THE BATTLE OF FIRST BULL RUN - MANASSAS 1861
When war broke out, Brigadier General Irvin McDowell was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to command the union army. Once in this capacity, McDowell was under constant harassment by impatient politicians in Washington, who wished to see a quick battlefield victory over the confederate army in northern Virginia.
McDowell however, was concerned about the untried nature of his army. He was reassured by President Lincoln, that the confederates were also inexperienced. Against his better judgment, McDowell assembled his army and commenced with the advance.
On July 16th 1861, McDowell departed Washington with the largest field army ever assembled on the North American continent, around 35,000 men. McDowell's plan was to attack and pin down the confederate line at Bull Run while sending forces around the confederates right flank and cutting the railroad link back to Richmond, thus threatening the rear of the confederate army
This was a sound battle plan, for the confederate army numbering 22,000 men under General P.G.T. Beauregard were encamped and stationary near Manassas Junction. On July 18th McDowell sent 5,000 men under Brigadier General Tyler to force a pass on the confederate right flank. Tyler was however drawn into heavy fighting at Blackburns Ford and could not advance.
The stiff confederate resistance allowed Johnston's valley forces to board trains at Peidmont station and rush to Manassas and reinforce Beauregard's army.
On the morning of July 21st McDowell sent the divisions of Brigadier Generals Hunter and Heintzelman (12,000 men) from Centreville directly against the Confederate left.Tyler's division (now reinforced to 8,000 men) was to march in support directly toward the Stone Bridge.
All that stood in the path of the 20,000 union soldiers converging on the confederate left flank was Colonel Evans brigade of 2,000 men. One of Tyler's Brigade commanders, Colonel William T Sherman crossed at an unguarded ford two miles down stream and attacked the right flank of the Confederate lines.
This, coupled with the extreme pressure all along the front, collapsed Beauregard's lines shortly after 11:30 a.m, sending the confederates into a general retreat.
As the confederates regrouped on Henry House Hill, they were fortunate in that McDowell did not press his advantage with a direct assault, choosing instead to bombard the hill with artillery from atop Dogan's Ridge.
Around noon Brigadier General Thomas J Jackson's Virginia Brigade now came up in support accompanied by Colonel Hampton's Legion and Jeb Stuarts cavalry. Jackson then posted his five regiments supported by thirteen cannons on the slope of the hill.
After three hours of endless fighting, the union guns atop Dogan's Ridge were overrun by the 33rd Virginia and turned back upon the union positions. Stuart then ordered his cavalry to attack the flank of the 11th NewYork Infantry Regiment which scattered before them.
The capture of the union guns turned the tide of the battle. Although McDowell had brought 15 Regiments into the fight for the hill, the outnumbered the confederates stood firm. At about 4 p.m, the last union troops were pushed off Dogan's Ridge.
This coincided with two confederate brigades that had just arrived from the Shenandoah Valley under Colonel Early and Brigadier General Smith which easily crushed Howard's brigade. Beauregard then ordered his entire line forward, McDowell's forces crumbled and began to fall back in disarray.
As the union soldiers streamed toward the safety of Centerville, they began discarding their weapons and equipment. Expecting an easy union victory, the wealthy elite of nearby Washington, including congressmen and their families, had come to picnic and watch the battle.
When the union army was driven back, the roads to Washington were blocked by panicked civilians attempting to flee in their carriages along with thousands of fleeing union soldiers.
Beauregard and Johnston did not fully press their advantage, despite the urgings from Confederate President Jefferson Davis, who had just arrived on the battlefield in time to see the union soldiers retreating.
Under great pressure to continue with the advance, both Generals knew there forces were exhausted and chose to call off any pursuit. the battle was over.
Union casualty figures numbered 600 dead, 1,600 wounded and 900 prisoners taken. The Confederates suffered 400 dead and 1,000 wounded.
BULL RUN - MANASSAS
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