1st Manassas

1st Manassas (Confederate name), also know as 1st Bull Run (Union name), was the first major battle of American Civil War. It is the earliest historical battle offered by Grand Tactician.

Historically speaking, First Manassas was a major victory for the Confederate States.

**Scenario briefing**

*After Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, was captured by South Carolina military forces on April 14, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers with ninety-day enlistment to quell the rebellion. His call for militia has triggered a strong response. Southern slave states, including Virginia, that had not yet seceded, then decided to do so, and eventually join the Confederate States of America. This brought the Civil War to the doorstep of Washington D.C. During the summer of 1861the Confederates constructed defenses in northern Virginia, with its Army of the Potomac (not to be confused with the later Federal army of the same name), under the command of the Confederate hero of Fort Sumter, Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard in command. Beauregard’s troops are concentrated near Manassas Junction - less than 30 miles from Washington - and Brigadier General Joseph E. Johnston's Army of the Shenandoah, in the Shenandoah Valley, is in support, guarding Beauregard’s left flank.*

*With several smaller skirmishes and battles having already been fought, Lincoln is preparing to end the rebellion before the three-month enlistments of the majority of his soldiers expire. Those on the North strongly expected that the Civil War would end in a dramatic fashion, with the Union armies, after crushing the Confederate forces before them, sweeping aside the Confederates and capturing Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy since that May.*

*For this task Lincoln’s generals have two armies facing the Confederates: The Army of Northeastern Virginia, currently in Washington D.C., and the Department of Pennsylvania, guarding the mouth of Shenandoah Valley. In command of the Pennsylvanians is a War of 1812 and Mexican war veteran and highly regarded officer, Brigadier General Robert Patterson. The main army has been placed under the command of Brigadier General Irwin McDowell, another veteran of the Mexican War an experienced administrator and close friend of Major General Winfield Scott, the commanding general of all the Union armies. On July 16, 1861, McDowell’s force, the largest field army ever gathered on the North American continent, some 35,000 men in number, marched from Washington D.C and crossed the Potomac, intending to engage and defeat Beauregard's army.*

*The Federal troops, mostly, inexperienced and not accustomed to the hardships of soldiering, marched slowly in the sweltering heat. McDowell's plan is to outflank the Confederate army that has formed its line along Bull Run Creek, abandoning Centreville and the defenses there. Brigadier General Daniel Tyler's division was ordered first to turn the Confederate right flank, but on July 18 Tyler’s men encountered Confederate forces at Blackburn's Ford, where a minor skirmish was fought. On the same day Beauregard requested reinforcements, especially Johnston's army. With J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry left behind to screen Patterson's army, Johnston moves to reinforce Beauregard in what became the first concentration of military forces via railroad in history. Patterson, completely deceived, happily informs Washington that he has successfully held Johnston's force at Winchester. When he finally realizes that Johnston is gone, he would need more than a day to move out and reach Manassas.*

*On July 21, with Johnston's army already forming a junction with Beauregard, both armies plan to attack and turn their opponent's left flank. While Johnston and Beauregard plan to attack by cross Bull Run Creek at Blackburn's Ford, McDowell's army moves first. In a few hours, the first major battle of the Civil War would be fought, with two inexperienced and fragile armies on both sides clashing in large numbers for the first time in the Civil War.*

## Set-up

### Forces

#### USA forces

* **Army of Northeastern Virginia | Irvin McDowell**
		- 1st Brigade | Springfield Musket | Erasmus D. Keyes
		- 2nd Brigade | Springfield Musket | Robert C. Schenck
		- 3rd Brigade | Springfield Rifle-Musket | William T. Sherman
		- 1st Division Artillery | 10-pounder Parrott Rifle | Romeyn B. Ayres
	+ 2nd Division | David Hunter
		- 1st Brigade | Springfield Rifle-Musket | Andrew Porter
		- 2nd Brigade | Springfield Rifle-Musket | Ambrose E. Burnside
		- U.S. Cavalry | Burnside Carbine | Innis N. Palmer
		- 2nd Division Artillery | 14-pounder James Rifle | Charles Griffin
	+ 3rd Division | Samuel P. Heintzelman
		- 1st Brigade | Springfield Rifle-Musket | William B. Franklin
		- 2nd Brigade | Springfield Rifle-Musket | Orlando B. Willcox
		- 3rd Brigade | Springfield Musket | Oliver O. Howard
		- 3rd Division Artillery | 10-pounder Parrott Rifle | James B. Ricketts
	+ 4th Division | Disxon S. Miles
		- 1st Brigade | Springfield Rifle-Musket | Louis Blenker
		- 2nd Brigade | Springfield Musket | Thomas A. Davies
		- 4th Division Artillery | 6-pounder Field Gun | John C. Tidball
	+ 5th Division | Theodore Runyon
		- Militia Brigade | Springfield Musket | Henry M. Baker
		- Volunteer Brigade | Springfield Rifle-Musket | George W. Taylor
	+ 4th Brigade | Springfield Musket | Israel B. Richardson
	+ 4th Brigade Artillery | 12-pounder Napoleon | Henry J. Hunt
* **Department of Pennsylvania | Robert Patterson**
	+ **1st Divison | Gearge Cadwallader**
		- 1st Brigade | ? | George H. Thomas
		- 3rd Brigade | ? | Alpheus S. Williams
		- 4th Brigade | ? | Henry C. Longenecker

#### CSA forces

* **Army of the Potomac**
* **Army of the Shenandoah**

### Battlefield

For a more in depth look at the Manassas/Bull Run battlefield, see its associated battlefield page.

#### Victory points

* Stone Bridge | Confederacy
* Henry Hill | Confederacy
* Lewis Ford | Confederacy
* Island Ford | Confederacy
* Matthew's Hill | Confederacy
* Warrenton Turnpike | Union

## Notes

* *This battle is fought entirely by greenhorn units, who suffer from the 1st battle morale cap. This leads to more fragile morale than in many other battles.*
* *Large parts of the USA forces arrive as reinforcements after 36 hours, be aware.*