Manassas campaign facts for kids
The Manassas Campaign was a group of important battles and military actions. These events happened during the early part of the American Civil War. They took place in the eastern part of Virginia. This campaign showed both the Union (North) and the Confederacy (South) that the war would not be over quickly.
Contents
Background of the Campaign
Setting the Stage for War
The American Civil War began in April 1861. Both sides quickly started getting their armies ready. In northern Virginia, the Confederate forces had two main armies.
One army was called the Confederate Army of the Potomac. It was led by Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard. This army was in northeastern Virginia. Its main job was to protect a very important railroad hub called Manassas Junction. This spot was key for moving supplies and soldiers.
The other Confederate army was the Army of the Shenandoah. General Joseph E. Johnston was in charge of this army. They were located near Harpers Ferry in the Shenandoah Valley. A railroad called the Manassas Gap Railroad connected these two Confederate armies. This meant they could quickly send help to each other if needed.
Union Plans and Challenges
After Union troops took over Alexandria, Virginia, their forces were organized. Brigadier General Irvin McDowell led the Union army in northeastern Virginia. His orders were to march towards Richmond, Virginia. Richmond was the capital city of the Confederacy.
At the same time, Robert Patterson led another Union force. His job was to keep Johnston's Confederate army busy in the Shenandoah Valley. This was to stop Johnston from joining Beauregard. Patterson moved into the Valley in early June. This forced the Confederates to leave Harpers Ferry on June 17.
Johnston's army then moved back to Winchester. He got more soldiers from local home guard units. This made Patterson think he was outnumbered. Patterson also had trouble getting supplies. Many of his soldiers had signed up for only three months. Their time was almost up, and they wanted to go home. The main Union general, Winfield Scott, wanted Patterson to send his best soldiers to McDowell.
Pressure to Attack
Through June and early July, McDowell's and Beauregard's armies had small fights. Union leaders debated what McDowell should do next. General Scott thought the Union should focus on capturing the Mississippi River valley. McDowell felt his army was too new and not ready to attack Beauregard yet.
However, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and the newspapers pushed McDowell to act. So, on July 17, McDowell began his advance towards Manassas Junction. The very next day, Johnston got orders to move his army to Manassas Junction. He used the Manassas Gap Railroad to quickly reinforce Beauregard. Johnston's troops arrived on July 20 and 21.
This campaign ended with a Confederate victory. The Union army's inexperience played a big part in this. It was an early sign to the North that the Civil War would be a long and difficult fight.
Key Battles of the Campaign
Hoke's Run Skirmish
After the Confederates left Harpers Ferry on June 15, Johnston sent Colonel Thomas J. Jackson's brigade to Martinsburg. Their job was to watch for Union advances. They also needed to slow down Patterson's force.
On July 2, Patterson's Union troops crossed the Potomac River. They moved towards Jackson's position. Jackson's men were outnumbered. They were also in danger of being surrounded. So, Jackson slowly pulled his troops back. This gave time for his supply wagons to escape. Then, his brigade retreated to join Johnston's main army.
Blackburn's Ford Clash
McDowell's Union army reached Centreville on the morning of July 18. Brigadier General David Tyler's division led the way. Tyler was told to scout the Confederate defenses near Blackburn's Ford. He was not supposed to start a big fight.
However, Tyler launched an attack with Colonel Israel B. Richardson's brigade. But Confederate brigades, led by James Longstreet and Jubal Early, pushed them back. The fight ended with cannons firing at each other until dark. Tyler then pulled his troops back to Centreville.
First Bull Run (Manassas) Battle
After Tyler's defeat at Blackburn's Ford, McDowell decided to try a different plan. He planned to attack the Confederate left side.
Around dawn on July 21, one Union division started a fake attack. They aimed at the Stone Bridge on the Confederate left. Two other Union divisions made it look like they would attack the Confederate center and right. Meanwhile, two more Union divisions marched around the Confederate left side. Their goal was to attack the Confederate army from behind.
The Union flanking column was spotted by the Confederates. Confederate reinforcements quickly rushed to Matthew's Hill. But the Union troops pushed them back to Henry House Hill. A new Confederate defense line was set up along Henry House Hill. This line used fresh brigades from Johnston's army. They held strong against many Union attacks throughout the afternoon.
Late in the afternoon, the Confederates launched an attack on the Union's left side. This attack forced McDowell's army to retreat. They fell back all the way to the defenses around Washington, D.C.
Aftermath of the Campaign
Confederate President Jefferson Davis arrived on the Manassas battlefield soon after the fighting ended. He wanted to chase the retreating Union army. However, he was convinced that the Confederate armies were too disorganized to follow them effectively.
A disagreement happened between Beauregard and Davis. They argued about who was to blame for not chasing the Union army. This argument led to Beauregard being moved to the Western Theater of the war. In October, Johnston's and Beauregard's commands were combined. They formed the Department of Northern Virginia. The combined army kept the name "Army of the Potomac."
After the First Battle of Bull Run, McDowell's army retreated to Centreville. They set up a rear guard to protect their retreat. At a meeting that night, most of the Union officers agreed to keep retreating. The full retreat started that very night.
In August, McDowell's command was combined with other Union departments in Maryland. They formed the Department of the Potomac. George C. McClellan was put in charge of this new department. McDowell was moved to a lower position, commanding only a division. Patterson was blamed for letting Johnston's army reinforce Beauregard. He was also removed from his command.
