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4 2 The American Civil War^
strategic concentration and later shifted
troops from their right to their left along
shorter tactical lines. Finally, the battle
demonstrated the difficulty of achieving a
truly decisive tactical triumph. Although
battered and forced to retreat, the Union
army remained intact.
The battle had a major impact on the
home fronts. Northerners abandoned all
hopes of a speedy end to the war. Subduing
the rebels would be more difficult and costly
than many had imagined. Confederates took
heart, celebrating what they saw as the
superiority of their fighting men. The battle
remained prominent in the national
consciousness for many months because no
other major action occurred in Virginia until
the spring of 1862.
Abraham Lincoln knew he had to replace
McDowell after the ignominious result of