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The First Battle of Manassas: A Captivating Guide to the First Battle of Bull Run That Took Place at the Start of the American Civil War
Discover the story of the first official battle of the American Civil War, the First Battle of Manassas, in this captivating book on what transpired on that fateful day of July 21st, 1861.
The causes of the American Civil War, which lasted from April 1861 to May 1865, were many and complex. At the heart of the disagreement, however, was slavery. The Southern states of the newly formed but illegal Confederacy were prepared to fight the US federal government to the death to retain their right to keep slaves for their plantations. The election of President Abraham Lincoln in late 1860, whose open intention was to abolish slavery, created a military upheaval south of Washington, DC, and civil war ensued.
Although other attacks and skirmishes between the North and South occurred before the summer of 1861, it was the First Battle of Manassas (also known as the First Battle of Bull Run) on July 21st of that year that marked the first official engagement of the long war to come. Unfolding in northeastern Virginia, not far from the American capital, seventy thousand men met across the Bull Run River, equally divided between their loyalties to Washington and Richmond—the Confederacy’s capital. The armies were the largest raised by America until that time, but most of the soldiers were “green” and untried. Both Northerners and Southerners alike had rushed into the engagement, both overconfident and underprepared. On that fateful day, men, who had until so recently been friends and allies, fought against one another to the bitter end because their leaders were not prepared to negotiate on their ideals.
Although the South was victorious at the First Battle of Manassas, in truth, over the course of the four-year-long bloody and destructive Civil War, everyone became the loser.
In this book, you will
Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to learn more about the First Battle of Manassas!
The causes of the American Civil War, which lasted from April 1861 to May 1865, were many and complex. At the heart of the disagreement, however, was slavery. The Southern states of the newly formed but illegal Confederacy were prepared to fight the US federal government to the death to retain their right to keep slaves for their plantations. The election of President Abraham Lincoln in late 1860, whose open intention was to abolish slavery, created a military upheaval south of Washington, DC, and civil war ensued.
Although other attacks and skirmishes between the North and South occurred before the summer of 1861, it was the First Battle of Manassas (also known as the First Battle of Bull Run) on July 21st of that year that marked the first official engagement of the long war to come. Unfolding in northeastern Virginia, not far from the American capital, seventy thousand men met across the Bull Run River, equally divided between their loyalties to Washington and Richmond—the Confederacy’s capital. The armies were the largest raised by America until that time, but most of the soldiers were “green” and untried. Both Northerners and Southerners alike had rushed into the engagement, both overconfident and underprepared. On that fateful day, men, who had until so recently been friends and allies, fought against one another to the bitter end because their leaders were not prepared to negotiate on their ideals.
Although the South was victorious at the First Battle of Manassas, in truth, over the course of the four-year-long bloody and destructive Civil War, everyone became the loser.
In this book, you will
Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to learn more about the First Battle of Manassas!
- GenresHistory
68 pages, Paperback
Published July 6, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 5, 2024
The first battle of the Civil War, a surprising and resounding victory for the Confederacy. Union arrogance and ineptitude lost the initiative and blundered to the conclusion.
July 7, 2021
This book was so freaking good!
Every time I receive a new book from captivating history I am amazed at all the things I’ve learned. I didn’t know that when the first shots were fired at Bull Run that the south didn’t even have real Confederate soldiers yet or that if it wasn’t for the three day delay we probably wouldn’t have lost dispersed battle and essentially cause the time for enlistment to go from 90 days to three years. Not to mention causing the federal government to spend much more than they thought they would in the beginning. So much for this being a quick in and out teach him a lesson and go back home kind of thing. When I read stories of these brave men on both sides I think how sad it is in our society today that pride for your country and for those who fought in the past is being lost on our children. Instead of respecting those who did stand up for wrongs and make them right, they’re being taught to focus on the wrong and demand solutions today. Not to mention when you look back in history you have to remember these people lived in their time and not ours. So to judge them by the stands as of today or just ignorant. I love the stories of great men and women doing great things and fighting for the underdog. Yes the Civil War like all wars were fought for many reasons but ending slavery was one of them. That is why the Wisconsin West battalion’s motto was if there was a man left in slaved I do not have a heart in this fight. This wasn’t an addendum it wasn’t a PS it was their motto. So if people at that time knew they were freeing slaves then why are people today confused about it? This was a great book and I highly recommend it to anyone and although I went a bit off topic reading this book made me think of all the people who lost their lives to fight for the underdog and of course they believed in and those same people are being totally disrespected today it makes me sad. That is why I am so glad captivating history isn’t going to let these great stories die. War isn’t pretty but you have to meet people where they are… Not where do you want them to be yes we are intelligent people, but not everyone solves problems with words. This is a great book about the first battle of Manassas and it is a book I highly recommend.
Every time I receive a new book from captivating history I am amazed at all the things I’ve learned. I didn’t know that when the first shots were fired at Bull Run that the south didn’t even have real Confederate soldiers yet or that if it wasn’t for the three day delay we probably wouldn’t have lost dispersed battle and essentially cause the time for enlistment to go from 90 days to three years. Not to mention causing the federal government to spend much more than they thought they would in the beginning. So much for this being a quick in and out teach him a lesson and go back home kind of thing. When I read stories of these brave men on both sides I think how sad it is in our society today that pride for your country and for those who fought in the past is being lost on our children. Instead of respecting those who did stand up for wrongs and make them right, they’re being taught to focus on the wrong and demand solutions today. Not to mention when you look back in history you have to remember these people lived in their time and not ours. So to judge them by the stands as of today or just ignorant. I love the stories of great men and women doing great things and fighting for the underdog. Yes the Civil War like all wars were fought for many reasons but ending slavery was one of them. That is why the Wisconsin West battalion’s motto was if there was a man left in slaved I do not have a heart in this fight. This wasn’t an addendum it wasn’t a PS it was their motto. So if people at that time knew they were freeing slaves then why are people today confused about it? This was a great book and I highly recommend it to anyone and although I went a bit off topic reading this book made me think of all the people who lost their lives to fight for the underdog and of course they believed in and those same people are being totally disrespected today it makes me sad. That is why I am so glad captivating history isn’t going to let these great stories die. War isn’t pretty but you have to meet people where they are… Not where do you want them to be yes we are intelligent people, but not everyone solves problems with words. This is a great book about the first battle of Manassas and it is a book I highly recommend.
July 10, 2021
It says much about America's understanding of war when citizens, politicians, and food sellers rushed out to see the first Battle of Manassas. By the end, those carriages with picnics and champagne raced back to the safety of Washington, DC, along with soldiers who had only signed up for 90-days service. Obviously, the Union decided they could have the war won within 90-days and they suddenly had a problem with the 90-day soldiers leaving the field.
There were a couple of things I really liked about this book. Sometimes Captivating History states what might be obvious, but it still catches the reader with surprise. Washington, DC is surrounded by Maryland, and the book tells us that Lincoln worked hard to keep Maryland from going to the Confederacy by" imprisoning secessionist ringleaders." That kept the Union capital from being surrounded by enemy territory during the war.
The other thing that caught my eye was the clever way the author enclosed thumbnail sketches about important figures, North and South, without seriously slowing down the story. That is great writing. I never recognized the importance of uniforms until reading (p. 24) that people were inadvertently shot (by friendly fire) because they were wearing what they enlisted in, which may have been the wrong color of the uniform.
I was delighted to see the discussion of the US Balloon Corps and their short relationship in the Civil War. I knew it existed, but the few sentences in this book explained why they didn't last long in the war arena.
There were a couple of things I really liked about this book. Sometimes Captivating History states what might be obvious, but it still catches the reader with surprise. Washington, DC is surrounded by Maryland, and the book tells us that Lincoln worked hard to keep Maryland from going to the Confederacy by" imprisoning secessionist ringleaders." That kept the Union capital from being surrounded by enemy territory during the war.
The other thing that caught my eye was the clever way the author enclosed thumbnail sketches about important figures, North and South, without seriously slowing down the story. That is great writing. I never recognized the importance of uniforms until reading (p. 24) that people were inadvertently shot (by friendly fire) because they were wearing what they enlisted in, which may have been the wrong color of the uniform.
I was delighted to see the discussion of the US Balloon Corps and their short relationship in the Civil War. I knew it existed, but the few sentences in this book explained why they didn't last long in the war arena.
July 16, 2021
I found this read very interesting. I knew about the Battle of Bull Run bit did not know it under the name of Manassas. One part that I wish would have been more talked about was the spy network that left dispatch. It was led by society women and young girls. In my opinion, they could have their own story for what they did as apart of this piece of history. I think the author did very well this story as well as agreeing with his opinions. This fight could have been settled in another way and spared many lives.
October 4, 2021
A good start for those interested in the Civil War. Good background and covers the major point in the Battle and its aftermath.
January 25, 2022
First Battle of Manassas
Good basic book regarding the first battle of the civil war'. It showed the North & the South that the war was not going to be over anytime soon!
Good basic book regarding the first battle of the civil war'. It showed the North & the South that the war was not going to be over anytime soon!
September 3, 2025
Short but interesting book on the first battle of the Civil War.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews