First Battle of Bull Run / First Manassas Timeline (April 21st, 1861)
The First Battle of Bull Run - known as the Battle of First Manassas by the South - was the first true clash of opposing sides in the American Civil War.
There are a total of (10)First Battle of Bull Run / First Manassas Timeline (April 21st, 1861) events in the CivilWarTimeline.net database. Entries are listed below by date-of-occurrence ascending (first-to-last). Other leading and trailing events are also included for perspective.
Union commander Irvin McDowell moves his 10,000 men from Centreville in two forces moving west and south westward. His intention is to flank the left side of the Confederate army.
July 21, 1861
At 8:30AM, Confederate forces at Stone Bridge are made aware of the Union presence at Sudley Road. Confederate General N.G. Evans moves his units to cover any Union retreat.
July 21, 1861
Confederate General N.G. Evans and his men meet Union forces in battle.
July 21, 1861
Finding themselves outnumbered, General Evans and his force retreats to Henry House Hill under the Federal pressure.
July 21, 1861
The front lines repeatedly change hands in the battle as both sides make - and lose - progress.
July 21, 1861
Confederate forces withdraw from their positions at Henry House Hill.
July 21, 1861
Confederate General Thomas Jackson brings in fresh troops ready-to-fight.
July 21, 1861
At 4:00PM the Confederates manage to force Union parties into retreat back towards Centreville.
July 22, 1861
Confederate forces claim the first major victory of the war at the "Battle of First Manassas" - known to the north as the "First Battle of Bull Run". The war spanned just one day but resulted in tens of thousands of casualties including nearly 2,000 for the Confederates and over 2,700 for the Union. The battle also marks the war's first photographic images - these taken by Matthew Brady.
July 22, 1861
After heavy losses incurred by both sides, the Battle of Bull Run is over. Federal forces retreat hastily back towards the safety of Washington, D.C.
