BULL RUN. FIRST BATTLE or. The first important battle of the Civil War. It was fought on Sunday. July 21, 1.361, near a email stream of this name, in northeast Virginia, about 30 miles southwe,t of Washinoton, be tween a Federal army under General McDowell, and a Confederate army under Generals Beaure gard and Johnston. On each side the troops Were green. poorly drilled, and wholly inexperi enced. The Federal right, under Hunter. began the battle at 10 A.M. by a. think attack, and, simported by the centre nude' Tyler. drove the Confederate left before it until stopped, while ascending a slope, by a brigade under Jackson, who here earned the sobriquet 'Stonewall.' After several stubborn attacks McDowell final ly tabout 3 P.m.) gained the disputed ground, and held it for an hour: but a Confederate re enforcement having arrived, Johnston. who had Been posted in the rear of the Confederate lines, suddenly attacked in force. and drove the Fed eral troops in great confusion. first from their position, and then from the field. The defeat be •ame a rout and then a panic, and the fled in wild disorder. reaching, Washington in a state of utter demoralization. The Confederates. dis
organized almost as much by victory as the Federals were by defeat, made no attempt at pursuit. AleDowell had at his disposal about 29.000 men, and about 2SM00, though the number actually engaged Was only about 18,000 on each side. of which the Federals lost, in killed. wounded. and captured or missing. about 2800; the Confederates about 2000. The battle eaused groat consternation in the North and great enthusiasm in the South, while abroad, and especially among the upper classes in England. it was regarded a, conclusive proof of the superior lighting capacity of the ('on federate troops. It may be regarded having, in effect. changed the status of the conflict from that of a rebellion to that of a civil war. By the Confederates the battle was generally called the 'Battle of Manassas.' Consult: Official Roc s, Vol. 11. (Washington, 1SS0I: Ropes, Story of the Civil War ( '2 vols., New York, IS94-9s) ; Johnson and Buel (editors), Battles and Load , rs of the War. Vol. IV. (4 vols., New York, 1SS7) : and Nieolay and Hay. .1 Graham Lincoln : islory (10 vols., New York. 1890),