First Bull Run Campaign

First Battle of Bull Run First Battle of Manassas
Part of the American Civil War
First Battle of Bull Run. Chromolithograph by Kurz & Allison, 1889
Date July 21, 1861 (1861-07-21) Location Fairfax County and Prince William County, Virginia 38°48′53″N 77°31′22″W / 38.8147°N 77.5227°W / 38.8147; -77.5227Coordinates: 38°48′53″N 77°31′22″W / 38.8147°N 77.5227°W / 38.8147; -77.5227 Result Decisive Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Political leaders: Abraham Lincoln Military commanders: Winfield Scott Irvin McDowell Robert Patterson	Political leaders: Jefferson Davis Military commanders: P. G. T. Beauregard Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (WIA) Joseph E. Johnston
Units involved
Department of Northeastern Virginia: Army of Northeastern Virginia Department of Pennsylvania: Patterson's Command (not engaged)	Army of the Potomac Army of the Shenandoah
Strength
Army of Northeastern Virginia: 35,732 (c. 18,000 engaged) Patterson's Command: 14–18,000 (not engaged)	32,000–34,000 (c. 18,000 engaged)
Casualties and losses
2,708 (481 killed;  1,011 wounded;  1,216 missing)	1,982 (387 killed;  1,582 wounded;  13 missing)

Political leaders:

Military commanders:

Political leaders:

Military commanders:

Department of Northeastern Virginia:

Department of Pennsylvania:

Army of Northeastern Virginia:

Patterson's Command:

The First Battle of Bull Run (the name used by Union forces), also known as the First Battle of Manassas (the name used by Confederate forces), was fought on July 21, 1861 in Prince William County, Virginia, just north of the city of Manassas and about 25 miles west-southwest of Washington, D.C. It was the first major battle of the American Civil War. The Union's forces were slow in positioning themselves, allowing Confederate reinforcements time to arrive by rail. Each side had about 18,000 poorly trained and poorly led troops in their first battle. It was a Confederate victory, followed by a disorganized retreat of the Union forces.

Just months after the start of the war at Fort Sumter, the Northern public clamored for a march against the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, which was expected to bring an early end to the rebellion. Yielding to political pressure, Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell led his unseasoned Union Army across Bull Run against the equally inexperienced Confederate Army of Brig. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard camped near Manassas Junction. McDowell's ambitious plan for a surprise flank attack on the Confederate left was poorly executed by his officers and men; nevertheless, the Confederates, who had been planning to attack the Union left flank, found themselves at an initial disadvantage.

Confederate reinforcements under Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston arrived from the Shenandoah Valley by railroad, and the course of the battle quickly changed. A brigade of Virginians under the relatively unknown brigadier general from the Virginia Military Institute, Thomas J. Jackson, stood its ground, which resulted in Jackson receiving his famous nickname, "Stonewall". The Confederates launched a strong counterattack, and as the Union troops began withdrawing under fire, many panicked and the retreat turned into a rout. McDowell's men frantically ran without order in the direction of Washington, D.C.