Places: Manassas National Battlefield Park

Manassas National Battlefield Park

Manassas, Virginia was the site of two Civil War battles referred to as the Battle of First—and Second—Manassas (Bull Run). The Battle of First Manassas, fought on July 21, 1861, found Union Brigadier General Irvin McDowell's soldiers attacking Confederate Brigadier General Pierre Toutant Beauregard's troops in the area of the stone bridge, and later on Henry House Hill. The Confederate soldiers under Brigadier General Thomas J. Jackson held their ground, and the Confederacy attained a great victory.

The Battle of Second Manassas commenced on August 28, 1862, when General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia clashed with Major General John Pope's Union Army of Virginia on the plains of Manassas, resulting in a three-day fight.

On the first day, Union General John Gibbon's "Black Hats" (later to be known as the Iron Brigade) experienced their baptism of fire at Groveton, in what would end as a draw. Day two of the battle found Union General Philip Kearny's division pressing into the lines of General Maxcy Gregg's South Carolinians at the deep cut of the unfinished railroad, and then retreating for a lack of reinforcements. On the final day, a thin line of Federal troops, unable to withstand the blow by General James Longstreet's men, collapsed in defeat. As a result of this battle—one of the greatest victories for the Confederacy—General Lee would cross the Potomac and advance his army north for the first time, thus opening the Maryland Campaign.

Manassas National Battlefield Park was established on May 10, 1940.

		Henry House Widow Judith Henry was mortally wounded by shell in this farmhouse during the combat on Henry House Hill in the Battle of First Manassas. The original house was blown apart and burned, but later rebuilt using some of the original materials. The Bull Run Monument to the right of the house was erected by Union soldiers in 1865.

John C. Brawner Farm

On day one of the Battle of Second Manassas, Union General John Gibbon's "Black Hats" spearheaded an attack here on Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's troops, in what ended as a tactical draw.

		"Deep Cut" On day two of the Battle of Second Manassas, Union General Philip Kearny's men fought hard but failed to push back the line formed by General Maxcy Gregg's South Carolinians at the deep cut of the unfinished railroad.
Photos by DLO, except Henry House by CNO.

Places Index | Previous Page | Next Page
Back | Home