellion against the Union.
By the middle of June four more southern states seceded and the Confederacy relocated its capital to Richmond, Virginia, which was only 109 miles from Washington, DC. Horace Greeley’s New York Tribune incessantly repeated “Forward to Richmond!” headlines, reflected and amplified the public and political pressure. Similar sentiments for the Confederates led both sides to seek a quick and decisive conclusion to the war.
As a result, both armies with little training, weak intelligence (although the Confederates did have a large spy network in Washington), and untested leaders marched to battle. They met 30 miles southwest of Washington near the town of Manassas on 21 July 1861. The Union mustered nearly 35,000 troops but was only able to commit 18,000 to the battle. The Confederates committed a similar number of their 32,000 available soldiers.
Picnic Battle
Union confidence was so high that spectators including women and children brought picnic lunches and opera glasses to witness the battle. The group included many members of Congress. Ironically, one of those members was the only Union official to reach Richmond. In the chaos of the battle, NY representative Alfred Ely was taken to Richmond as a prisoner by the victorious Confederates. Ely was held until Christmas Day 1861 when he was exchanged for Charles J. Falkner.
Aftermath
The use of rail to move troops enabled the Confederates to seize the initiative from the Union and win the battle. At the end of the day, Bull Run was the largest battle in US history. A total of 847 (460 Union/387 CSA) lost their lives. An additional 2,706 (1,124 Union/1582 CSA) were wounded and over 1,300 were missing or captured. The Union left the field in defeat, but despite widespread fear, the Confederates were unable to capture Washington. Both sides recognized that the war was going to be far longer and bloodier than either side had anticipated.
That brings us to our map of the battle courtesy of Richard W. Stewart General Editor – ARMY HISTORICAL SERIES, AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY VOLUME 1, THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND THE FORGING OF A NATION, 1775-1917 via Wikimedia.
As always thanks for reading.
Armen
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