,\1; . r~ ." cM.. an9s.~g~~t~ ~t_l,'; i'b~'7:!lRun) National Battlefield Park

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OSCAR L. CHAPMAN, Secretary National Park Service Newton B. Drury, Director

Here was fought the opening field battle of the Civil War and here a year later a Confederate victory led to Lee's first invasion of the North.

ANASSAS National Battlefield Park com- "so terrified Lincoln and his Government, that M memorates two great battles of the War from now onwards until 1864, east of the Alle- Between the States fought in the vicinity of ghanies, the defense of Washington became the Bull Run, a small stream in northern Virginia pivot of Northern strategy." about 25 miles southwest of Washington, D. C. Approximately a year later, both armies, now The military significance of the Manassas area composed of seasoned veterans, were locked in lay in the junction of two railroads. The Orange a bitter struggle on the same field. After heavy and Alexandria Railway, which offered the only fighting, the Federal Army was forced back direct rail connection between Washington and upon the defenses of Washington. Second Richmond, was joined there by the Manassas Manassas stands with Chancellors ville as one of Gap Railroad, a direct route to the strategically the two most significant Confederate victories important Shenandoah Valley. of the war-in both cases the military result The opening battle of the war found ill- was invasion of the North. After Second Ma- trained citizen armies of the North and South nassas came Antietam; after Chancellorsville engaged in a struggle for this strategic railroad came Gettysburg. junction. On an eminence, known as Henry House Hill, 6 miles north of Manassas, Con- federate arms finally put to rout the Federal First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) force. This victory, the English historian Fuller July 21, 1861 points out, was very important because it led "Southern politicians. . to underestimate the THE MANASSAS campaign began shortly after fighting capacity of the enemy" and because it the outbreak of hostilities in 1861. Twenty-four

COVER: The Stone House. From a wartime photograph. days after the firing on Fort Sumter, Lee ordered Mitchell's Ford to support Bee, Bartow, and the fortification of Manassas Junction, and 7 Evans, reached Henry House Hill before noon. days later Beauregard took command of these Deploying his valley regiments behind the defenses. Meanwhile, the North clamored for a eastern crest of the hill, Jackson awaited attack quick move to capture Richmond and end the from the victorious Federal forces. Behind the war. Forced on by this popular pressure, Robinson House, 400 yards north, Bee was McDowell launched his drive onJuly 16 with striving to rally his disorganized troops. Point- an army composed chiefly of 3-months vol- ing to jackson's line, he shouted: "Look' There

unteers. He planned to attack the Confederate stands Jackson like a stone wall I Rally behind forces at Manassas while Patterson prevented a the Virginiansl" Bee's men echoed the shout Confederate Army, under Gen. J. E. Johnston, and formed on their colors. "Stonewall" Jackson from leaving Winchester and reinforcing had won his immortal name. Beauregard. Patterson's failure to do his part McDowell threw portions of four brigades contributed heavily to McDowell's defeat. against Jackson'S position in a daring offensive. Action began onJuly 18th, when a part of At the height of the attack Ricketts' and McDowell's forces was repulsed at Blackburn's Griffin's Federal batteries were advanced to Ford by Longstreet's brigade. Finding the Con- Henry House Hill directly facingJackson's line. The Ruins of the Stone Bridge, From a wartime photograph. federates intrenched along Bull Run in about The guns were captured and recaptured in con- an 8-mile line, McDowell determined to turn fused fighting, but the arrival of additional Con- Second Battle of Manassas oughfare Gap at nightfall, August 28. A small their left flank at the Stone Bridge. On July 21, federate troops from Winchester turned the tide Federal force had taken possession of the gap, August 29-30, 1862 he made a feint attack on Evans' men near the of battle. The desperate Confederate defense but it was thrust out, and the way was clear for bridge and sent his main column around by was changed to an attack, which routed the AFTER McClellan's failure to take Richmond in a reunion of the Confederate Armies. Sudley Ford to strike the Confederate rear. Union Army and forced it back upon Washing- the Peninsula Campaign, the Union forces Bewildered by news of the Confederate raid Evans accidentally learned of the march and ton. The Federal strength of the battle was covering Washington were consolidated under on his communications, Pope withdrew from moved his small force to meet it. Reinforced by 35,732, losses 2,708; Confederate strength Pope and ordered to advance along the Orange the Rappahannock and began concentrating in Bee and Bartow, he made a gallant stand on the 31,810, losses 1,982. and Alexandria Railway toward Gordonsville. the vicinity of Manassas Junction. On the 29th, hills north of the Warrenton Turnpike. The The Confederates failed to follow up their At Cedar Mountain, on August 9, Pope's ad- he threw his whole force against Jackson. pressure of the Federal attack, however, was victory. Instead, johnston's army settled itself vance met Jackson in the first battle of the While the battle raged north of Groveton, overwhelming. Burnside, Porter, and Heintzel- at Centreville and Manassas. There they con- campaign. Weeks of skirmish and maneuver Longstreet turned into the Warrenton Turnpike man, later joined by Sherman, struck the small structed fortified camps which were occupied followed, as Lee moved to defeat Pope before at Gainesville and, marching unopposed toward Confederate force and drove it back across the until the spring of 1862, when the position was McClellan's troops from the Peninsula could Groveton, joined Johnston and extended the pike in disorder. abandoned in an effort to counter the Union join him. Pope withdrew from the Rapidan Confederate line southward across the pike. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, marching from advance on Richmond from the Peninsula. to the Rappahannock, to which he held tena- Early on the 30th, Pope, ignorant of Long- ciously. In one of the most daring exploits of street's arrival, renewed the battle with a drive General Beauregard General McDowell General Jackson General Pope the war Lee divided his forces and sent Jackson against Jackson'S line, which he thought was by a flank march to Manassas in the rear of the withdrawing. As the attacking column staggered Federals. Here the Confederates seized the under the raking fire of Confederate batteries, Union supply base on August 26. After a day Jackson delivered a furious counterstroke. At of plenty for the poorly fed troops, the stores this juncture Longstreet wheeled his line north- were destroyed, and Jackson withdrew north- east, swept over Bald Hill, and drove on toward ward across the Warrenton Turnpike to a con- the pike. Only a resolute stand of Federal troops cealed position in the woods near Groveton. on Henry House Hill prevented Pope's lines of Securely intrenched behind the embankment of retreat from being cut and enabled him ro fall an unfinished railroad, he looked southeast over back eastward over Bull Run to Centreville. On the old battlefield of Bull Run. Lee, following September 1, Pope foiled a second Confederate Jackson from the Rappahannock with Long- attempt to cur across his line of retreat in a des- street's wing of five divisions, reached Thor- perately contested action at Ox Hill (Chantilly) · ;' '~ ., t.• v • It( / """ .I~ I ;r-"" I • 't t: ~!~ "

Administration-Museum Building and then retired to the defenses of Washington. Park, and Appomattox Court House National Lee prepared to invade Maryland. Monument. The Federal strength at the battle was ap- Service to the Public proximately 73,000, losses 14,462. Confederate strength at the battle was approximately 55,000, A MODERNmuseum and battlefield markers are losses 9,474. features of the park's interpretive program. The museum, which is open daily from 9 a. m. to % ,c. 5 p. !D., presents exhibits in such a way-as to The Park ~ develop the story of the battles in narrative se- •.~ u c; MANASSASNational Battlefield Park was desig- quence. Free leaflets, library facilities, and inter- u~; is nated a Federal area May 10, 1940. The 1,670.74 pretive services are also available at the museum. ~ acres of federally owned land in the park com- Special tours can be arranged for organizations z prise portions of the two battlefields. Henry and groups if advance notice is given to the ~ 0::: ... House Hill constitutes the most significant site superintendent.