Bull Run, Battles Of

Two engagements of the American Civil War fought at a stream near Manassas, Va. The first battle (also called First Manassas) was fought on July 21, 1861, between 37,000 Union troops under Gen. Irvin McDowell (1818–85) and 35,000 Confederate troops under P.G.T. Beauregard and Joseph Johnston. In this first major encounter of the war, the Union assault was beaten back and the army retreated to Washington, D.C.

The second battle took place on Aug. 29–30, 1862, between a Confederate force of more than 56,000 under Robert E. Lee and a Union army of more than 70,000 under John Pope. To prevent the Union army from being joined by the Army of the Potomac, Lee sent troops under Stonewall Jackson to march around Pope's right flank. Lee's attack forced the Union troops to withdraw as far as Washington, D.C. Casualties numbered 15,000 for the North and 9,000 for the South. Both battles strengthened the South's resolve and caused the North to review its military leadership and strategy.