The Battle of Bull Run Primary Source Investigation Adapted from a lesson found on: http://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessnuse/howtouse.htm#facts

Bull Run: In Summary Lincoln and General Winfield Scott came up with the “Anaconda Plan” 1. Surround South by land and sea to cut off trade. 2. Divide the South in two (MS River) 3. Capture Richmond, Virginia Rose Greenhow – SPY – she lived in the North and sent messages to the South about their planned attack on Richmond. When Northern troops marched toward Richmond, they met Southern troops who were waiting for them. “Stonewall” Jackson – helped win the battle Bull Run – smashing victory for the South, shocking blow for the North. BOTH SIDES BEGAN TO PREPARE FOR A LONG WAR. I started with this slide to review the backgrounds of what’s going on in the war and the basics of what happened at Bull Run.

Find Washington D.C. and Richmond – what do you notice about the proximity? You might also have students point out other key elements of the map – railroads, waterways, etcs.

What are some possible advantages of having the Union Capital in Washington D.C.?

A regiment of Union Troops just before the Battle of Bull Run A regiment of Union Troops just before the Battle of Bull Run. How would you describe the mood of this photo? This is a good time to talk about early photography. This is a good website to read up on or to share with your students: http://www.civilwar.org/photos/3d-photography-special/photography-and-the-civil-war.html I always mention the fact that people had to be very still in order for the photo to process (5-20 minutes). That’s why some people look blurry and others are pictured clearly.

Take a moment to read The Battle of Bull Run: The Letters of J.W. Reid In what way would you compare the mood of the letter to the mood of the soldiers in the photograph we just looked at? Who do you think J.W. Reid is writing to? What makes you think this? How would you have responded if you had received this letter?

The Creek at Bull Run

The battle was fought near the Henry Home in Manassas The battle was fought near the Henry Home in Manassas. This is a drawing depicting the house shortly after the first battle of Manassas/Bull Run. Questions: What do you notice about the house? How do you think it was damaged? What do you think it would have been like to have been in this house during the battle?

Take a moment to read Bull Run: Some Events Connected with the Life of Judith Carter Henry Remember to read the questions first, then the passage. Annotate as you read, underlining facts that interest you and/or answer questions.

This is a photograph of the same house in March of 1862. Many times, the aftermath of battles were worse for civilians than the actual battles. Why would that be so? What do you think happened to this house? Point out: This is NOT the result of the actual battle, but the aftermath of the battle. You’ve got thousands of soldiers camped in this area, they likely used the home for firewood since it was mostly already destroyed..

Soldiers' Graves on Muddy Battlefield of Bull Run: Hastily buried soldiers were marked with headboards in the mud after the First Battle of Bull Run. Many soldiers were never identified due to the frequent field burials This is a good time to talk about mass grave sites and the fact that dogtags didn’t exist during the civil war. During the war, soldiers began pinning their name and hometown on paper to their coats, but many soldiers were never identified.

Moment of reflection: The Smithsonian Institute website refers to the Battle of Bull Run as the “End of Illusions”. Why do you think it would be called that? What lessons did Americans (soldiers and civilians) learn from this battle?