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The '''First Battle of Bull Run''' was the first major battle of the [[American Civil War]], taking place on July 21, 1861 near the town of Manassas, Virginia.  Called '''First Manassas''' by the South, the battle involving green troops on both sides would turn into a major defeat against the Union army, and lead many to conclude that a war thought to last for a few months would drag on for years.

The '''First Battle of Bull Run''' was the first major battle of the [[American Civil War]], taking place on July 21, 1861 near the town of Manassas, [[Virginia]].  Called '''First Manassas''' by the South, the battle involving green troops on both sides would turn into a major defeat against the Union army, and lead many to conclude that a war thought to last for a few months would drag on for years.

==Prelude==

==Prelude==

To suppress the rebellion and restore Federal law in the Southern states, Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers with ninety-day enlistments to augment the existing U.S. Army of about 15,000. He later accepted an additional 40,000 volunteers with three-year enlistments and increased the strength of the U.S. Army to almost 20,000. Lincoln’s actions caused four more Southern states, including Virginia, to secede and join the Confederacy, and by June 1 the Confederate capital had been moved from [[Montgomery, Alabama]], to [[Richmond, Virginia]].

To suppress the rebellion and restore Federal law in the Southern states, Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers with ninety-day enlistments to augment the existing U.S. Army of about 15,000. He later accepted an additional 40,000 volunteers with three-year enlistments and increased the strength of the U.S. Army to almost 20,000. Lincoln’s actions caused four more Southern states, including Virginia, to secede and join the Confederacy, and by June 1 the Confederate capital had been moved from [[Montgomery, Alabama]], to [[Richmond, Virginia]].

In Washington, D.C., as thousands of volunteers rushed to defend the capital, Lieutenant General Winfield Scott, the General in Chief of the Army, laid out his strategy to subdue the rebellious states. He proposed that an army of 80,000 men be organized and sail down the Mississippi River and capture New Orleans. While the Army “strangled” the Confederacy in the west, the U.S. Navy would blockade Southern ports along the eastern and Gulf coasts. The press ridiculed what they dubbed as Scott’s "[[Anaconda Plan]]." Instead, many believed the capture of the Confederate capital at Richmond, only one hundred miles south of Washington, would quickly end the war.

In Washington, D.C., as thousands of volunteers rushed to defend the capital, Lieutenant General [[Winfield Scott]], the General in Chief of the Army, laid out his strategy to subdue the rebellious states. He proposed that an army of 80,000 men be organized and sail down the [[Mississippi River]] and capture [[New Orleans]]. While the Army “strangled” the Confederacy in the west, the U.S. Navy would blockade Southern ports along the eastern and Gulf coasts. The press ridiculed what they dubbed as Scott’s "[[Anaconda Plan]]." Instead, many believed the capture of the Confederate capital at Richmond, only one hundred miles south of Washington, would quickly end the war.

===Irvin McDowell===

===Irvin McDowell===

[[Image:Irvin Mcdowell.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Brigadier General Irvin McDowell (center, hand on sword), on the steps of a building befitting his rank, the newly-confiscated home of General [[Robert E. Lee]], Arlington House.]]

[[Image:Irvin Mcdowell.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Brigadier General Irvin McDowell (center, hand on sword), on the steps of a building befitting his rank, the newly-confiscated home of General [[Robert E. Lee]], Arlington House.]]

[[Image:First Bull Run Campaign.png|thumb|200px|right|The positions of the Union and Confederate armies, first week of July, 1861 (Hal Jespersen)]]

[[Image:First Bull Run Campaign.png|thumb|200px|right|The positions of the Union and Confederate armies, first week of July, 1861 (Hal Jespersen)]]

By July 1861 thousands of volunteers were camped in and around Washington. Since General Scott was seventy-five years old and physically unable to lead this force, the administration searched for a more suitable field commander. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase championed fellow Ohioan, 42-year-old Major Irvin McDowell. Although McDowell was a West Point graduate, his command experience was limited. In fact, he had spent most of his career engaged in various staff duties in the Adjutant General’s Office. While stationed in Washington he had become acquainted with Chase, a former Ohio governor and senator. Now, through Chase’s influence, McDowell was promoted three grades to brigadier general in the Regular Army and on 27 May was assigned command of the Department of Northeastern Virginia, which included the military forces in and around Washington.

By July 1861 thousands of volunteers were camped in and around Washington. Since General Scott was seventy-five years old and physically unable to lead this force, the administration searched for a more suitable field commander. Secretary of the Treasury [[Salmon P. Chase]] championed fellow Ohioan, 42-year-old Major [[Irvin McDowell]]. Although McDowell was a [[West Point]] graduate, his command experience was limited. In fact, he had spent most of his career engaged in various staff duties in the Adjutant General’s Office. While stationed in Washington he had become acquainted with Chase, a former Ohio governor and senator. Now, through Chase’s influence, McDowell was promoted three grades to brigadier general in the Regular Army and on 27 May was assigned command of the Department of Northeastern Virginia, which included the military forces in and around Washington.

McDowell immediately began organizing what became known as the Army of Northeastern Virginia, 35,000 men arranged in five divisions. Brig. Gen. Daniel Tyler’s 1st Division, the largest in the army, contained four brigades, led by Brig. Gen. Robert C. Schenck, Col. Erasmus Keyes, Col. [[William T. Sherman]], and Col. Israel B. Richardson. Col. David Hunter commanded the 2d Division of two brigades. These were led by Colonels Andrew Porter and [[Ambrose Burnside]]. Col. Samuel P. Heintzelman commanded three brigades of the 3d Division, led by Cols. William B. Franklin, Orlando B. Willcox, and Oliver O. Howard. The 4th Division, commanded by Brig. Gen. Theodore Runyon, contained seven regiments of New Jersey and one regiment of New York volunteer infantries. Col. Dixon S. Miles’ 5th Division contained two brigades, commanded by Cols. Louis Blenker and Thomas A. Davies. McDowell’s army also had ten batteries of artillery and a battalion of Regular cavalry.

McDowell immediately began organizing what became known as the Army of Northeastern Virginia, 35,000 men arranged in five divisions. Brig. Gen. Daniel Tyler’s 1st Division, the largest in the army, contained four brigades, led by Brig. Gen. Robert C. Schenck, Col. Erasmus Keyes, Col. [[William T. Sherman]], and Col. Israel B. Richardson. Col. David Hunter commanded the 2d Division of two brigades. These were led by Colonels Andrew Porter and [[Ambrose Burnside]]. Col. Samuel P. Heintzelman commanded three brigades of the 3d Division, led by Cols. William B. Franklin, Orlando B. Willcox, and Oliver O. Howard. The 4th Division, commanded by Brig. Gen. Theodore Runyon, contained seven regiments of New Jersey and one regiment of New York volunteer infantries. Col. Dixon S. Miles’ 5th Division contained two brigades, commanded by Cols. Louis Blenker and Thomas A. Davies. McDowell’s army also had ten batteries of artillery and a battalion of Regular cavalry.

* [[American Civil War: 1861]]

* [[American Civil War: 1861]]

[[Category: American Civil War Battles]]

[[Category: American Civil War Battles]]