Download Manassas or the Battle of Bull Run

Manassas or the Battle of Bull Run
I. Forcing the South Back
A. Lt. General Winfield Scott
General in chief
Advise the president
Worry about the capital
A difficult task
A long and brilliant career
Good leader and innovative
Ran for president in 1852
An imposing man
Not the same in 1861
Still had a good mind
A long range plan
Move down the Mississippi
Divide the Confederacy into two parts
Conceal the Confederate coast
If this was not enough
A major invasion
Called the Anaconda Plan in the press
The Confederates read about it
Time would be a necessary element
Take some time to put this together
B. On to Richmond
The drum beat began
Move on to the Confederate Capital
Scott thought it would take time
Proper preparation
Early in the conflict
Lincoln thought the Union could move
II. First Manassas
A. Two Names
North (terrain features)
Bull Run Creek
South (nearest town)
Manassas Junction
B. The Forces
Irvin McDowell (35,000)
Never commanded men in the field
Taught tactics at West Point
Good at the table
General Robert Patterson (18,000)
A veteran of the War of 1812
P.G.T. Beauregard (20,000)
Staff officer
Joseph E. Johnston (12,000)
C. The Plans
Confederate rail link provided a connection
McDowell
A good plan
Too complicated
Avoid a direct attack
Beauregard
Avoid a direct attack
McDowell
Marched from Washington, DC
III. Union Victory
A. The Union Moved
Went well
Promised victory
Thomas Stonewall Jackson
Slowed down
Henry House Hill
Waged for two hours
Joseph Johnston’s troops
“Rebel yell”
Turned the battle
B. Retreat
Rout
Hampered by civilians
Federal Army
Reached the Washington defenses
Washington, DC was not in jeopardy
C. Representative of Several Civil War Battles
Avoid the frontal attack
Side with interior lines
Army was driven from the field
Make a stand
D. Results
Casualties
Not high
1500 killed and wounded (Union)
2000 killed and wounded (CSA)
Seemed like a ghastly bloodletting at the time
Morale soared in the South
In the North
Mixed reactions
“First Manassas Syndrome”
Clear that it was not going to be a one battle affair