ONE OF MY FAVORITES!
Posted on 08/29/2006 3:59:35 AM PDT by mainepatsfan
Manassas, Second
Other Names: Manassas, Second Bull Run, Manassas Plains, Groveton, Gainesville, Brawner's Farm
Location: Prince William County
Campaign: Northern Virginia Campaign (June-September 1862)
Date(s): August 28-30, 1862
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. John Pope [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee and Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]
Forces Engaged: Armies
Estimated Casualties: 22,180 total (US 13,830; CS 8,350)
Description: In order to draw Pope’s army into battle, Jackson ordered an attack on a Federal column that was passing across his front on the Warrenton Turnpike on August 28. The fighting at Brawner Farm lasted several hours and resulted in a stalemate. Pope became convinced that he had trapped Jackson and concentrated the bulk of his army against him. On August 29, Pope launched a series of assaults against Jackson’s position along an unfinished railroad grade. The attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides. At noon, Longstreet arrived on the field from Thoroughfare Gap and took position on Jackson’s right flank. On August 30, Pope renewed his attacks, seemingly unaware that Longstreet was on the field. When massed Confederate artillery devastated a Union assault by Fitz John Porter’s command, Longstreet’s wing of 28,000 men counterattacked in the largest, simultaneous mass assault of the war. The Union left flank was crushed and the army driven back to Bull Run. Only an effective Union rearguard action prevented a replay of the First Manassas disaster. Pope’s retreat to Centreville was precipitous, nonetheless. The next day, Lee ordered his army in pursuit. This was the decisive battle of the Northern Virginia Campaign.
Result(s): Confederate victory
(Excerpt) Read more at cr.nps.gov ...
ONE OF MY FAVORITES!
Probably the high water mark of the confederate war effort.
Agreed. I don't believe Britain and France were ever closer to recognizing the Confederacy than after that battle.
I know they had to squeeze in two years of the war but I was dissapointed they did nothing on this battle and Antietam.
Less than three weeks later Lee would lose to McClellan at Antietam. A week after that Lincoln would issue his Emacipation Proclamation and change the face of the war in the eyes of the rest of the world. And your right, what ever slim chance there was for European recognition that existed prior to that point was dead forever.
Gettysburg gets all the attention but to me there was much more at stake at Antietam.
The movie was such a mish-mash of unconnected incidents that it was impossible for anyone not a Civil War buff to follow it. I saw it in a theater and as I was walking out of it, I swear to God, a girl walking ahead of me turned to her boyfriend and asked, "Now which side did this Jackson guy fight for again?" That miserable scene where the actors are singing "Bonnie Blue Flag" ran longer than some battles. All in all a miserable picture. "Gettysburg" was the better effort.
Perhaps. But at this time it was the war in the west that was rapidly killing the confederacy, and nothing Lee did could ever stop that.
Military history ping
Agreed. The west is overlooked by many today as it was then.
This was way before The Army of the Potomac got on the right track...and got rid of a long line of commanding generals and got guys like Grant, Sheridan and Sherman to get the job done right......
before that was the clown show of George B. McClellan and the comedy styings of Ambrose Burnsides et al....and of course the biggest problem of the north, the running of the war by politicians....(sound familiar?)
That being said, I did think the Chancellorsville flanking attack was a thrilling scene.
As mainpatsfan points out, the war in the West gets little attention. But it was bringing the generals from the West; Grant & Sherman, that got the Army of the Potomac in step. Mead was able to eke out a victory over Lee at Gettysburg, but didn't have the dogged determination that Grant/Sherman had to drive the South to destruction.
"At noon, Longstreet arrived on the field from Thoroughfare Gap and took position on Jackson’s right flank. On August 30, Pope renewed his attacks, seemingly unaware that Longstreet was on the field."
He who wins the reconnaissance fight, wins the battle. True then and true now.
Johnny Horton - Battle Of Bull Run
the sun shone bright and clear that day , we all left washington.
to whip the rebel boys in grey,at the battle of bull run.
well I held my momma's hand and skipped, when a solder said to me.
would you rather have jeb davis hat , or the sword of bobby lee................
CHORUS:::::::::
We said we'll run-em' through Atlanta, and through Galveston Bay.
But they run us back to Washington, and Phillidephi-a , and Phillidelphi-a
The ladies wore thier brightest dress the men thier suits they came from ole virgini-a and some from mary-land.
to see the rebel boys get spanked, from 'Honest Abe's' broad hand...........
CHORUS
the fight locked in the just of time,to horrible to tell.
Virginny's cold green country side, became a' Lake of Hell.'
so, don't count your chicks before their hatched,or your work until' its done.
remember,yes, remember long , ' TheBattle of Bull Run.........................................
CHORUS.........
Longstreet finally showed his ability to co-ordinate a mass attack. His five division assault could have been strategically decisive if Stuart had taken the bridge behind the Federal lines. This was one battle in the East which had the numbers close to even, the Confederates gave their best performance of the war in the complete campaign.
Hats off to Longstreet...
dvwjr
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