On March 1, 1861, Confederate States Army forces assumed control of the military situation at Charleston, South Carolina from state forces. The Constitution of the Confederate States of America was adopted in Montgomery, Alabama on February 8, 1861. By February 1, 1861, six other Southern States passed ordinances of secession. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina was the first of seven Southern States to declare secession of the state from the Union of the United States. Background Military and political situation McDowell, with 35,000 men, could commit only about 18,000, and the combined Confederate forces, with about 32,000 men, also committed 18,000. Units were committed piecemeal, attacks were frontal, infantry failed to protect exposed artillery, tactical intelligence was minimal, and neither commander was able to employ his whole force effectively. The First Battle of Bull Run highlighted many of the problems and deficiencies that were typical of the first year of the war. ![]() McDowell's men frantically ran without order in the direction of Washington, D.C.īoth armies were sobered by the fierce fighting and the many casualties and realized that the war was going to be much longer and bloodier than either had anticipated. The Confederates launched a strong counterattack, and as the Union troops began withdrawing under fire, many panicked and the retreat turned into a rout. Jackson, stood its ground, which resulted in Jackson receiving his famous nickname, "Stonewall". A brigade of Virginians under a relatively unknown brigadier general from the Virginia Military Institute, Thomas J. Johnston arrived from the Shenandoah Valley by railroad, and the course of the battle quickly changed. McDowell's ambitious plan for a surprise flank attack on the Confederate left was poorly executed nevertheless, the Confederates, who had been planning to attack the Union left flank, found themselves at an initial disadvantage.Ĭonfederate reinforcements under Brigadier General Joseph E. ![]() Beauregard, whose forces were camped near Manassas Junction. Yielding to political pressure, Brigadier General Irvin McDowell led his unseasoned Union Army across Bull Run against the equally inexperienced Confederate Army of Brigadier General P. ![]() Just months after the start of the war at Fort Sumter, the northern public clamored for a march against the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, which was expected to bring an early end to the Confederacy. The battle was a Confederate victory and was followed by a disorganized post-battle retreat of the Union forces. Each side had about 18,000 poorly trained and poorly led troops. The Union Army was slow in positioning themselves, allowing Confederate reinforcements time to arrive by rail. The battle was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, just north of the city of Manassas and about thirty miles west-southwest of Washington, D.C. The First Battle of Bull Run, called the Battle of First Manassas by Confederate forces, was the first major battle of the American Civil War.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |