Battle of Bull Run, Virginia (1)
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The (I) Battle of Bull Run
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Battle Information
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The (I) Battle of Bull Run (the name used by Union forces), also referred to as the (I) Battle of Manassas by Confederate forces), was fought on July 21, 1861 in Prince William County, Virginia, just north of the city of Manassas, Virginia and about 25 miles west-southwest of Washington, D.C. It was the first major battle of the American Civil War. Delays in positioning Union forces allowed Confederate reinforcements time to arrive by rail. Each side mustered about 18,000 poorly trained and poorly led troops in their first battle (though the Union kept some 17,000 in reserve who saw no action that day). It was a Confederate victory, followed by a disorganized retreat of the Union forces.
- Also rarely referred to as the Battle of Young's Branch
Sub-Operations
- This action is the final act of
The Manassas Campaignfrom July 16-21, 1861
Union Order of Battle
The Army of Northeastern Virginia under Brigadier General Irvin McDowell was organized into 5 infantry divisions of 3-5 brigades each. Each brigade contained 3-5 infantry regiments and generally contained and artillery battery as well.
Sources estimate that over 35,000 Union troops were present at the battle, but only about 18,000 or so were actually engaged through the day.
While McDowell organized this army, a smaller Union command was organized and stationed northwest of Washington, near Harper's Ferry. Commanded by Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson, 18,000 men of the Department of Pennsylvania protected against a Confederate incursion from the Shenandoah Valley.
Commanding Officer:
- Irvin McDowell, Brigadier General
General Staff:
- Chief of Artillery: William Barry, Major
- Chief Engineer: John G. Barnard, Major
- Chief Quartermaster:
Otis H. Tillinghast, Captain
Confederate Order of Battle
Because many officers in the Confederate States were graduates of the same military academies as the Union officers, the armies functioned in a similar manner, at least initially. Both sides had studied the same military doctrines and theory, and both sides used the same tactics against each other with varying success depending on the particular scenario. Unlike their Union counterparts however, there are no Divisions in these armies yet, and each Brigade organization includes units of cavalry in addition to artillery units.
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
Commanding Officer:
- Joseph E. Johnston, Brigadier General
General Staff:
- Chief of Staff: Thomas Jordan, Colonel
- Chief Engineer: Thomas H. Williamson, Lieutenant Colonel
- Chief Signal Officer: Edward Alexander, Captain
Headquarters Escort:
- Lay's Squadron (Virginia) Cavalry - John F. Lay, Captain
ARMY OF THE SHENANDOAH
Commanding Officer:
- Joseph E. Johnston, Brigadier General
General Staff:
- Chief of Artillery: William Pendleton, Colonel
- Chief Engineer: William Whiting, Major
Casualties
- Union: 470 killed, 1,071 wounded, 1,792 captured/missing = Total 3,334
Notes
- ↑ Not originally referenced on Dyer summary, but referenced on unit homepage - at this time, the battery formed a company of this regiment and was engaged
- ↑ Commanded the regiment when Colonel McConnell was sick (see: Richardson's report)
- ↑ Assigned to this brigade but not present at this battle - Longacre, Edward G. (2014). The Early Morning of War: Bull Run, 1861. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806147611., page 23
- ↑ Not engaged
- ↑ In reserve at Centreville, Virginia - engaged in skirmishing with the enemy while covering the retreat of the Army but not engaged in the battle proper
- ↑ This consisted of the field guns of the 8th Regiment New York State Militia Infantry, manned by detachments from the 8th and 29th New York Infantry
- ↑ Varian's 1st Troop Washington Grays at civilwararchive.com
- ↑ Remained at Manassas Junction (see: F. Ray Sibley, Jr., The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1, The Army of Northern Virginia, page 221/Note 55)
Sources
- American Battlefield Trust (Youtube Channel) - First Manassas: Animated Battle Map
- Davis, William C. Battle at Bull Run: A History of the First Major Campaign of the Civil War
- Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. The Dyer Publishing Company (Des Moine, 1908). (Pages 603, 631, 659, 888, 895)
- Gottfried, Bradley M. An Atlas of the First Bull Run (Manassas) Campaign, including the Battle of Ball's Bluff, June-October 1861
- Wikipedia - First Battle of Bull Run
- Engagements in the War of the Rebellion
- Engagements in Virginia
- Engagements in Prince William County, Virginia
- Engagements in Fairfax County, Virginia
- Battles in Virginia
- Battles in Prince William County, Virginia
- Battles in Fairfax County, Virginia
- Engagements in 1861
- Engagements on July 21, 1861
- Source: ACWR 603
- Source: ACWR 631
- Source: ACWR 659
- Source: ACWR 888
- Source: ACWR 895
