1. Battle of 1st Bull Run Manassas, Virginia

2. On July 21, 1861, Union and Confederate armies clashed near Manassas Junction, Virginia, in the first major land battle of the American Civil War.
Known as the First Battle of Bull Run (or Manassas), the engagement began when about 35,000 Union troops marched from the federal capital in Washington, D.C. to strike a Confederate force of 20,000

3. Union General McDowell wanted to postpone the engagement because he felt his men were not trained well enough. Lincoln ordered him to engage. He believed the South had men who were just as untrained.
The South under command of Beauregard led the way. He was the successful leader from Fort Sumter.

4. High Society members from Washington came out in their “Sunday Best” to watch the battle. They were going to watch the Federal troops destroy the Rebels in this one battle and end the war while enjoying their picnic lunches.
Both sides thought this one battle would be the entire war.
The south was trying to get to Washington D.C. to take control.
The north was trying to get to Richmond, VA before the confederate congress could meet.

5. McDowell sent in small regiments reluctantly
McDowell sent in small regiments reluctantly. This would be the downfall for his men.
Beauregard was reinforced by Thomas Jackson and his men.
One Southern General told his men to take heart, and to look at Jackson standing there “like a stone wall.” This earned Jackson the nickname “Stonewall Jackson”.

6. By four o’clock in the afternoon, both sides had an equal number of men on the field of battle (about 18,000 on each side were engaged at Bull Run), and Beauregard ordered a counterattack along the entire line. Screaming as they advanced (the “rebel yell” that would become infamous among Union troops) the Confederates managed to break the Union line.

7. The north was forced to start to retreat
The north was forced to start to retreat. They not only retreated but ran in a chaotic scene dropping their weapons and knapsacks.
They ran into Washington’s socialites who were then running away as the rebels got closer causing a massive backup and traffic jam. People and wagons were running everywhere as the confederates advanced.

8. The confederate downfall was that they did not continue to pursue the Yankees in their retreat.
Both sides realized this was not going to be as easy or as short as they thought it would be.
The First Battle of Bull Run (called First Manassas in the South) cost some 3,000 Union casualties, compared with 1,750 for the Confederates.