The Civil War part 2 - First Blood

The first battle of the Civil War was the first battle of Manassas, on July 21rst 1861. The Union General was Gen. Irvin McDowell. The General's for the Confederate side was: Joseph E. Johnston and Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard. This was the first major battle of the war. Nearly 70,000 troops were involved in this battle(US 28,450; CS 32,230). It On July 16, 1861, the untested Union army under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell marched from Washington against the Confederate army, which was drawn up behind Bull Run.
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 train from the Shenandoah Valley) extended and broke the Union right flank. The Federal retreat rapidly became into a rout. Although victorious, Confederate forces were too disorganized to pursue. . Thomas J. Jackson earned the name: “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.

A few other battles had occurred before this but this was the first field battle of the Civil War.

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