The Battle of Bull Run began at 5:15 am when Union troops began firing their artillery (cannons) at Confederate Troops. Some of the cannon balls landed near the headquarters of Confederate General P.T. Beauregard while he was eating breakfast, surprising the commander and alerting him the fight had begun!
The Fighting raged throughout the day. The battle involved nearly 60,000 troops, and although many people believed the Union would have a swift victory it was not to be. The Confederate Army had veteran leadership and more troops. Throughout the day reinforcements of soldiers flowed in by train, foot, and horseback to help support the Confederate Army.
One such Confederate commander who helped save the day for the Confederate Army was Colonel Thomas Jackson, who helped courageously hold the high ground at Henry House Hill during the battle. His courage and poise as the battle raged around him led Brigade General Barnard Elliot Bee Jr. to exclaim, "Look men! There stands Jackson like a Stonewall."
Union Troops finally broke in the late afternoon when Virginia Calvary commander, Colonel JEB Stuart charged ferociously at a mass of New York soldiers. Inexperienced, confused, and afraid the soldiers retreated, the rest of the Union Army soon followed. The retreat was a confusing and scary situation! Thousands of soldiers on foot and on horseback, retreated over narrow stone bridges, overturned wagons, and had to avoid artillery and rifle fire. Civilians who had come down from Washington to spend a day picnicking while watching "the spectacle" had to flee as well, only adding to the confusion.
Confederate troops, exhausted and disorganized from the fighting did not pursue the retreating Union Troops. The Battle of Bull Run was clearly a Confederate Victory. The Union loss convinced President Abraham Lincoln that the Civil War would be a long, horrible, bloody war that would not be over soon.
Take a look below at real battle maps!
Fore more information on the Battle of Bull Run check out the Bull Run Animated Map
The Fighting raged throughout the day. The battle involved nearly 60,000 troops, and although many people believed the Union would have a swift victory it was not to be. The Confederate Army had veteran leadership and more troops. Throughout the day reinforcements of soldiers flowed in by train, foot, and horseback to help support the Confederate Army.
One such Confederate commander who helped save the day for the Confederate Army was Colonel Thomas Jackson, who helped courageously hold the high ground at Henry House Hill during the battle. His courage and poise as the battle raged around him led Brigade General Barnard Elliot Bee Jr. to exclaim, "Look men! There stands Jackson like a Stonewall."
Union Troops finally broke in the late afternoon when Virginia Calvary commander, Colonel JEB Stuart charged ferociously at a mass of New York soldiers. Inexperienced, confused, and afraid the soldiers retreated, the rest of the Union Army soon followed. The retreat was a confusing and scary situation! Thousands of soldiers on foot and on horseback, retreated over narrow stone bridges, overturned wagons, and had to avoid artillery and rifle fire. Civilians who had come down from Washington to spend a day picnicking while watching "the spectacle" had to flee as well, only adding to the confusion.
Confederate troops, exhausted and disorganized from the fighting did not pursue the retreating Union Troops. The Battle of Bull Run was clearly a Confederate Victory. The Union loss convinced President Abraham Lincoln that the Civil War would be a long, horrible, bloody war that would not be over soon.
Take a look below at real battle maps!
Fore more information on the Battle of Bull Run check out the Bull Run Animated Map