The Battle of Bull Run The First Major Battle of the War Pgs

The Battle of Bull Run Three months after the attack on Ft. Sumter, (July 1861) two armies of eager young men met at a stream near the town of Manassas Junction, Virginia. The Northern army consisted of about 35,000 soldiers compared to the South’s army of 22,000.

A Union Defeat After hours of fighting, the South won the battle. The defeat shocked the Union! Northerners had entered the war feeling very strong. The North had a larger population, more factories to make weapons, and more railroads to get supplies to their troops.

A Wake Up Call for the North Many in the North, thought the war would end in just a few weeks. They were now faced with a Southern army that was more powerful and more determined than expected. Southerners had a very strong will to win. Lincoln called for more soldiers and began looking for new officers to lead his army.

A New Plan for the North The North decided to cut-off southern trade with the North and with other countries. They cut-off trade by setting up a blockade of Southern ports stopping ships from entering or leaving the harbor. The North believed that without trade, the South would become weaker.

The “Anaconda” Plan Many Northerners thought the blockade plan would take too long to be effective. They thought Lincoln should send soldiers into the South and invade Richmond, Virginia, the Southern capital. Many in the South, wanted to see Confederate soldiers enter and invade Washington, D.C.

The Southern View Southerners compared their predicament to that of George Washington during the Revolutionary War. They wanted to protect their homes and defeat their enemy just as the Patriots beat the British. Southerners also hoped countries in Europe would help them win the war. England and France depended on Southern cotton to keep their textile mills running, and they hoped these two countries would join forces with the South.