1. First Battle of Bull Run
LOTS OF BATTLES HAVE TWO NAMES
WHY?!
Northern armies named battles after
geographic features.
Southern armies named battles after
cities or towns.
First Battle of Bull Run
AKA First Battle of Manassas
AKA First Battle of the Civil War
AKA First Battle with Bloodshed

2. Background THINGS TO REMEMBER: Abe Lincoln is President
He’s supes hot.
Jefferson Davis is President of the Confederacy
He supes is not.
Shots were fired on Fort Sumter
One guy died…twasnt in battle
It took three months for the war to start
This battle would bloody the dirt

3. Why Bull Run/Manassas? Located in Virginia Close to Washington, DC
Key battleground state
Transportation hub
Both sides needed to protect their capitals

4. Union Command Major General Irvin McDowell
Taught tactics to many of the generals he would face
Politically appointed at General because of his connections
First time he would face combat is the First Battle of Bull Run
Demoted as a result of the battle

5. Confederate Command General Joseph E. Johnston (Virginia)
Graduated from West Point
Fought with honor in the Mexican-American War
Original commander of the Army of the Potomac
Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard (Louisiana)
Trained at the United States Military Academy
Command for the attack on Fort Sumter
Given the victory for Bull Run

6. July 21, 1861 Largest battle to that point in the Western Hemisphere
Two phases
Morning phase – Union flanking that initiated the fighting while Confederates were preparing to attack Centerville
Matthews Hill became the center of the morning assault
Afternoon phase – Fought on Henry Hill

7. Where is this?

9. So… what happened?
The goal for the union was the aim for Richmond (Confederate Capital) and end the war
Johnston and Beauregard were going to outflank the Union’s left
Communication breakdown led to lack of coordination
McDowell’s plan was overly complicated for his forces to execute
Confederate forces were driven back even though Colonel Jackson held Henry Hill
Later in the afternoon, Confederate reinforcements helped to break the Union’s right flank
The Federal army retreated

10. Battle Facts Total Forces Engaged: 60,680 Total Killed: 4,878
Union: 28,450
Confederate:
Total Killed: 4,878
Union (2,896)
Killed: 460
Wounded: 1,124
Missing/Captured: 1,312
Confederate (1,982)
Killed: 387
Wounded: 1,582
Missing/Captured: 13

11. FUN Facts
Major General Thomas Jackson received his nickname, “Stonewall”, in this battle
Soldiers had to often stop for water and could have contributed to the outcome
Many believed this to be the only battle of a short war and stopped to watch the fighting with women packing picnic lunches
The Rebel Yell (the Confederate battle cry) began and would remain for the entire war
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