Second Battle of Bull Run

Second Battle of Bull Run

The Second Battle of Bull Run was a very important victory for the South. In fact, it was the most decisive battle in the Northern Virginia campaign for the Confederates. The Second Battle of Bull Run was fought on August 28th through 30th, 1862 near Bull Run, in Manassas, Virginia. The Union started with 62,000 men and the South started with 50,000. The Southern commander was General Lee and the Union commander was General Pope.

After failing to capture Richmond, the North decided they would combine the armies of General McClellan and General Pope. By August 29th Pope, with about 35,000 men, were driven North by the South, who had about 50,000 men under the command of General Lee. General Jackson, with about 23,000 troops, came from the East to attack General Pope from behind.

In order to draw Pope’s army into battle, Jackson ordered an attack on a Federal column that was passing across his front on the Warrenton Turnpike on August 28. The fighting at Brawner Farm lasted several hours and resulted in a stalemate. Pope became convinced that he had trapped Jackson and concentrated the bulk of his army against him. Union troops turned to fight Jackson’s troops. Jackson was reinforced by Lee and Longstreet’s Troops. On the second Day Longstreet’s troops forced the Union out of the field. Pope went north and was joined by McClellan and went into Washington D.C.

The Union left flank was crushed and the army driven back to Bull Run. Only an effective Union rearguard action prevented a replay of the First Manassas disaster. Popeís retreat to Centreville was precipitous, nonetheless. The next day, Lee ordered his army in pursuit. This was the decisive battle of the Northern Virginia Campaign. When massed Confederate artillery devastated a Union assault by Fitz John Porterís command, Longstreet’s wing of 28,000 men counterattacked in the largest, simultaneous mass assault of the war.