|
|
was the first major battle of the American civil war and a victory for the South.
By July 1861, a corps of 20.000 Confederates, « the army of the Potomac », was standing up beyond the Manassas railway junction, on the right bank of the Bull run, some 25 miles south-west of Washington. Its commander, Pierre Beauregard, planned to crush the left flank of the federal army that would attack him. But first, he relied on the reinforcement of Johnston's division, « the army of the Shenandoah ».
On the 16th, Irvin McDowell left the United States capital with the 35.000 men of the North-Eastern Virginia army. Two days later, the first federal division crossed the village of Centreville. Its commander, Daniel Tyler, exceeded the order to reconnoitre the confederate defences and Richardson's brigade was repelled by Longstreet at Blackburn's ford.
This skirmish increased McDowell's natural caution. Fresh supplies having been brought up on the 19th, two days were devoted to more scouting. The attack began on the 21st. Well thought-out, McDowell's plan consisted of turning the confederate left across Sudley ford. But he had given Joseph Johnston enough time to arrive at Manassas and the forces were now equivalent. It was the first time in military History that the movement of troops by railway was so decisive.
I have used Hiram Berdan's map.
These scenarii have been updated on 2010-05-29.