Bull Run Redux

As the summer of 1862 heated up, so too did the tensions and military maneuvers of the American Civil War. The campaign leading up to the Second Battle of Bull Run, also known as the Second Battle of Manassas, was a series of complex maneuvers and skirmishes that would result in one of the war’s largest contests in the Eastern Theater.

After the Peninsula Campaign and the Battle of Seven Pines, Union General George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac remained near Richmond. Confederate General Robert E. Lee, sensing an opportunity to strike Union forces to the north, sent Stonewall Jackson to divert Union attention away from Richmond.

On August 9, Confederate forces under Stonewall Jackson clashed with Union troops commanded by Nathaniel Banks near Culpeper, Virginia, at the Battle of Cedar Mountain. Though a Confederate victory, the battle hinted at the larger engagements soon to come.

In the swirling vortex of 1862, as the Civil War raged with heightened intensity, the Union sought desperately for a path to victory in the Eastern Theater. Enter General John Pope: a man of ambition and confidence, selected to head the newly formed Army of Virginia. But why Pope, and what did Lincoln envision for this fresh military force?

The context in which Pope ascended is crucial. The Union had faced a series of disappointments and setbacks in the East, most notably with the cautious leadership of General George B. McClellan during the Peninsula Campaign. McClellan’s hesitance and perceived lack of aggression frustrated President Abraham Lincoln and his advisors. They believed a more assertive approach was required to achieve a swift victory over the Confederacy.

John Pope, in contrast to McClellan, had recently achieved success in the Western Theater. His victories at New Madrid and Island No. 10 had caught the attention of Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. His aggressive posture and outspoken confidence made him an attractive choice for a command shift aimed at invigorating the Union’s efforts in the East.

By mid-1862, the Confederacy, under the command of the formidable General Robert E. Lee, was growing more audacious. Lee’s strategy was not merely defensive; he aimed to protect Richmond, threaten Washington, and achieve a decisive victory on Northern soil to compel European recognition and intervention.

Given this scenario, Lincoln and his military advisors believed that they needed a multi-pronged approach. While McClellan’s Army of the Potomac threatened Richmond from the southeast, a new force could operate in northern Virginia to protect Washington D.C. and threaten the Confederate left flank.

To this end, the Army of Virginia was born in June 1862. It was an amalgamation of several smaller departments and forces, cobbled together to form a significant force. However, this composition, derived from disparate units, posed challenges in terms of cohesion and unity of command.

President Lincoln had clear expectations for Pope and the Army of Virginia:

1. Defend Washington D.C.: With memories of the First Bull Run still fresh, the defense of the capital remained paramount.
2. Divert Confederate Attention: By creating another front, the hope was that Lee would be forced to split his forces, thus relieving pressure on McClellan.
3. Aggressive Action: Pope was expected to be the antithesis of McClellan, taking the fight to the enemy rather than awaiting a perfect moment.

General John Pope’s ascension to the command of the newly formed Army of Virginia in 1862 was marked by a controversial and, to some, arrogant address to his troops. In the address to the Army of Virginia, Pope’s intentions seemed clear. He noted that he had come from the West, where they had always looked at the backs of their enemies. This proclamation set a tone that would significantly influence how he was perceived by his men, peers, and adversaries.

In his address, Pope made several points that drew a distinct line between himself and other Eastern Theater commanders:

Success in the West: Pope began by stating, “I have come to you from the West, where we have always seen the backs of our enemies; from an army whose business it has been to seek the adversary and to beat him when he was found…” This was a direct jab at the Union Army’s Eastern Theater, which had faced numerous setbacks. The insinuation was clear: Pope and the Western forces were successful and aggressive, whereas the Eastern forces were not.

A New Approach Pope outlined that his strategy would differ significantly from that of his predecessors. He wanted to keep his army close to the enemy, to “shorten our lines and to fight battles.”

Protection of Civilians: The address also touched upon the protection of civilians. Pope was against any unnecessary harassment of non-combatants, stating that soldiers who broke this rule would be severely punished. However, his policies in practice were harsh, including the order to subsist the army on the country, which allowed his men to seize whatever supplies they required from the local populace.

No Retreat: Pope expressed a disdain for defensive operations and protective entrenchments. He suggested that the new mission would be to hold their ground and not talk about or consider possibilities of retreat.

While Pope intended his proclamation to inspire his troops and instill a sense of renewed vigor, it had mixed results:

1. Enemy Provocation: The Confederates, particularly General Robert E. Lee, took Pope’s brash words as an affront. Lee referred to Pope as a “miscreant” and believed he needed to be dealt with swiftly.

2. Distrust Among His Ranks: Many officers in the Army of Virginia, particularly those who had served in the Eastern Theater, saw Pope’s words as derogatory. His seeming dismissal of their past struggles and sacrifices led to discontent and distrust.

3. Increased Pressure: Pope’s aggressive stance placed a burden of expectation upon him. Anything less than the bold action he promised would be seen as a failure.

In hindsight, Pope’s address to the Army of Virginia, while meant to invigorate, came off as dismissive and arrogant to many. The repercussions of this proclamation, combined with a series of strategic errors, would become evident in the subsequent campaign, culminating in the Second Battle of Bull Run. Such rhetoric, however, would not only set the tone for his aggressive stance but also draw the ire and attention of Confederate leaders.

In retrospect, General John Pope’s appointment to command the Army of Virginia was a product of Lincoln’s strategic vision and the Union’s pressing demands. With Washington under threat and the war’s momentum oscillating, Lincoln sought an aggressive leader to seize the initiative. Whether Pope was the right man for this monumental task would soon be tested on the fields of northern Virginia.

Recognizing the threat Pope posed, Lee dispatched Jackson to confront him, setting the stage for a major confrontation.

In one of his signature bold maneuvers, Jackson conducted a wide flanking march around Pope’s right, capturing the Union supply depot at Manassas Junction on August 27. This move forced Pope to abandon his defensive line on the Rappahannock River to protect his line of communication and supply.

On August 28, 1862, Confederate artillery fired on a column of Union troops marching along the Warrenton Turnpike, sparking the beginning of the Second Battle of Bull Run. Over the next three days, the battle would unfold in several phases:

Thursday, August 28, 1862 dawned with an uneasy tension in the air around Manassas, Virginia. The bitter lessons of the First Battle of Bull Run still fresh in their memories, both Confederate and Union forces recognized the ground’s strategic and symbolic importance. The two armies, vastly grown in size and experience since their first encounter here, positioned themselves for a fierce contest.

The day’s events began with Confederate forces, primarily those of Stonewall Jackson, taking positions along an unfinished railroad grade north of the old Bull Run battlefield. Jackson’s men, having successfully raided the Union supply depot at Manassas Junction on August 27, were prepared for the Union response. They didn’t have to wait long.

By late afternoon, Union forces under Major General John Pope began to approach, initially unaware of the Confederate presence. As the Federal column moved along the Warrenton Turnpike, Confederate artillery under the command of Stonewall Jackson opened fire, announcing their presence and setting the stage for the evening’s confrontation.

It was around 6 p.m. when Union Brigadier General Rufus King’s division encountered a portion of Jackson’s Confederate wing near Brawner’s Farm. What started as an artillery duel quickly escalated as the Iron Brigade, consisting of Western troops, confronted Jackson’s veteran Virginians and Georgians.

In the waning light, a brutal stand-up fight began. Both sides stood their ground, firing at point-blank range, the smoke, fire, and thunderous noise creating a hellish landscape. The ferocity of the engagement was evidenced by the heavy losses endured by both sides.

Jackson, ever the aggressive commander, sought to press his advantage, hoping to crumble the Union’s flank. Yet, the Union forces, particularly the men of the Iron Brigade, held firm, repelling Confederate attempts to break their line. Their stalwart defense was a testament to the hardening and evolution of Union troops over the course of the war.

As darkness enveloped the battlefield, the firing eventually subsided, though the tension remained palpable. Both sides held their respective grounds, with neither gaining a decisive advantage. The night would be one of little rest, as commanders on both sides plotted their next moves and soldiers tended to the wounded and braced for the coming day’s battle.

While the engagements on August 28th were limited compared to the scale of fighting that would erupt over the next two days, the ferocity of the clash at Brawner’s Farm was a grim preview of what was to come. It was clear that both sides were committed to a decisive engagement, one that would again soak the fields of Manassas in blood.

The first day of the Second Battle of Bull Run set the tone for the subsequent phases of the battle. The sheer determination of both the Confederate and Union forces at Brawner’s Farm was emblematic of the broader struggle, highlighting the resolve, courage, and sacrifices that would come to define the American Civil War.