The First Battle of Bull Run took place on July 21, 1861 and was the first major ground combat of the American Civil War.
Prior to the battle, Irvin McDowell was appointed Commander of the Northeast Virginia Army by President Abraham Lincoln. Once at his post, McDowell was pressured by politicians and impatient citizens in Washington, who wished to see a quick victory on the battlefield over the Confederate Army in northern Virginia. McDowell, however, had a great concern about the level of training his troops, as he considered them not yet prepared for a combat in form. Against his own judgment, McDowell began the campaign. On July 16, 1861, the General left Washington.
On the morning of July 21, two Army divisions of the Union crossed Sudley Springs and hit the Confederate left. All that the Confederates had to face the 6,000 Union soldiers was the reduced brigade of 900 men of Colonel Nathan Evans.
Evans soon received reinforcements from two brigades under Barnard Bee and Francis S. Bartow, but slowly the Confederate line succumbed and broke completely. In a quick retreat from its position at Mathews Hill, what remained of the Confederate force took refuge in its line of reinforcements at Henry House Hill. This was the Virginia brigade of Thomas J. Jackson. "We have the enemy behind us," Bee told Jackson, who replied, "Then sir, we'll have to face them with the bayonet." Inspired by Jackson's cool head, Bee returned with his men and harangued them: "There is Jackson as a stonewall! Get behind the Virginians! ». That is how the legendary Stonewall Jackson was born.
Dispersed units began to gather around the Virginia brigade, and the fighting continued as the tide of federal soldiers moved almost to the edge of Henry House Hill. As soon as those troops reached the top of the hill, they faced the rifles of Jackson's men and received a full shock with devastating effect. The northern line broke and they began to retreat in what was called "the great escape".
Union casualties were 481 dead, 1,011 injured and 1,216 missing or captured. Confederate casualties were 387 dead, 1,582 injured and 13 missing. Among the first was Colonel Francis S. Bartow, who was the first Confederate brigade commander to die in the Civil War. General Bee was mortally wounded, perishing the next day.
Irwin McDowell took the weight of the blame for the defeat of the Union in Bull Run and was quickly replaced by George B. McClellan, who already sounded as the commander-in-chief of the entire Union Army.
