First Manassa/Bull Run (1861)

The Battle of 1st Manassas/Bull Run was the first big battle of the war and was a clear Confederate Victory. At Manassas Junction the hero of Fort Sumter General P.G.T. Beauregard stood with his Army of the Potomac to oppose any Federal invasion attempt and, at least in Beauregard's mind, to look for an opportunity to attack into the north. Beauregard's Army of the Potomac was a new army contructed of many Divisions but no Corps. It numbered around 21,000 effectives which were split between the Divisions of Millegde L. Bonham, Richard S. Ewell, David R. Jones, James Longstreet, Philip St. George Crook, Jubal A. Early, Nathan G. Evans and Theophilus H. Holmes. Opposing Beauregard's army was the Federal Army of Northeastern Virginia. This army was equally new and under the command of the inexperianced Irwin McDowell. The Army of Northeastern Virginia numbered around 28,000 effectives which likewise were split into Divisions with no Corps. Those Division were Daniel Tyler's, David Hunt... Read more