July 21, 1861: The Battle of Bull Run or Manassas

[Condem]

After some early successes, the Union Army is stopped and thrown back after two extended artillery batteries are captured at Henry Hill, due largely to the staunch resistance by a brigade of Virginians, led by Thomas Jackson, who earns the nickname "Stonewall" at Manassas.
Forced to withdraw, the Union Army panics when its retreat is blocked by the carriages of Washington civilians who have come to see the battle. The demoralized Northeners flood back into Washington which will be forever known as "the great skedaddle".
Overall, there are 5000 casualties at Bull Run. Any thought of early or a bloodless termination of the war, is ended.

Much more here: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/29/opinion/20101029-civil-war.html

[ewagner]

1. Thanks for the post

....and the link...

I remember studying this battle in a 7th grade history class...in the south...in the 1950's...General Beauagard's name was always spoken with a degree of reverence.

[Condem]

4. And the thing was Beauregard froze and lost heart at a crucial time...

..when Joseph Johnston took the iniative and sent reenforcements to the beleagured left. Changed the whole outcome. But Beauregard took the credit. A source of much animosity in the coming years.

[FLPanhandle]

2. This "realization" seems to be a feature of History.

Throughout history, people go into wars thinking they'll be quick and easy and are shocked over and over again when their opponents fight back. It's the old "We'll be home by Christmas" syndrome.

Even during the Revolutionary War, the English said, "We'll take 5000 troops and march from one end of the colonies to the other and this will be over"

Countries never learn (even to this day), when you enter an opponents land, they tend to fight back and fight back hard. Maybe if Bush ever cracked a history book, then he wouldn't have been so quick to enter Iraq.

[Blue_Tires]

3. I remember my history book saying that

even spectators and families showed up for the battle, dressed in their Sunday best and watching from the ridges like it was a football game...

[happyiowan]

5. Some more great nuggets about the opening salvo...

...http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/civil-war/