North and South clash at the Second Battle of Bull Run
Confederate General Robert E.Lee deals a stinging defeat to Union General John Pope at the Second Battle of Bull Run Virginiaa battle that arose out of the failure of Union General George McClellans Peninsular campaign earlier in the summer.Frustrated with McClellan who was still camped on the James Peninsula southeast of Richmond President Abraham Lincoln and General-in-Chief Henry Halleck decided to pull a substantial part of McClellans Army of the Potomac and send it to General John Popes newly formed Army of Virginia.Lee correctly guessed that McClellan had no plans to attack Richmond so he sent General Thomas J.
Stonewall Jackson north to keep an eye on Popes force.When it became clear that the Yankees were abandoning the peninsula Lee moved more of his force northward to defeat Pope before reinforcements arrived.The plan worked perfectly and Jackson raided a major Union supply depot at Manassas Virginia.Realizing that the Confederates were split Pope began to pursue Jackson.
But he could not find the Rebel force which was hidden in the woods around Bull Run the site of the wars first major battle more than a year earlier.Pope was confused and issued contradictory orders that frustrated his troops who marched back and forth for two days.By August 28 Jackson knew that help was nearby in the form of General James Longstreets corps.Jacksons men emerged from the woods and attacked a Union division late in the day but the fighting ended in a standstill.
On August 29 Pope attacked but his army did not fare well.The Confederates mauled the Union troops and by August 30 Pope had to retreat.His army lost over 16000 men to the Confederates 9000.Most shocking was the response of McClellan now back from the peninsula.
He was in nearby Alexandria Virginia and resisted sending a corps to aid Pope.Still smarting from the transfer of his troops to Popes command he wanted Pope defeated as Lincoln later wrote.But Lincoln could not remove McClellan for his treachery because Lee soon began moving his army into Maryland for an invasion of the North.
