The Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was a very decisive battle that shed light on the course that would be taken by the American Civil War. It demonstrated how both sides were completely unprepared for the war, and also showed how planning and preparation were integral components to the war. Although the Confederacy won the battle on paper, the first Battle of Bull run proved that no side was prepared for the war. The result of the war was a 9-month hiatus to prepare.
The Union front was led by Generals Irvine McDowell and Robert Patterson, and they commanded around 49,000 men. They were opposed by two Confederate armies, with about 31,000 troops, one led by General Joseph E. Johnston, another led by General Pierre G.T. Beauregard. Even with the large numbers of troops, the battle resulted in grave losses for both sides. The war itself was not taken very seriously before this decisive battle, as people were picnicking along the side of the war. However, this battle evidently showed that this war would not be over within 90 days, as people previously expected it to be.
The First Battle of Bull Run was a very decisive battle that shed light on the course that would be taken by the American Civil War. It demonstrated how both sides were completely unprepared for the war, and also showed how planning and preparation were integral components to the war. Although the Confederacy won the battle on paper, the first Battle of Bull run proved that no side was prepared for the war. The result of the war was a 9-month hiatus to prepare.
The Union front was led by Generals Irvine McDowell and Robert Patterson, and they commanded around 49,000 men. They were opposed by two Confederate armies, with about 31,000 troops, one led by General Joseph E. Johnston, another led by General Pierre G.T. Beauregard. Even with the large numbers of troops, the battle resulted in grave losses for both sides. The war itself was not taken very seriously before this decisive battle, as people were picnicking along the side of the war. However, this battle evidently showed that this war would not be over within 90 days, as people previously expected it to be.
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Civilian Letters
These diary entries written by Mary Henry were chosen to show how the civilian population that was present during Bull Run viewed the battle and also the Civil War, as a whole. Since it is a primary source document, it shows everything, feelings, as well as events and more. It contributes an understanding of how Bull Run happened, and her, as an individual, outlook.
Source: Henry, Mary. "Mary Henry Diary - First Battle of Manassas, July 1861." Mary Henry Diary - First Battle of Manassas, July 1861. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
These diary entries written by Mary Henry were chosen to show how the civilian population that was present during Bull Run viewed the battle and also the Civil War, as a whole. Since it is a primary source document, it shows everything, feelings, as well as events and more. It contributes an understanding of how Bull Run happened, and her, as an individual, outlook.
Source: Henry, Mary. "Mary Henry Diary - First Battle of Manassas, July 1861." Mary Henry Diary - First Battle of Manassas, July 1861. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
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Early Espionage
This is an encoded message written in cipher by Rose O’Neal Greenhow, an espionage for the Confederacy. This image is significant because it depicts an example of Greenhow’s work, which was a significant factor in the result of the Battle of Manassas. President Davis credited Greenhow for winning the Battle of Manassas, and the fact that the Confederacy won this first battle significantly impacted the course of the entire war.
Source: Greenhow, Rose O. "Rose O'Neal Greenhow." Seized Correspondence of. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
This is an encoded message written in cipher by Rose O’Neal Greenhow, an espionage for the Confederacy. This image is significant because it depicts an example of Greenhow’s work, which was a significant factor in the result of the Battle of Manassas. President Davis credited Greenhow for winning the Battle of Manassas, and the fact that the Confederacy won this first battle significantly impacted the course of the entire war.
Source: Greenhow, Rose O. "Rose O'Neal Greenhow." Seized Correspondence of. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
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The Course of the Battle
This is a detailed Map of the battlegrounds of Bull Run from which the name of the battle came from the Bull River or “Run”. After retaliating several attacks enacted by the Union General Irving McDowell, under commander Pierre Beauregard, the Confederates were able to launch a counterattack that drove the Union army back towards Washington.
Source: Bamberger, Solomon. "Title: Map of the Battles of Bull Run Near Manassas." WDL RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
This is a detailed Map of the battlegrounds of Bull Run from which the name of the battle came from the Bull River or “Run”. After retaliating several attacks enacted by the Union General Irving McDowell, under commander Pierre Beauregard, the Confederates were able to launch a counterattack that drove the Union army back towards Washington.
Source: Bamberger, Solomon. "Title: Map of the Battles of Bull Run Near Manassas." WDL RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
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The Horrific Aftermath
This photograph was taken hours after the battle and clearly depicts the unexpected destruction that the Civil War would bring upon the Nation. This is a very significant photograph in that it represents how the Nation did not anticipate how impacting the war would be. Both “Nations” incorrectly predicted the war would last a maximum of 90 days. After Bull Run, however, citizens realized the war would drag on for much longer.
Source: The Photographic History of The Civil War in Ten Volumes: Volume Five, Forts and Artillery. The Review of Reviews Co., New York. 1911. p. 19
This photograph was taken hours after the battle and clearly depicts the unexpected destruction that the Civil War would bring upon the Nation. This is a very significant photograph in that it represents how the Nation did not anticipate how impacting the war would be. Both “Nations” incorrectly predicted the war would last a maximum of 90 days. After Bull Run, however, citizens realized the war would drag on for much longer.
Source: The Photographic History of The Civil War in Ten Volumes: Volume Five, Forts and Artillery. The Review of Reviews Co., New York. 1911. p. 19
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/0/4/25043004/169765169.jpg)
A Battlefield Picnic
This image portrays a family that observed the war from the sidelines. We used this image of people picnicking on the side to highlight the fact that civilians did not take this war very seriously at all. Instead, it made the war seem like a trivial matter. When the war resumed after 9 months, picnics stopped and the war no longer seemed like fun and games.
Source: http://historydrinks.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/bullrun3.jpg
This image portrays a family that observed the war from the sidelines. We used this image of people picnicking on the side to highlight the fact that civilians did not take this war very seriously at all. Instead, it made the war seem like a trivial matter. When the war resumed after 9 months, picnics stopped and the war no longer seemed like fun and games.
Source: http://historydrinks.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/bullrun3.jpg