Historical1861
First Battle of Bull Run
The first major land battle of the Civil War was fought near Manassas, Virginia. Union forces, expected to win a quick victory, were routed by Confederate troops. Spectators from Washington, D.C. who had come to watch the battle fled alongside retreating soldiers.
Why It Matters
The Union defeat at Bull Run shattered the illusion that the Civil War would be short and easy, forcing both sides to prepare for a long and costly struggle over the future of the nation.