First Manassas - July 21, 1861 Maps of Bull Run, Virginia (1861) First Manassas - July 21, 1861 First Manassas July 21, 1861 This was the first major land battle of the armies in Virginia. On July 16, 1861, the untried Union army under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell marched from Washington against the equally green Confederate army, which was arrayed behind Bull Run beyond Centreville. On the 21st, McDowell crossed at Sudley Ford and attacked the Confederate left flank on Matthews Hill. Fighting raged throughout the day as Confederate forces were driven back to Henry Hill. Late in the afternoon, Confederate reinforcements (one brigade arriving by rail from the Shenandoah Valley) extended and broke the Union right flank. The Federal retreat rapidly deteriorated into a rout. Although victorious, Confederate forces were too disorganized to pursue. Confederate Gen. Bee and Col. Bartow were killed. Thomas J.

Jackson earned the nom de guerre “Stonewall.” By July 22, the shattered Union army reached the safety of Washington. This battle convinced the Lincoln administration that the war would be a long and costly affair. McDowell was relieved of command of the Union army and replaced by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, who set about reorganizing and training the troops. For more maps, history articles and additional information on this and other Civil War battles please visit our website: First Battle of Bull Run - American Civil War - HISTORY.com First Battle of Bull Run First Battle of Bull Run Author First Battle of Bull Run URL A+E Networks Introduction On July 21, 1861, Union and Confederate armies clashed near Manassas Junction, Virginia, in the first major land battle of the American Civil War. Known as the First Battle of Bull Run (or Manassas), the engagement began when about 35,000 Union troops marched from the federal capital in Washington, D.C. to strike a Confederate force of 20,000 along a small river known as Bull Run.

After fighting on the defensive for most of the day, the rebels rallied and were able to break the Union right flank, sending the Federals into a chaotic retreat towards Washington. The Confederate victory gave the South a surge of confidence and shocked many in the North, who realized the war would not be won as easily as they had hoped. Google Prelude to the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) By July 1861, two months after Confederate troops opened fire on Fort Sumter to begin the Civil War, the northern press and public were eager for the Union Army to make an advance on Richmond ahead of the planned meeting of the Confederate Congress there on July 20. Encouraged by early victories by Union troops in western Virginia , and by the war fever spreading through the North, President Abraham Lincoln ordered Brigadier General Irvin McDowell to mount an offensive that would hit quickly and decisively at the enemy and open the way to Richmond, thus bringing the war to a mercifully quick end. The offensive would begin with an attack on more than 20,000 Confederate troops under the command of General P.G.T.

Beauregard camped near Manassas Junction, Virginia (25 miles from Washington , D.C.) along a little river known as Bull Run. Did You Know? After First Manassas, Stonewall Jackson further distinguished himself in the Shenandoah Valley, Second Manassas and Fredericksburg. The man Lee called his "right arm" was accidentally shot by his own men at Chancellorsville and died of complications relating to the injury. The cautious McDowell, then in command of the 35,000 Union volunteer troops gathered in the Federal capital, knew that his men were ill prepared and pushed for a postponement of the advance to give him time for additional training. But Lincoln ordered him to begin the offensive nonetheless, reasoning (correctly) that the rebel army was made up of similarly amateur soldiers. McDowell’s army began moving out of Washington on July 16; its slow movement allowed Beauregard (who also received advance notice of his enemy’s movements through a Confederate espionage network in Washington) to call on his fellow Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston for reinforcements.

Johnston, in command of some 11,000 rebels in the Shenandoah Valley, was able to outmaneuver a Union force in the region and march his men towards Manassas. Battle Begins at Bull Run McDowell’s Union force struck on July 21, shelling the enemy across Bull Run while more troops crossed the river at Sudley Ford in an attempt to hit the Confederate left flank. Over two hours, 10,000 Federals gradually pushed back 4,500 rebels across the Warrington turnpike and up Henry House Hill. Reporters, congressmen and other onlookers who had traveled from Washington and were watching the battle from the nearby countryside prematurely celebrated a Union victory, but reinforcements from both Johnston and Beauregard’s armies soon arrived on the battlefield to rally the Confederate troops. In the afternoon, both sides traded attacks and counterattacks near Henry House Hill. On Johnston and Beauregard’s orders, more and more Confederate reinforcements arrived, even as the Federals struggled with coordinating assaults made by different regiments.

The “Rebel Yell” at Bull Run (Manassas) By four o’clock in the afternoon, both sides had an equal number of men on the field of battle (about 18,000 on each side were engaged at Bull Run), and Beauregard ordered a counterattack along the entire line. Screaming as they advanced (the “rebel yell” that would become infamous among Union troops) the Confederates managed to break the Union line. As McDowell’s Federals retreated chaotically across Bull Run, they ran headlong into hundreds of Washington civilians who had been watching the battle while picnicking on the fields east of the river, now making their own hasty retreat. Among the future leaders on both sides who fought at First Manassas were Ambrose E. Burnside and William T. Sherman (for the Union) along with Confederates like Stuart, Wade Hampton , and most famously, Thomas J. Jackson, who earned his enduring nickname, “Stonewall,” in the battle.

Jackson, a former professor at the Virginia Military Institute, led a Virginia brigade from the Shenandoah Valley into the battle at a key moment, helping the Confederates hold an important high-ground position at Henry House Hill. General Barnard Bee (who was later killed in the battle) told his men to take heart, and to look at Jackson standing there “like a stone wall.” Impact of Bull Run (Manassas) Despite their victory, Confederate troops were far too disorganized to press their advantage and pursue the retreating Yankees, who reached Washington by July 22. The First Battle of Bull Run (called First Manassas in the South) cost some 3,000 Union casualties, compared with 1,750 for the Confederates. Its outcome sent northerners who had expected a quick, decisive victory reeling, and gave rejoicing southerners a false hope that they themselves could pull off a swift victory. In fact, both sides would soon have to face the reality of a long, grueling conflict that would take an unimaginable toll on the country and its people.

On the Confederate side, accusations flew between Johnston, Beauregard and President Jefferson Davis over who was to blame for the failure to pursue and crush the enemy after the battle. For the Union, Lincoln removed McDowell from command and replaced him with George B. McClellan, who would retrain and reorganize Union troops defending Washington into a disciplined fighting force, thereafter known as the Army of the Potomac. Tags Civil War Timeline - Gettysburg National Military Park (U.S. National Park Service) Civil War Timeline (Leslie's Illustrated History of the Civil War) November 6, 1860- Abraham Lincoln is elected sixteenth president of the United States, the first Republican president in the nation who represents a party that opposes the spread of slavery in the territories of the United States. December 17, 1860- The first Secession Convention meets in Columbia, South Carolina. December 20, 1860- South Carolina secedes from the Union. January 1861 - Six additional southern states secede from the Union.

February 8-9, 1861 - The southern states that seceded create a government at Montgomery, Alabama, and the Confederate States of America are formed. February 18, 1861- Jefferson Davis is appointed the first President of the Confederate States of America at Montgomery, Alabama, a position he will hold until elections can be arranged. March 4, 1861- Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated as the sixteenth president of the United States in Washington, DC. April 12, 1861- Southern forces fire upon Fort Sumter, South Carolina . The Civil War has formally begun. April 15, 1861- President Lincoln issues a public declaration that an insurrection exists and calls for 75,000 militia to stop the rebellion. As a result of this call for volunteers, four additional southern states secede from the Union in the following weeks. Lincoln will respond on May 3 with an additional call for 43,000+ volunteers to serve for three years, expanding the size of the Regular Army.

May 24, 1861- Union forces cross the Potomac River and occupy Arlington Heights, the home of future Confederate General Robert E. Lee. It is during the occupation of nearby Alexandria that Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, commander of the 11th New York Infantry and a close friend of the Lincolns, is shot dead by the owner of the Marshall House just after removing a Confederate flag from its roof. June 3, 1861- A skirmish near Philippi in western Virginia, is the first clash of Union and Confederate forces in the east. June 10, 1861- Battle of Big Bethel, the first land battle of the war in Virginia. June 20, 1861-At the culmination of the Wheeling Convention, the region that composed the northwestern counties of Virginia broke away from that state to form West Virginia, officially designated and accepted as the thirty fifth state of the Union on June 20, 1863. July 21, 1861- The Battle of Bull Run (or First Manassas), is fought near Manassas, Virginia.

The Union Army under General Irwin McDowell initially succeeds in driving back Confederate forces under General Pierre Gustav Toutant Beauregard, but the arrival of troops under General Joseph E. Johnston initates a series of reverses that sends McDowell's army in a panicked retreat to the defenses of Washington. It is here that Thomas Jonathan Jackson, a professor at VMI, will receive everlasting fame as "Stonewall" Jackson. July 1861-To thwart the Confederate threat in northern Virginia, a series of earthworks and forts are engineered to surround the City of Washington , adding to protection already offered by active posts such as Fort Washington on the Potomac River. August 10, 1861- Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri. The Union Army under General Nathaniel Lyon, attack Confederate troops and state militia southwest of Springfield, Missouri, and after a disastrous day that included the death of Lyon, are thrown back. The Confederate victory emphasizes the strong southern presence west of the Mississippi River. August 28-29, 1861- Fort Hatteras at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, falls to Union naval forces.

This begins the first Union efforts to close southern ports along the Carolina coast. September 20, 1861- Lexington, Missouri falls to Confederate forces under Sterling Price. October 21, 1861- Battle of Ball's Bluff, Virginia. Colonel Edward D. Baker, senator from Oregon and a friend of President Lincoln, led troops across the Potomac River only to be forced back to the river's edge where he was killed. The ensuing Union withdrawal turned into a rout with many soldiers drowning while trying to re-cross the icy waters of the Potomac River. January 19, 1862- Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky. The Union victory weakened the Confederate hold on the state. February 6, 1862- Surrender of Fort Henry, Tennessee. The lost of this southern fort on the Tennessee River opened the door to Union control of the river. February 8, 1862- Battle of Roanoke Island, North Carolina. A Confederate defeat, the battle resulted in Union occupation of eastern North Carolina and control of Pamlico Sound, to be used as Northern base for further operations against the southern coast.

February 16, 1862- Surrender of Fort Donelson, Tennessee . This primary southern fort on the Cumberland River left the river in Union hands. It was here that Union General Ulysses S. Grant gained his nickname "Unconditional Surrender". February 22, 1862- Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as President of the Confederate States of America. March 7-8, 1862- Battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn Tavern), Arkansas. The Union victory loosened the Confederate hold on Missouri and disrupted southern control of a portion of the Mississippi River. March 9, 1862- The naval battle between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (the old USS "Merrimack"), the first "ironclads", is fought in Hampton Roads, Virginia. April 6-7, 1862- The Battle of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing), the first major battle in Tennessee. Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston, a veteran of the Texas War of Independence and the War with Mexico considered to be one of the finest officers the South has, is killed on the first day of fighting.

The Union victory further secures the career of Union General Ulysses S. Grant. April 24-25, 1862- A Union fleet of gunships under Admiral David Farragut passes Confederate forts guarding the mouth of the Mississippi River. On April 25, the fleet arrived at New Orleans where they demanded the surrender of the city. Within two days the forts fall into Union hands and the mouth of the great river is under Union control. May 25, 1862- First Battle of Winchester, Virginia. After two weeks of maneuvering and battles at Cross Keys and Front Royal, General "Stonewall" Jackson attacks Union forces at Winchester and successfully drives them from the city. The victory is the culmination of his 1862 Valley Campaign. May 31-June 1, 1862- The Battle of Seven Pines near Richmond, Virginia. General Joseph Johnston, commander of the Confederate army in Virginia is wounded and replaced by Robert E. Lee who renames his command the "Army of Northern Virginia". June 6, 1862- Battle of Memphis, Tennessee.

A Union flotilla under Commodore Charles Davis successfully defeats a Confederate river force on the Mississippi River near the city and Memphis surrenders. The Mississippi River is now in Union control except for its course west of Mississippi where the city of Vicksburg stands as the last southern stronghold on the great river. June 25-July 1, 1862- The Seven Days' Battles before Richmond . General Lee's army attacks the "Army of the Potomac" under General George McClellan in a succession of battles beginning at Mechanicsville on June 26 and ending at Malvern Hill on July 1. August 30-31, 1862- The Battle of Second Bull Run (or Second Manassas) is fought on the same ground where one year before, the Union army was defeated and sent reeling in retreat to Washington. Likewise, the result of this battle is a Union defeat. September 17, 1862- The Battle of Antietam (or Sharpsburg), Maryland, the bloodiest single day of the Civil War. The result of the battle ends General Lee's first invasion of the North.

Following the Union victory, President Lincoln will introduce the Emancipation Proclamation, an executive order that freed every slave in the Confederate States. December 13, 1862- The Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia . The Army of the Potomac, under General Ambrose Burnside, is soundly defeated by Lee's forces after a risky river crossing and sacking of the city. December 31-January 3, 1863- Battle of Stones River, Tennessee . Fought between the Union Army of the Cumberland under General William Rosecrans and the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General Braxton Bragg, the costly Union victory frees middle Tennessee from Confederate control and boosts northern morale. January 1, 1863- The Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect. Applauded by many abolitionists including Frederick Douglass , there are others who feel it does not go far enough to totally abolish slavery. March 3, 1863- Conscription, or the drafting of soldiers into military service, begins in the North. It had begun in the South the year before.

April 1863- Union forces in the east begin a new campaign in Virginia to flank Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Fredericksburg. In the west, a Union army has begun a campaign to surround and take Vicksburg, Mississippi, the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. May 1-4, 1863- The Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia. General Lee's greatest victory is marred by the mortal wounding of "Stonewall" Jackson, who dies on May 10. Soon after, Lee asks Jefferson Davis for permission to invade the North and take the war out of Virginia. May 18, 1863- Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi begins. Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant attack Confederate defenses outside the city on May 19-22. If Vicksburg falls, the Mississippi River will be completely controlled by the Union. June 9, 1863- The Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia. Union cavalry forces cross the Rapidan River to attack General J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry and discover that Lee's men are moving west toward the Shenandoah Valley.

The largest cavalry battle of the Civil War, it also marks the beginning of the Gettysburg Campaign. Meanwhile, the Union assault on Vicksburg, Mississippi has become a siege of the city where soldiers and civilians alike suffer from constant bombardment. June 14-15, 1863- Battle of Second Winchester,Virginia. Confederate troops under General Richard Ewell defeat Union troops under General Robert Milroy, clearing the Shenandoah Valley of Union forces. June 28, 1863- The Gettysburg Campaign continues. Confederates pass through York and reach the bridge over the Susquehanna River at Columbia, but Union militia set fire to the bridge, denying access to the east shore. Southern cavalry skirmishes with Union militia near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. July 1-3- The Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The bloodiest battle of the Civil War dashes Robert E. Lee's hopes for a successful invasion of the North. July 4- Vicksburg, Mississippi, surrenders to the Union Army under Grant.

The capture of Vicksburg gives the Union complete control of the Mississippi River, a vital supply line for the Confederate states in the west. At Gettysburg, Lee begins his retreat to Virginia. July 10-11, 1863- Union naval and land forces attack Confederate defenses near Charleston, South Carolina. Among the Union troops is the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry, the first African American regiment of volunteers to see combat. July 13, 1863- Draft Riots begin in New York City and elsewhere as disgruntled workers and laborers, seething over the draft system that seemingly favors the rich, attack the draft office and African American churches. The riots continue through July 16. July 13-14, 1863- Near Falling Waters, Maryland, Union troops skirmish with Lee's rearguard. That night the Army of Northern Virginia crosses the Potomac River and the Gettysburg Campaign ends. July 18, 1863- Second Assault on Battery Wagner, South Carolina.

Leading the Union infantry charge is the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry commanded by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw who is killed and buried with the dead of his regiment. August 21, 1863- Sacking of Lawrence, Kansas. In a murderous daylight raid, Confederate and Missouri guerillas under William Clarke Quantrill storm into Lawrence and destroy most of the town. Approximately 150 men and boys are murdered by Quantrill's men. September 9, 1863- Chattanooga, Tennessee, is occupied by Union forces under General William Rosecrans whose Army of the Cumberland will soon invade northern Georgia. September 19-20, 1863- The Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. The Union Army of the Cumberland under General William Rosecrans is defeated and nearly routed by the Confederate Army of Tennessee commanded by General Braxton Bragg. Rosecrans' army retreats to the supply base at Chattanooga, Tennessee. September –November 1863- The Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee . Confederate forces under Braxton Bragg surround the occupied city. General Ulysses S.

Grant is assigned to command the troops there and begins immediate plans to relieve the besieged Union army. October 5, 1863- Outside of Charleston Harbor, the Confederate David, a partially submerged, steam powered vessel, attacked the New Ironsides, part of the Union fleet blockading the harbor, with a torpedo. Both ships survived the attack, though the commander of the David and one of his crew were captured. October 9 -22, 1863- Bristoe Station Campaign. In a feint toward Washington, Lee's Army of the Northern Virginia marches into northern Virginia in an attempt to flank the Army of the Potomac, under General Meade. Lee successfully outmaneuvers Meade though fails to bring him to battle or catch him in the open. An engagement at Bristoe Station, Virginia, on October 14 gives the campaign its name. November 19, 1863- Dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg. President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address. November 23-25, 1863- The Battle for Chattanooga. Union forces break the Confederate siege of the city in successive attacks.

The most notable event is the storming of Lookout Mountain on November 24 and Battle of Missionary Ridge the following day. The decisive Union victory sends the Confederate Army south into Georgia where General Bragg reorganizes his forces before resigning from command on November 30. November 26-December 1, 1863- The Mine Run Campaign. Meade's Army of the Potomac marches against Lee's Army of Northern Virginia south of the Rapidan River, east of Orange Court House. Lee reacts and throws up a line of defenses along the banks of Mine Run Creek. After several days of probing the defenses, Meade withdraws north of the Rapidan and goes into winter quarters. November 27 to December 3, 1863- Siege of Knoxville, Tennessee. Confederate troops under General James Longstreet lay siege to the city of Knoxville held by Union forces under General Ambrose Burnside. Longstreet finally attacks on November 30 but is repulsed with heavy losses. The arrival of Union reinforcements forces him to withdraw to Greeneville, Tennessee, where his corps will spend the winter.

December 8, 1863- Lincoln Issues his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, which would pardon those who participated in the "existing rebellion" if they take an oath to the Union. February 9, 1864- Escape from Libby Prison, Richmond. After weeks of digging, 109 Union officers made their escape from the notorious Libby Prison, the largest and most sensational escape of the war. Though 48 of the escapees were later captured and two drowned, 59 were able to make their way into Union lines. February 27, 1864- In Georgia, Camp Sumter Prison Camp opens. Universally referred to as Andersonville Prison Camp , it will become notorious for overcrowded conditions and a high death rate among its inmates. February 14-20, 1864- Union Capture and Occupation of Meridian, Mississippi. Union forces under William T. Sherman enter the city of Meridian, Mississippi after a successful month of campaigning through the central part of the state.

The capture of this important southern town, well known for its industry and storage capabilities, severely hampers the efforts of Confederate commanders to sustain their armies in the deep south, Georgia and west of the Mississippi River. February 17, 1864- First Successful Submarine Attack of the Civil War. The CSS H.L. Hunley, a seven-man submergible craft, attacked the USS Houstonic outside of Charleston, South Carolina. Struck by the submarine's torpedo, the Housatonic broke apart and sank, taking all but five of her crew with her. Likewise, the Hunley was also lost and never heard from again until discovered in 1995 at the spot where it sank after the attack. March 2, 1864- Ulysses S. Grant is appointed lieutenant general, a rank revived at the request of President Lincoln. Grant assumes command of all Union Armies in the field the following day. March 10, 1864- The Red River Campaign begins.

As part of an overall Union strategy to strike deep into various parts of the Confederacy, a combined force of army and navy commands under General Nathaniel Banks begins a campaign on the Red River in Louisiana. April 8, 1864- Battle of Sabine Crossroads or Mansfield, Louisiana, the first major battle of the Red River Campaign in Louisiana. April 9, 1864- Battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana. The Union Army under Banks defeats the attempt by Confederate forces under General Richard Taylor to drive them out of Louisiana. Unfortunately, the result of the campaign would be less than desired as it drew to a close in the first week of May with Confederates still in firm control of most of the state. April 12, 1864- Capture of Fort Pillow, Tennessee. After a rapid raid through central and western Tennessee, Confederate cavalry under Nathan Bedford Forrest attacked and overwhelmed the Union garrison at Fort Pillow, located on the Mississippi River. Among those garrisoning the fort were African American troops, many of whom were murdered by Forrest's angered troopers after they had surrendered.

The affair was investigated and though charges of an atrocity were denied by Confederate authorities, the events at Fort Pillow cast a pall over Forrest's reputation and remained an emotional issue throughout the remainder of the war and after. May 4-5, 1864- Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia , the opening battle of the "Overland Campaign" or "Wilderness Campaign". General Ulysses S. Grant, accompanying the Army of the Potomac under General Meade, issued orders for the campaign to begin on May 3. Lee responded by attacking the Union column in the dense woods and underbrush of an area known as the Wilderness, west of Fredericksburg, Virginia. May 7, 1864- Beginning of the Atlanta Campaign. With three Union armies under his command, General William T. Sherman marched south from Tennessee into Georgia against the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General Joseph Johnston, the objective being the city of Atlanta. May 8-21, 1864- Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia . Lee successfully stalls Grant's drive toward Richmond. May 11, 1864- Battle of Yellow Tavern.

Six miles north of Richmond, Confederate cavalry under General J.E.B. Stuart blocked a force of Union cavalry under General Philip Sheridan. General Stuart was mortally wounded during the encounter. May 14-15, 1864- Battle of Resaca, Georgia. General Sherman's armies are blocked at Resaca by General Johnston's Army of Tennessee. After two days of maneuvering and intense fighting, Johnston withdraws. Sherman will advance but take precautions against ordering any further massed assaults where high casualties may occur. June 1-3, 1864- Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia . Relentless and bloody Union attacks fail to dislodge Lee's army from its strong line of defensive works northeast of Richmond. June 8, 1864- Abraham Lincoln is nominated by his party for a second term as president. June 10, 1864- Battle of Brice's Crossroads, Mississippi - In spite of being outnumbered almost two to one, Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest attacks and routs the Union command under General Samuel Sturgis. June 15-18, 1864- Assault on Petersburg, Virginia .

After withdrawing from the lines at Cold Harbor, the Army of the Potomac crossed the James River and with troops from the Army of the James attacked the outer defenses of Petersburg, the primary junction for several southern railroads. After four days of bloody attacks, Grant accepts that only a siege can systematically isolate the city and cut off Confederate supplies to the capital of Richmond. June 19, 1864- The USS Kearsarge sinks the Confederate raider CSS Alabama near Cherbourg, France. June 27, 1864- Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia . After weeks of maneuvering and battles, Sherman's Army of the Cumberland and Army of the Tennessee smash headlong into Johnston's carefully planned defenses at Big and Little Kennesaw. Johnston remains on this line until July 2, when he retreats at the threat being flanked by Sherman's mobile force. July 9, 1864- Battle of Monocacy, Maryland . In an attempt to draw Union troops away from the ongoing siege of Petersburg and Richmond, a Confederate force under Jubal Early quietly moved north into Maryland.

Early had made excellent progress until he reached Frederick, Maryland, where a force of 6,000 Federal troops under General Lew Wallace, was arrayed to delay his advance. Though the battle was a Union defeat, it was also touted as "the battle that saved Washington" for it succeeded in holding back Early's march until troops could be sent to the capital's defense. July 11-12, 1864- Attack on the Defenses of Washington. Jubal Early's troops arrive on the outskirts of Washington, DC, and trade cannon fire with a token Union force remaining in the forts around the city. President Lincoln observes the skirmishing from Fort Stevens as reinforcements from the Army of the Potomac arrive and quickly fill in the works. Early withdraws that evening. July 14-15, 1864- Battles near Tupelo, Mississippi. The Union defeat of Nathan Bedford Forrest secured the supply lines to Sherman's armies operating against Atlanta, Georgia. July 17, 1864- General John Bell Hood replaces General Joseph Johnston as commander of the Army of Tennessee.

This change in command signals a new Confederate strategy to thwart Sherman's campaign, though the end result will be disastrous for the southern cause. July 20, 1864- Battle of Peachtree Creek, Georgia, the first major battle around the city of Atlanta. General Hood sends his army out of the city's defenses to attack the approaching Federal troops under George Thomas. After several hours of fierce fighting, Hood withdrew back to his own defensive works. July 21, 1864- The Battle of Atlanta. Hood's second effort to throw back Union forces under Sherman brings him heavy casualties with no positive results. General James McPherson, commander of the Union Army of the Tennessee, is killed during the fighting. July 30, 1864- The Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, Virginia . After a month of tunneling by soldiers of the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, a massive mine was exploded under a Confederate fort in the Petersburg siege lines. The infantry charge that followed was poorly coordinated and by day's end, Confederate counterattacks had driven out the Union troops and the siege lines remained unchanged. August 5, 1864- Battle of Mobile Bay.

A Union fleet under Admiral David Farragut steamed into Mobile Bay outside the city of Mobile, Alabama, defended by two strong forts and a small southern flotilla, including the formidable ironclad CSS Tennessee. Farragut's ships defeated the Confederate ships and bypassed the forts, capturing the important southern port. August 18-19, 1864- Battles on the Weldon Railroad near Petersburg, Virginia. Union attempts to capture this important railroad into Petersburg were stopped by Confederate counterattacks. Despite southern efforts, the Union remained in firm possession of their gains and the railroad. August 25, 1864- Battle of Ream's Station, near Petersburg, Virginia. A surprise Confederate counterattack briefly stopped Union destruction of the Weldon Railroad near Ream's Station, though failed to release the Union grip on this important supply line into Petersburg. August 31- September 1, 1864- Battle of Jonesborough, Georgia. The final southern counterattack against Union troops outside the city of Atlanta fails. September 1, 1864- Fall of Atlanta, Georgia. Confederate troops under General Hood evacuate the city of Atlanta.

General Sherman's army occupies the city and its defenses the following day. September 19, 1864- Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia. Union forces under General Philip Sheridan attacked the Confederate army under Jubal Early near the city of Winchester and drove them southward, up the Shenandoah Valley. September 22, 1864- Battle of Fisher's Hill, Virginia. The Union Army of the Shenandoah under General Philip Sheridan attacked Jubal Early's Confederates near Fisher's Hill, overpowering the southerners and again forcing them to flee the battlefield. Union officers and officials in Washington believe this to be the final battle in the Shenandoah Valley. September 29-30, 1864- Battle of Fort Harrison near Richmond, Virginia. In a sweeping assault, the Confederate stronghold known as Fort Harrison falls to the Army of the James. Confederate efforts to retake the fort fail. October 19, 1864- The Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia .

In an early morning surprise attack, Jubal Early's Confederates successfully attack and drive troops of the Army of the Shenandoah from their camps on the banks of Cedar Creek south of Middletown, Virginia. Hearing the fight from his headquarters at Winchester, General Philip Sheridan rides southward, rallying dispirited troops who return to the battlefield. By day's end, Early's forces are put to flight. Despite several attempts to disrupt the Union advance in the coming weeks, the battle for control of the Shenandoah Valley is over. November 8, 1864- Abraham Lincoln is reelected president of the United States. November 16, 1864- General Sherman's Army of Georgia begins the "March to the Sea" November 30, 1864- Battle of Franklin, Tennessee. After a month of raiding Sherman's supply lines and attacking Union outposts, John Bell Hood's army confronts Union troops from General John Schofield's command, who they had encountered the day before near Spring Hill, Tennessee. A massive frontal assault on the well entrenched Federal line meets with disaster.

Despite some taking of outside works and defenses, the toll for Hood's forces is too heavy including the loss of six of his generals. Union troops retreat in the direction of Nashville. December 10, 1864- Harassed only by scattered Georgia militia, Sherman's Army of Georgia arrives at Savannah, Georgia, completing the famous "March to the Sea". At Savannah, his troops will take Fort McAllister and force Confederate defenders to evacuate the city. December 15-16, 1864- The Battle of Nashville, Tennessee. The Confederate Army under John Bell Hood is thoroughly defeated and the threat to Tennessee ends. January 15, 1865- Assault and capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Union occupation of this fort at the mouth of the Cape Fear River closes access to Wilmington, the last southern seaport on the east coast that was open to blockade runners and commercial shipping. February 1, 1865- Sherman's Army leaves Savannah to march through the Carolinas. February 17, 1865- Sherman's Army captures Columbia, South Carolina while Confederate defenders evacuate Charleston, South Carolina.

February 22, 1865- Wilmington, NC, falls to Union troops, closing the last important southern port on the east coast. On this same day, Joseph E. Johnston is restored to command the nearly shattered Army of the Tennessee, vice John B. Hood who resigned a month earlier. March 4, 1865- President Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated for his second term as president in Washington, DC. March 11, 1865- Sherman's Army occupies Fayetteville, North Carolina. March 16 and 19-21, 1865- The Battles of Averasborough and Bentonville, North Carolina. Sherman's army is stalled in its drive northward from Fayetteville but succeeds in passing around the Confederate forces toward its object of Raleigh. March 25, 1865- Attack on Fort Stedman, Petersburg, Virginia. Touted as "Lee's last offensive", Confederate troops under General John B. Gordon attack and briefly capture the Union fort in the Petersburg siege lines in an attempt to thwart Union plans for a late March assault.

By day's end, the southerners have been thrown out and the lines remain unchanged. April 1, 1865- The Battle of Five Forks, Virginia . The Confederate defeat at Five Forks initiates General Lee's decision to abandon the Petersburg-Richmond siege lines. April 2, 1865- The Fall of Petersburg and Richmond . General Lee abandons both cities and moves his army west in hopes of joining Confederate forces under General Johnston in North Carolina. April 3, 1865- Union troops occupy Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia. April 6, 1865- The Battle of Sailor's Creek, Virginia. A portion of Lee's Army- almost one-third of it- is cornered along the banks of Sailor's (or "Saylor's") Creek and annihilated. April 9, 1865- Battle of Appomattox Court House and Surrender, Appomattox Court House, Virginia. After an early morning attempt to break through Union forces blocking the route west to Danville, Virginia, Lee seeks an audience with General Grant to discuss terms. That afternoon in the parlor of Wilmer McLean, Lee signs the document of surrender.

On April 12, the Army of Northern Virginia formally surrenders and is disbanded. April 14, 1865- President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated by actor John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC. On the same day, Fort Sumter, South Carolina is re-occupied by Union troops. April 26, 1865- General Joseph Johnston signs the surrender document for the Confederate Army of the Tennessee and miscellaneous southern troops attached to his command at Bennett's Place near Durham, North Carolina. May 4, 1865- General Richard Taylor surrenders Confederate forces in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana. May 10, 1865- Confederate President Jefferson Davis is captured near Irwinville, Georgia. May 12, 1865- The final battle of the Civil War takes place at Palmito Ranch, Texas. It is a Confederate victory.

May 23, 1865- The Grand Review of the Army of the Potomac in Washington, DC May 24, 1865- The Grand Review of General Sherman's Army in Washington, DC May 26, 1865- General Simon Bolivar Buckner enters into terms for surrender of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi, which are agreed to on June 2, 1865.The Civil War officially ends. The First Battle of Bull Run - Jul 21, 1861 - HISTORY.com This Day in History: 07/21/1861 - First Battle of Bull Run In This Day in History video clip: The First Battle of Bull Run, was the first major land battle of the American Civil War, fought on July 21, 1861, near Manassas, Virginia. Three months after the Civil War erupted at Fort Sumter, Union military command still believed that the Confederacy could be crushed quickly and with little loss of life.

Lead Story The First Battle of Bull Run Share this: The First Battle of Bull Run Author The First Battle of Bull Run URL Publisher A+E Networks In the first major land battle of the Civil War, a large Union force under General Irvin McDowell is routed by a Confederate army under General Pierre G.T. Beauregard. Three months after the Civil War erupted at Fort Sumter, Union military command still believed that the Confederacy could be crushed quickly and with little loss of life. In July, this overconfidence led to a premature offensive into northern Virginia by General McDowell. Searching out the Confederate forces, McDowell led 34,000 troops–mostly inexperienced and poorly trained militiamen–toward the railroad junction of Manassas, located just 30 miles from Washington, D.C. Alerted to the Union advance, General Beauregard massed some 20,000 troops there and was soon joined by General Joseph Johnston, who brought some 9,000 more troops by railroad. On the morning of July 21, hearing of the proximity of the two opposing forces, hundreds of civilians–men, women, and children–turned out to watch the first major battle of the Civil War.

The fighting commenced with three Union divisions crossing the Bull Run stream, and the Confederate flank was driven back to Henry House Hill. However, at this strategic location, Beauregard had fashioned a strong defensive line anchored by a brigade of Virginia infantry under General Thomas J. Jackson. Firing from a concealed slope, Jackson’s men repulsed a series of Federal charges, winning Jackson his famous nickname “Stonewall.” Meanwhile, Confederate cavalry under J.E.B. Stuart captured the Union artillery, and Beauregard ordered a counterattack on the exposed Union right flank. The rebels came charging down the hill, yelling furiously, and McDowell’s line was broken, forcing his troops in a hasty retreat across Bull Run. The retreat soon became an unorganized flight, and supplies littered the road back to Washington. Union forces endured a loss of 3,000 men killed, wounded, or missing in action while the Confederates suffered 2,000 casualties. The scale of this bloodshed horrified not only the frightened spectators at Bull Run but also the U.S.

government in Washington, which was faced with an uncertain military strategy in quelling the “Southern insurrection.” Related Videos Civil War 1860 1865 Timeline | Preceden Lincoln was elected November 6 1860 The election was held on this date. It was served as the immediate impetus outbreak for the American civil war. The secession Formally withdrawing from a government/country/federation. South Carolina was the first state. Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address March 4 1861 This speech was addressed to the people of the south. The message that was meant to be spread to succinctly state Lincoln's intended policies and desires toward that section. First battle of bull run July 21 1861 this was also known as the "first Manassas" . Was fought in Prince William Country, Virginia near the town Manassas. This was the first major land battle of the American civil war. Battle of cheat mountain September 12, 1861 - September 15, 1861 It was the first battle in the civil war in witch Robert E Lee led troops into combat.

Battle of Ironclades March 8 1862 - March 9 1862 This was the most important navel battle of the American Civil War. It fought over a few days. This took place in Hampton roads. The battle of Shiloh April 6 1862 - April 7 1862 Was a major battle in the western theatre. Fought in southwestern Tennessee. Battle of Antietam September 17 1862 Was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Union Soil. Also known as Battle of Sharpsburg. Emancipation Proclamation Was an order issued to all segments of the Executive Branch to the United States. Battle of Gettysburg July 1 1863 - July 3 1863 This was the battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War. This was often described as the wars turning point. New York riots July 13, 1863 - July 16, 1863 The riots were the largest civil insurrection in the American history.

This took place in New York City 54th of Massachusetts attacks Fort Wagner July 18 1863 At 8:15am union artillery opened fire from the south. Soon after that a fired was joined from eleven of Dahlgren's ships Gettysburg address November 19 1863 This is a speech given by President Abraham Lincoln. This speech was known as best in American history. This speech was delivered at the Dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg Pennsylvania Grant named General-in-chief March 2 1864 This looked at the important events related to the American civil war. It was fought between April 1861 and April 1865 Sherman's March to the Sea November 15 1864 - December 21 1864 Sherman's March to the Sea is the name the was given to the Savannah Campaign. The campaign began with Sherman's troops leaving the captured city of Atlanta Georgia. Lincoln's second inaugural address March 4 1865 He delivered his second address as a president of the United States. At the time within days and slavery was near to end.

Lincoln did not speak of any happiness, but of sadness. Battle of Appomattox court house April 9 1865 This was the final engagement of the confederate states army general Robert E. Lee's army of Northern Virginia before it surrendered to the Union Army under Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. One of the last battles of the American Civil War. Kids History: Civil War Battles of 1861 and 1862 After the first shot was fired at the Battle of Fort Sumter, the American Civil War would escalate. Many more battles would be fought over the next few years. First Battle of Bull Run This was the first major land battle of the war. It took place on July 21, 1861 near the city of Manassas, Virginia. General Irvin McDowell led the Union troops against P.T. Beauregard's Confederate Army. The goal was to capture the Confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia. The Union forces were doing well at first until reinforcements came for the south. The Confederate Army started to gain ground and soon the Union forces were fleeing.

The Capture of Fort Donelson On February 14-15, 1862, the Union Army under Ulysses S. Grant captured Fort Donelson from the Confederates. This is the first major Union victory in the war and opened up a route for the Union Army into Northern Alabama. The Battle of the Monitor and Merrimac CSS Virginia by Clary Ray This was one of the most significant naval battles during the civil war primarily because of the new kinds of warships used. It was fought on March 8-9, 1862 near Hampton Roads, Virginia. The Monitor and Merrimac were the first iron clad warships. This meant that instead of just being made of wood, like all the ships before them, they had hard iron on the outside making them very durable against cannon fire. These new ships could easily defeat wooden ships and changed the way navy warships were made around the world. In the actual battle, both ships survived and the fight was largely inconclusive. Battle of Shiloh Fought in Tennessee on April 6-7, 1862, the Battle of Shiloh was the largest battle fought in the western part of the country.

The Confederate Army, led by General's Albert Johnston and P.T. Beauregard, attacked the Union Army led by General Ulysses S. Grant . They won the first day, however, General Johnston was killed and they stopped the attack. The next day reinforcements arrived for the North. The North counterattacked and drove back the Confederate Army. Both sides suffered heavy losses. There were around 20,000 casualties and 3500 deaths in this battle. The Battle of New Orleans The city of New Orleans was the largest city in the Confederacy and a major port as well. Flag officer David G. Farragut led the attack of the Union Navy from the Mississippi River. He first attempted to bombard the two forts, Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip, but was unsuccessful. Then he broke through the chain between the two forts in the river and proceeded to the city of New Orleans. Once in New Orleans he took control of the city on April 24, 1862. This was an important victory for the Union. Seven Days Battles The Seven Days Battles took place between June 25, 1862 and July 1, 1862.

There were six major battles fought during this time near the city of Richmond, Virginia. General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army attempted to capture the Union Army under General George B. McClellan. As McClellan's army retreated, Lee continued to attack. McClellan managed to escape, but Lee had gained a victory which increased the moral of the South. Battle of Antietam and Troops at Antietam by The New York Times This was the first major battle fought in the North. It was fought near Sharpsburg, Maryland on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam is known as the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. There were over 23,000 casualties and 4600 deaths. The Confederate Army, led by General Robert E. Lee, was vastly outnumbered, but still managed to harass and fight off the more conservative Union Army, led by General George B. McClellan. Eventually, though, the Union Amy was able to push back Lee's army and cause them to retreat from Northern soil.

Battle of Fredericksburg This battle took place on December 11-15, 1862 at Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was a huge battle involving over 180,000 soldiers. The North was led by General Ambrose Burnside and the South was led by General Robert E. Lee. The North was leading a major attack into the South. General Lee managed to fight them back with a much smaller force. It was considered a major victory for the Southern forces. Activities B/W PDF Version Description: A map of operations for the First Battle of Bull Run or First Battle of Manassas, the initial major land battle of the American Civil War, July 21, 1861. The map shows Bull Run Creek, the towns of Manassas, Centerville, the Stone Bridge, Warrenton Turnpike, Sudley Road, railroads, the strategic fords of Bull Run Creek, the route of the Union Army, and battle positions of Evens, Cocke, Bee, Bonham, Longstreet, Jackson, Early, Holms, and Ewell.

Place Names: Civil War, Manassas, Bull Run, Centrevill ISO Topic Categories: location, inlandWaters, transportation, intelligenceMilitary Keywords: First Battle of Bull Run, physical, historical, transportation, kBattle, physical features, roads, Civil War, location, inlandWaters, transportation, intelligenceMilitary, Unknown, July 21, 1861 Source: E. Benjamin Andrews, History of the United States (New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1895) 351 Map Credit: Courtesy the private collection of Roy Winkelman Battle Summary: Manassas, First, VA Other Names: First Bull Run Location: Fairfax County and Prince William County Campaign: Manassas Campaign (July 1861) Date(s): July 21, 1861 Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell [US]; Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and Brig. Gen. P.G.T.

Beauregard [CS] Forces Engaged: 60,680 total (US 28,450; CS 32,230) Estimated Casualties: 4,700 total (US 2,950; CS 1,750) Description: This was the first major land battle of the armies in Virginia. On July 16, 1861, the untried Union army under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell marched from Washington against the Confederate army, which was drawn up behind Bull Run beyond Centreville. On the 21st, McDowell crossed at Sudley Ford and attacked the Confederate left flank on Matthews Hill. Fighting raged throughout the day as Confederate forces were driven back to Henry Hill. Late in the afternoon, Confederate reinforcements (one brigade arriving by rail from the Shenandoah Valley) extended and broke the Union right flank. The Federal retreat rapidly deteriorated into a rout. Although victorious, Confederate forces were too disorganized to pursue. Confederate Gen. Bee and Col. Bartow were killed. Thomas J.

Jackson earned the nom de guerre �Stonewall.� By July 22, the shattered Union army reached the safety of Washington. This battle convinced the Lincoln administration that the war would be a long and costly affair. McDowell was relieved of command of the Union army and replaced by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, who set about reorganizing and training the troops. Result(s): Confederate victory Bull Run - Civil War Academy - American Civil War Civil War Academy - American Civil War Bull Run July 21, 1861 The first battle of Bull Run was fought on July 21st 1861. This was the first major land battle of the Civil War. Both the Union and Confederate armies were very green and had virtually no combat experience. Yet they both had soaring morale, and believed the war would be decided in a single battle. A Confederate army under the command of General P.G.T. Beauregard was encamped 25 miles southwest of Washington near Manassas VA. This made Lincoln and the citizens of Washington extremely nervous. Lincoln wanted this threat to be removed from the nation’s capital as soon as possible.

The commander of the Union army Major General Irvin McDowell was not particularly eager to invade the south. McDowell knew this his “army” was not a professional force. There were a few good regiments with good quality soldiers but the vast majority were simply militia volunteers with no military experience. He feared disaster if these men went into battle before they were ready. Lincoln was very much aware of the military situation. He was also aware that the rebel troops were just as green and inexperienced as the Union troops. As Lincoln stated to McDowell “You are green it is true, but they are green also, you are all green alike.” Lincoln was also aware that most of the Union soldiers had only 3-month enlistments and very soon their enlistments would be up. Time was not on Lincoln’s side. He ordered McDowell to attack. General McDowell started south toward Manassas with around 35,000 troops. The Union troops were very confident that all they had to do was simply go to Manassas meet the rebels, rout them in battle and destroy the rebellion. They believed this was going to be a very easy victory and the war would be over almost as soon as it began.

Hundreds of citizens of Washington traveled with the troops so they could see for themselves the defeat of the rebellion at the battle of Bull Run. It was almost a party atmosphere, people rode to the battle in carriages they had picnics and were expecting a good show. The Union army was not disciplined and the troops did not particularly like to follow orders so it took its time getting to Manassas. The army eventually made its way 25 miles south to the railroad junction in about two days time. Waiting for them at Bull Run General Beauregard set up his troops in a position along Bull Run Creek. On July 21st McDowell ordered the advance across Bull Run. His plan relied on a successful flanking attacking against the Confederate left. Two divisions were assigned the task of out flanking the rebel lines near Sudley Springs Ford. These troops marched for 7 hours over very rough terrain. They had hoped to surprise the rebels however Confederate General Nathan Evans was warned with semaphore flags signals that Union troops had been spotted marching around his position and that if he did not act quickly his left flank would be turned! Realizing the imminent danger he was in Evans quickly turned his troops to face the new threat.

The rebels set up a defensive position on top of Mathews Hill. As Federal troops approached the Confederates began firing on them, this turned into a two-hour battle in which the rebels were slowly and then more quickly forced back off of Matthews Hill and onto Henry House Hill. On Henry House Hill the fighting continued and the southern troops continued falling back on the verge of running. The southern troops were beginning to break and for a time it looked as though the Union was going to have it’s great victory. The Confederate left was crumbling and the Union troops thought the battle was won and the war was over. Even General McDowell said at this point that they had won a great victory. The battle was as good as won. Despite the Union claims of victory at Bull Run, the southern troops were far from defeated. It was at this point that General Thomas Jackson entered history. It was his brigade that held the line atop Henry House Hill and did not run. His was the only unit still holding it’s ground. His men became a rallying point for the retreating rebels.

General Bernard Bee while riding his horse into the stream of men fleeing from Matthew’s Hill rallied his men by shouting them to “Look there is Jackson with his Virginians, standing like a stone wall” The rebels immediately rallied around Jackson and a new defensive line was formed. There has always been debate as to what exactly General Bee meant by his comment. Was it a compliment to Jackson for standing in the face of enemy attacks and not retreating? Or was it an insult basically saying look at Jackson just standing there doing nothing to help out his fellow soldiers. No one knows for sure, and no one had the chance to ask General Bee himself for clarification because he was killed only a few minutes after making that now historical comment. No matter what he may have meant by it the name stuck and Thomas Jackson forever became known as Stonewall Jackson. The first civilian death of the war occurred during the fighting on Henry House Hill. Judith Henry an elderly widow in her 80’s lived in the house on the hill. She was ill and could not move from her bed. During the fighting Union artillery hit her home entering her bedroom and cutting off her foot, which resulted in her death. General Joseph E.

Johnston soon arrived at Manassas by train and headed straight to where the bulk of the fighting was occurring at Henry House Hill with much needed Confederate reinforcements. Union troops were continually attacking the hill trying to sweep the rebels off but they were being repelled after each attempt. The Federal troops had been marching and fighting without food or water for over 14 hours and were becoming increasingly fatigued. At this point they were barely able to continue fighting. Meanwhile Johnston’s arrival with fresh troops prompted General Beauregard to order a massive counterattack This attack broke the Union lines. It quickly became a rout; Federal troops were in a full run crossing back over the Bull Run Creek wherever they came upon it. As Union troops and civilians streamed away from the battlefield along the Warrenton Pike a Confederate artillery piece was moved forward and fired a shell into the retreating masses as they were crowded together trying to cross a stone bridge. This caused absolute panic among the Federal troops and civilians. The withdraw along the road became a rout. Troops abandoned the road and fled through fields in the direction of Washington and safety. It was sheer panic and it was every man for himself.

This rout became known as “The Great Skedaddle” The Confederates did not chase after the Federals. The fact is they could not. They too were exhausted and in not much condition to continue fighting. All they wanted to do was rejoice in their victory over the Union at the battle of Bull Run. And they did. Related Pages:

Question: Occurring on 21 July 1861, on what was the first major land battle of the American Civil War?
Answer: First Bull Run