First Bull Run (First Manassas)- This was the first major battle of the American civil war. Gen. On July 16, 1861, the Union army advanced towards the Confederates under General Beauregard near Manassas Junction in Virginia. Another Union force near Martinsburg attempted to prevent General Johnston's force from combining with Beauregard, but failed. On July 20 several thousand men from Johnston's army marched into Manassas. On July 21, General Irving McDowell attacked the Confederates at Bull Run and forced them to retreat to the Henry House Hill. Another Confederate force under, General Jackson held the Union advance. Some say it was like a "stonewall." General Jackson was then known as General Stonewall Jackson. General Smith's brought his brigade and switched to the offense against the Union forces. The Union soldiers were only volunteers, most of them untrained, so in the quarrel the retreated. The Union was worried that the Rebels would...