Bull Run

The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major land battle of the American Civil War, fought on July 21, 1861 near Manassas, Virginia. It involved Union forces advancing to capture Confederate territory, but Confederate troops, reinforced by volunteers, launched a counterattack. The battle ended with a Confederate victory, shattering the Union’s hopes of a quick win and revealing that the war would be longer and more brutal than expected. It demonstrated the importance of training, organization, and morale in warfare, setting the stage for future, more intense battles.