The First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas)
One hundred and fifty years ago the North and South fought one of the first major battles of the Civil War, the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas). This week on the Civil War Day by Day blog, read letters and diary entries that portray the famous battle from a variety of vantage points, including the battlefield, the home, and the hospital. In particular, check out these upcoming posts:
- 18 July: a letter from a wife to her husband as she waits apprehensively for news of his safety as the battle commences
- 19 July: a letter from a Union soldier to his family describing the sudden attack upon his unit, written from the center of the action
- 20 July: a letter from a Confederate soldier to his wife describing the Union ambush of July 17th and the frantic retreat of General Beauregard’s troops
- 21 July: a detailed diary entry from a Union surgeon describing his capture by Confederate troops
- 22 July: in a letter to his parents, a Confederate soldier vividly recounts the bloody scene as his battalion checks the advance of Federal forces
- 23 July: a letter from a Union soldier to his family describing his encounter with “the Rebels” and subsequent separation from his unit
- 24 July: newspaper coverage of the battle from the Wilmington (N.C.) Daily Journal
- 25 July: in a quick note home, a Union soldier describes the rumbling unrest in his regiment as privates question their commanding officers
News about First Bull Run continued to flow over the following weeks and months. There are many additional posts that contain mentions of this critical battle. To see a full list, please click on the tag for the First Battle of Bull Run.
