DK - The American Civil War

The Confederates feasted on bacon and
canned lobster, while Jackson resupplied
his army with Union horses, artillery,
and ammunition.

Seizing the advantage
Pope was startled to find the Confederates
behind his front line, but their position
was precarious, and he saw a chance for
victory. With the Army of the Potomac
arriving, Pope hoped to trap and
annihilate Jackson’s forces.
On August 27, Jackson withdrew
from Manassas Junction, taking up
a defensive position on a ridge at
Groveton, near the 1861 Bull Run
battlefield. If discovered, he knew
he could not expect to hold out for
long against Pope’s reinforced army.
Confederate support was arriving in the
form of Longstreet’s corps, with Lee in
attendance, but Jackson was still alone
when the fighting started in earnest.
Pope’s scouts failed to locate Jackson’s
position. In the afternoon of August 28, a
Union column marched unawares along
the Warrenton Turnpike into sight of the
Confederate guns on the ridge. Jackson
could not resist the chance of a flank
attack and opened fire. Soon the opposing
infantry were engaged at close quarters
around Brawner’s Farm. Union Brigadier
General John Gibbon’s Black Hat Brigade
distinguished itself in a fight that cost
some regiments 70 percent in casualties.
After nightfall the Union troops withdrew.
The next day, August 29, Pope
raced to bring the weight of his army
to bear on Jackson, assuming that the
Confederate general intended to slip
away, which he did not. As a result,
Union columns were thrown piecemeal

On the morning of August 30, the Union

assaults resumed with redoubled fury.

Pope believed he was attacking nearly

defeated Rebel units. But Longstreet

was ready to intervene. He had placed

his artillery in a commanding position

on the right flank and raked advancing

Union troops with deadly fire. When

the momentum of the enemy attacks

faltered, Longstreet unleashed his five

divisions upon Pope’s army.

The final encounter

It seemed that Pope would be utterly

routed, but as his men fell back in

disarray, the general succeeded in

organizing a defense that checked the

Confederate surge and allowed an

orderly withdrawal to Centreville after

nightfall. The next day, Jackson was

dispatched on another flanking march

in an attempt to cut Pope off from

Washington, but the Confederates

were weary. After fighting the Union

rearguard in a thunderstorm at

Chantilly—an engagement in which

Kearny was killed—the Confederates

called off the pursuit. Pope’s army was

saved, although the battle had been lost.

against Confederate defenders, who

fiercely counterattacked. The most

desperate fighting pitted Union Major

General Philip Kearny’s division against

A. P. Hill, defending the railway cut on

the Confederate left. Kearny came close

to victory, but counterattacks

drove the Union troops back.

Perhaps the day’s most

striking aspect, however, was

the number of soldiers who

did not fight. On the Union

side, two corps under Pope’s

command failed to engage

because of confused orders;

and McClellan held back

reserves of the Army of the

Potomac. Longstreet’s corps

reached Jackson’s right flank

in the morning but, when

ordered by Lee to join the

battle, Longstreet demurred,

and Lee did not insist.

THE SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN

Jackson’s defiance and Longstreet’s attack
On the afternoon of August 29, Jackson held his
defensive position on Stony Ridge against all the attacks
the Union launched. The following day, the battle was
turned by Longstreet’s belated assault on the Union left.

In the aftermath of his defeat at Second Bull

Run, Pope retreated to the outer defenses

of Washington. Recriminations began

immediately as a scapegoat was sought.

MCCLELLAN’S OBSTRUCTION

President Lincoln believed that McClellan was

the most culpable: having wanted Pope to fail,

McClellan had intentionally delayed his

troops from coming to his rival’s aid.

POPE’S ILL FORTUNE

Lincoln also reluctantly accepted that McClellan

was the best man to take over the defense of

Washington when morale was at its lowest.

While Pope was relegated to fighting Indians

in Minnesota, McClellan was allowed to integrate

the Army of Virginia into his Army of the Potomac.

His appointment was greeted with relief and

enthusiasm by soldiers and civilians alike.

AFTER

MCCLELLAN PASSING THROUGH FREDERICK CITY

Repeat battlefield

Henry House Hill was the scene of

fighting both at the First and Second

Battles of Bull Run. It is now part of the

Manassas National Battlefield Park.

“The men were brought down

from the field ... till they

covered acres.”

CLARA BARTON, WHO CARED FOR THE WOUNDED AFTER SECOND BULL RUN

Born in Kentucky, John Pope made a

career in the Corps of Engineers. In the

Civil War, he commanded an Illinois

brigade before leading the Army of

Mississippi to victory at New Madrid in

spring 1862. Transferred to the Army of

Virginia he offended his new troops by

comparing them unfavorably to Union

soldiers in the West. He was not missed

when sent to fight the Sioux after defeat

at Second Bull Run. Pope served with

distinction in the postwar army.

UNION MAJOR GENERAL (1822–92)

JOHN POPE

④ Aug 30, 4 p.m.:

Longstreet’s attacks

on Union left intensify

⑤ Aug 30,

5 p.m.: Defensive

line covers the

beginning of

Union retreat

② Aug 29, evening:

Union assaults fail to

dislodge Confederates from

positions on Stony Ridge

③ Aug 30, 3 p.m.:

Union forces

renew attacks on

Jackson’s right

① Aug 29:

Longstreet’s divisions

reach the battlefield

KEY

Union forces Aug 29, 4 p.m.

Union front line Aug 30, 5 p.m.

Confederate forces Aug 29,

4 p.m. ⑥ Aug 30, 7 p.m.:

Pope gives order for

general Union retreat

Brawner’s

Farm

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Groveton

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Henry

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Bald

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Warrenton Turnpike

Old Warrenton Road

Groveton-Sudley Road

Manassas–Sudley Springs Road

Man

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Unfinis
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LEE
RENO
POPE
JACKSON
KEARNY
PORTER
HEINTZELMAN
SIGEL
REYNOLDS
HOOD
HOOKER
LONGSTREET
A.P.HILL
R.H.ANDERSON
Centreville