Civil War: The First Battle Of Bull Run

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While the Battle at Fort Sumter was the initial battle that signified the beginning of the Civil War, The First Battle of Bull Run, or the Battle of Manassas was the first major battle and took place on July 21, 1861. Both the North and the South thought this would be the last battle. The Union soldiers were led by General Irvin McDowell; an army of about 35, 000 men. The army consisted of 90-day volunteers, including common men. These soldiers were not aware of what they had signed up for. McDowell’s initial plan was to seize the railroad junction at Manassas. Things did not go as planned. Just miles away, General Pierre G. T. Beauregard, Commander of the Confederate forces, and about 22,000 troops guarded the fords from Union Mills to