Even experienced soldiers might not retreat as an organized march. So each Union soldier ran away from the battlefield in any way he could.
However, soon after, they faced a surprise: civilians. They thought it would be a one-battle war and believed whichever side won at Manassas would win the whole war. Then, from their picnic blankets and parasols, they saw a big crowd of Union soldiers running toward them in retreat.
The soldiers then had to make their way to Washington along with the civilians. It took them only a few hours to get back to Washington, not a few days anymore. Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, had arrived in the field late that day. He urged a pursuit, and the Confederates were about to pursue, but Joseph Johnston stopped the pursuit.
He told them that the pursuit in the darkness, with a confused and disorganized army was not the right thing to do. Although it was true that they could very well use their interior lines, strategically and tactically, they did not consider the fact that they could turn the tables only on the last moments of the battle. They did not see how close they were to defeat. So, they continued to act like winners. The Confederates did not know that they were losing their only chance of victory when they decided to wait for the morning and reassess the situation.
Learn more about how the South seceded in February The numbers looked enormous when compared to all the previous wars. When compared to the rest of the Civil War, it was a midsize Civil War battle with a moderate number of casualties. In terms of casualties, both armies lost many soldiers. On the Confederate side, 2, men were lost. There were 2, lost on the Federal side: 1, killed and wounded, and 1, were missing.
Most of the missing soldiers were captured by the opponents. Some non-military people were on the list too. As mentioned before, Henry House Hill was a hotspot of the war. A widow named Judith Carter Henry, who lived on the top of it in her house, was one of the first civilian victims of the battle when a cannonball crashed into her bedroom and killed her with several severe wounds. Another victim was Alfred Ely, a congressman from New York who had come to watch the battle. The offensive would begin with an attack on more than 20, Confederate troops under the command of General P.
The cautious McDowell, then in command of the 35, Union volunteer troops gathered in the Federal capital, knew that his men were ill-prepared and pushed for a postponement of the advance to give him time for additional training.
But Lincoln ordered him to begin the offensive nonetheless, reasoning correctly that the rebel army was made up of similarly amateur soldiers. Johnston for reinforcements. Johnston, in command of some 11, rebels in the Shenandoah Valley, was able to outmaneuver a Union force in the region and march his men towards Manassas. Over two hours, 10, Federals gradually pushed back 4, rebels across the Warrington turnpike and up Henry House Hill. In the afternoon, both sides traded attacks and counterattacks near Henry House Hill.
Among the future leaders on both sides who fought at First Manassas were Ambrose E. Burnside and William T. Jackson, a former professor at the Virginia Military Institute, led a Virginia brigade from the Shenandoah Valley into the battle at a key moment, helping the Confederates hold an important high-ground position at Henry House Hill.
Despite their victory, Confederate troops were far too disorganized to press their advantage and pursue the retreating Yankees, who reached Washington by July Its outcome sent northerners who had expected a quick, decisive victory reeling, and gave rejoicing southerners a false hope that they themselves could pull off a swift victory. In fact, both sides would soon have to face the reality of a long, grueling conflict that would take an unimaginable toll on the country and its people.
On the Confederate side, accusations flew between Johnston, Beauregard and President Jefferson Davis over who was to blame for the failure to pursue and crush the enemy after the battle.
This led to further instances of friendly fire as the conflict endured. Eager men streamed into Washington to defend the Union capital. Architect of the Capitol Thomas U. Although some had training in local state militias, most had no battle experience and held romantic notions about the glory of war.
Few has a sense of discipline and fewer had uniforms. After the defeat at Bull Run, it became clear that serving 90 days of military service was completely unrealistic. The terms of the first men to join were already expiring that July and the war would be long. Congress quickly passed legislation expanding the size of the army and extending the length of enlistment, and then set about reorganizing Union forces for the arduous fight ahead.
Close Video. How it ended Confederate victory. Before the Battle On July 16, the Union day volunteer army under McDowell—around 35, troops with great enthusiasm and little training—sets out from Washington, D.
During the Battle. Union 28, Aftermath Union. Estimated Casualties. Union 2, Questions to Consider 1. This regiment ascended to the brow of the hill steadily, received the severe fire of the enemy, returned it with spirit, and advanced delivering its fire. This regiment is uniformed in gray cloth, almost identical with that of the great bulk of the secession army, and when the regiment fell into confusion and retreated toward the road there was an universal cry that they were being fired on by our own men.
The regiment rallied again, passed the brow of the hill a second time, but was again repulsed in disorder. I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our National Union, and the perpetuity of popular government; and to redress wrongs already long enough endured.
Bull Run: Featured Resources. Civil War Article. Civil War Biography. Civil War Video. Civil War Historic Site. Civil War Historical Map.
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