First Battle of Bull Run
Manassas, Virginia
July 21, 1861
The First Battle of Bull Run took place on July, 21, 1861 in Manassas, Virginia, approximately 25 miles from Washington D.C. Thinking that the Union Army would quickly crush the Confederate forces, citizens from Washington D.C. followed the Union Army out to Manassas with their picnic lunches. These citizens would slow the Union retreat back into the capital after the Confederate Army began to overrun Union positions. What would become a Union defeat was the first major land battle of the Civil War. Southern General Thomas Jackson was given his nickname “Stonewall” during the course of this battle.
Click the link below to discover how cannons were fired during the Civil War
http://www.history.com/media.do?action=clip&id=mc_civilwar_cannons_broadband
Click on the link below to take the Stonewall Jackson quiz
http://www.history.com/media.do?id=gahq_aw_whoopi_goldberg_broadband&action=clip
Follow the link below for the history of Bull Run video
http://www.history.com/media.do?action=clip&id=tdih_jul21_broadband