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The Battle Of Bull Run

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The Battle of Bull Run, or First Manassas to the Confederate States of America, was the first major battle of the Civil War. The battle would be a rude wake up call for everyone entering the war. This paper will explore the various details of the battle, including its importance. The Battle of Bull Run occurred on July 21, 1861 approximately three months after the start of the war. It took place in Prince William County, Virginia. To be more specific, nearby the town of Manassas and the river known as Bull Run. This is where the two sides derived the name of the engagement from. Often times, the Confederates used the name of the town they used as their base and the Union used rivers or streams. For this battle, the Union had a large …show more content…

Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard and Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Each were in charge of their respective armies, while Johnston was commander for the battle. Also, there was Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson who contributed significantly to the Confederates victory. This contribution would earn him the nickname “Stonewall”. Next, we have the analyzation of the strategies, tactics, and battlefield layout. This battle can be separated into two engagements. Each of these engagements can be identified by the hill they primarily fought by. The first battle is on Matthews Hill. It started with the Col. “Shanks” Evans engaging the Union’s flanking maneuver. Beauregard also attempted to flank in the direction where these Union troops were coming from. Eventually, the small engagement turned into a more sizable battle as each side sent more troops. Unfortunately for the Confederates, they were outnumbered in all aspects and were forced to retreat to Henry Hill. At Henry Hill, Gen. Jackson along with several others formed a large defensive line in order to support the disorganized retreated troops. The Union and the Confederates spent the beginning of the battle with their artillery firing at each other. But, the Union lacks the support for their artillery batteries and the Confederates take advantage of that fact. This is where the Union begins to crumble. The Union sends its troops in piece by piece, unable to permanently hold their artillery pieces. While

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