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First Battle of Bull Run facts for kids

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First Battle of Bull Run
Part of the American Civil War
Date July 21, 1861
Location
Fairfax County and Prince William County, Virginia
Result Confederate Victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America Confederacy
Commanders and leaders
Irvin McDowell Joseph E. Johnston
P.G.T. Beauregard
Casualties and losses
2,896 1,982

The First Battle of Bull Run was the first large battle of the American Civil War. It was fought on July 21, 1861. The battle took place near a stream called Bull Run. The battle actually has two names: the First Battle of Bull Run and First Battle of Manassas.

Background

Union general Irvin McDowell was put in command of the Union army in northeastern Virginia. Many people in the North wanted him to attack to Confederate capital city of Richmond, Virginia. McDowell didn't think his soldiers were ready to fight but Union president Abraham Lincoln wanted him to march south into Virginia anyway.

The Confederates had an army nearby, which was commanded by P.G.T. Beauregard. After McDowell's army started marching towards Beauregard's army, Joseph Johnston came to Manassas Junction with his army from the Shenandoah Valley. Johnston was in command of the entire Confederate army and Beauregard was his second-in-command.

The Battle

The battle started early in the morning on July 21st. McDowell started marching part of his army around the left end of the Confederate army. The two armies started shooting at each other about 6 a.m. near Matthews Hill. The Confederates did not expect the Union army to attack but they moved brigades to their left flank.

McDowell made the Confederates leave Matthews Hill about 11 a.m. The Confederates retreated back to another hill called Henry House Hill. On the hill was Thomas J. Jackson's brigade. Another Confederate general was trying to regroup his men. He said, "There stands Jackson standing like a stonewall". After the battle Jackson would be called "Stonewall".

The Union army made many attacks on the Confederate line on Henry House Hill. All of the attacks failed. In the afternoon the Confederates made an attack of their own. This drove the Union army back towards Washington, D.C. The Confederates were too tired to march after the Union army.

Aftermath

The Union army had 2,896 casualties. McDowell was blamed for the Union defeat. He was replaced by George B. McClellan. The Confederates had 1,982 casualties. Even though Johnston was in charge of the Confederate army, Beauregard became famous after the battle.

Images for kids

  • ATLAS OR VIRGINIA MAP

    Virginia (1861)

  • ATLAS OR NORTHEASTERN VIRGINIA MAP 1

    Northeastern Virginia (1861)

  • Battle of Bull Run

    Movements July 16–21, 1861

  • First Bull Run (Manassas) July 18

    Situation July 18

  • ATLAS OR BATTLEFIELD MANASSAS

    Battlefield of Manassas

  • First Bull Run (Manassas) July 21 1000

    Situation morning, July 21

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map3

    Situation at 05:30–06:00 (July 21, 1861)

  • Federal cavalry Sudley Springs

    U.S. cavalry at Sudley Spring Ford

  • A Rebel Captain Forcing Negroes to Load Cannon Under the Fire of Beedan's Sharp-shooters (May 1862), by Harper's Weekly

    An 1862 illustration of a Confederate officer forcing slaves to fire a cannon at U.S. forces at gunpoint. According to John Parker, a former slave, he was forced by his Confederate captors to fire a cannon at U.S. soldiers at the Battle of Bull Run.

  • First Bull Run (Manassas) July 21 1300

    Attacks on Henry House Hill, 1–3 p.m

  • First Bull Run (Manassas) July 21 1600

    Union retreat, after 4 p.m.

  • HenryHouseBullRun1861

    Ruins of Judith Henry's house, "Spring Hill", after the battle

  • Judith Henry farmhouse, Manassas, VA IMG 4319

    Postwar house on site of Judith Henry house in Manassas

  • Judith Henry grave, Mansasas, VA IMG 4318

    Judith Henry grave

  • MNBPRickettsBatteryPainting

    Capture of Ricketts' Battery, painting by Sidney E. King, National Park Service

  • Manassas, VA, Jubilee of Peace IMG 4353

    The National Jubilee of Peace building at Grant and Lee avenues in Manassas, Virginia, is draped with the U.S. flag for the 150th anniversary commemoration, held on July 21, 2011, of the First Battle of Bull Run.

  • Portrait of Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell, officer of the Federal Army

    Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell, (Commanding)

  • General Daniel Tyler USA

    Brig. Gen. Daniel Tyler

  • David Hunter

    Brig. Gen. David Hunter

  • Theodore Runyon cph.3a03195

    Brig. Gen. Theodore Runyon

  • Robert Patterson

    Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson

  • Pgt beauregard

    Brig. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard, Army of the Potomac

  • Joseph Johnston

    Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, Army of the Shenandoah

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map1

    Map 1: Situation Mid-July 1861

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map2

    Map 2: Beauregard's defensive situation (Mid-July 1861)

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map3

    Map 3: Situation at 05:30–06:00 (July 21, 1861)

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map4

    Map 4: Situation at 10:30–11:00 (July 21, 1861)

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map5

    Map 5: Situation at 11:00–11:30 (July 21, 1861)

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map6

    Map 6: Situation at 12:00–12:30 (July 21, 1861)

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map7

    Map 7: Situation at 13:00 (July 21, 1861)

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map8

    Map 8: Situation at 14:30–15:00 (July 21, 1861)

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map9

    Map 9: Situation at 15:00 (July 21, 1861)

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map10

    Map 10: Situation at 15:30 (July 21, 1861)

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map11

    Map 11: Situation at 16:00 (July 21, 1861)

  • First Battle of Bull Run Map12

    Map 12: Situation at 16:30–17:30 (July 21, 1861)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Primera batalla de Bull Run para niños

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