Manassas, VA
Manassas, VA
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30 Aug. 1862: 2d Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) - Day 3
After the hard fighting on the previous day, neither side was in a rush to launch offensive operations.
During the night, Maj. Gen. Richard Anderson’s division, the last element of Longstreet’s corps to arrive, staggered in at 0300 hrs. after a 17-mile forced march and collapsed exhausted on a ridge near Groveton. When dawn broke, he realized he was in an isolated position close to Union forces and immediately pulled back. This movement, coupled with the withdrawal of Hood’s troops the evening before, fed General Pope’s belief that the rebels were getting ready to pull out.
He ordered Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell to move his corps from the vicinity of Chinn Ridge east on Sudley Road and attack Jackson’s left flank. McDowell voiced strong disagreement with this order because of the uncertainty of the situation to his front. Pope backed off and called for a 0800 war council with his commanders. It was something he’d never done in the west but he thought the current confusion warranted it.
Pope’s subordinates were able to convince him to proceed cautiously and as units began approaching Stony Ridge, they discovered that the rebels lines were showing no sign of movement. This concerned Pope, who decided to wait for two reinforcing corps coming from McClellan’s Army of the Potomac in outside of Washington. Then, fearing McClellan would want to take credit for any successes, Pope decided to launch his attack around 1500 hrs.
By the time the day’s fighting drew to a close, Jackson’s forces had held, Longstreet had launched a successful counterattack on Pope’s left flank, and Union forces were able to stabilize the line and retreat in good order, unlike the fiasco that occurred the year before.
Casualties over the three days were appalling: The Union lost 1,747 killed, 8,452 wounded, and 4,263 captured or missing. Confederate losses amounted to about half: 1,096 killed and 6,202 wounded. One Union regiment, the 5th N. Y. Vol. Inf. (Duryeé’s Zouaves) lost 332 of 535 engaged in just 10 minutes! The entire regimental color guard died with the exception of one man who escaped with the battle flag. Only one officer survived and the regiment was withdrawn from frontline service until its deactivation after Chancellorsville.
For more details, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Bull_Run#August_30:_Longstreet_counterattack,_Union_retreat
ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) Maj. Gen. James Longstreet watches as his units attack on the third day at 2d Bull Run. (2) The 5th Tex. Inf.’s assault on 30 Aug. (3) “Save the Colors!”--Survivors of Duryeé's Zouaves (the 5th N.Y) on Chinn Ridge after being mauled by the 5th Tex. Inf. (4) “The Diehards”--The Louisiana Bde. on Stony Ridge on 30 Aug. (5) Men of the Louisiana Bde. throw rocks at Union troops trapped in the unfinished railroad cut in front of Stony Ridge after running out of ammunition. (6) Union troops retreat over the stone bridge on 30 Aug. 1862 after their defeat at 2d Bull Run. (7) 2d Bull Run, 30 Aug_ 1862, 1500 hrs. (8) 2d Bull Run, 30 Aug. 1862, 1600 hrs. (9) 2d Bull Run, 30 Aug. 1862, 1630 hrs. (10) 2d Bull Run, 30 Aug. 1862, 1700 hrs.
After the hard fighting on the previous day, neither side was in a rush to launch offensive operations.
During the night, Maj. Gen. Richard Anderson’s division, the last element of Longstreet’s corps to arrive, staggered in at 0300 hrs. after a 17-mile forced march and collapsed exhausted on a ridge near Groveton. When dawn broke, he realized he was in an isolated position close to Union forces and immediately pulled back. This movement, coupled with the withdrawal of Hood’s troops the evening before, fed General Pope’s belief that the rebels were getting ready to pull out.
He ordered Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell to move his corps from the vicinity of Chinn Ridge east on Sudley Road and attack Jackson’s left flank. McDowell voiced strong disagreement with this order because of the uncertainty of the situation to his front. Pope backed off and called for a 0800 war council with his commanders. It was something he’d never done in the west but he thought the current confusion warranted it.
Pope’s subordinates were able to convince him to proceed cautiously and as units began approaching Stony Ridge, they discovered that the rebels lines were showing no sign of movement. This concerned Pope, who decided to wait for two reinforcing corps coming from McClellan’s Army of the Potomac in outside of Washington. Then, fearing McClellan would want to take credit for any successes, Pope decided to launch his attack around 1500 hrs.
By the time the day’s fighting drew to a close, Jackson’s forces had held, Longstreet had launched a successful counterattack on Pope’s left flank, and Union forces were able to stabilize the line and retreat in good order, unlike the fiasco that occurred the year before.
Casualties over the three days were appalling: The Union lost 1,747 killed, 8,452 wounded, and 4,263 captured or missing. Confederate losses amounted to about half: 1,096 killed and 6,202 wounded. One Union regiment, the 5th N. Y. Vol. Inf. (Duryeé’s Zouaves) lost 332 of 535 engaged in just 10 minutes! The entire regimental color guard died with the exception of one man who escaped with the battle flag. Only one officer survived and the regiment was withdrawn from frontline service until its deactivation after Chancellorsville.
For more details, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Bull_Run#August_30:_Longstreet_counterattack,_Union_retreat
ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) Maj. Gen. James Longstreet watches as his units attack on the third day at 2d Bull Run. (2) The 5th Tex. Inf.’s assault on 30 Aug. (3) “Save the Colors!”--Survivors of Duryeé's Zouaves (the 5th N.Y) on Chinn Ridge after being mauled by the 5th Tex. Inf. (4) “The Diehards”--The Louisiana Bde. on Stony Ridge on 30 Aug. (5) Men of the Louisiana Bde. throw rocks at Union troops trapped in the unfinished railroad cut in front of Stony Ridge after running out of ammunition. (6) Union troops retreat over the stone bridge on 30 Aug. 1862 after their defeat at 2d Bull Run. (7) 2d Bull Run, 30 Aug_ 1862, 1500 hrs. (8) 2d Bull Run, 30 Aug. 1862, 1600 hrs. (9) 2d Bull Run, 30 Aug. 1862, 1630 hrs. (10) 2d Bull Run, 30 Aug. 1862, 1700 hrs.
Civil War
Manassas
Military History
Edited 2 mo ago
Posted 2 mo ago
Responses: 7
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I have to say I both love and hate these Civil War history posts MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.. They are a great reminder of the things our country has endured, and a great reminder of the American promise. We were broken into two and 4 years later we started mending the break. What I have a heartbreak with is American fighting American. I cry every time I watch Gettysburg during the scenes at Little Round Top and Pickett's charge. Especially when Armisted and Hancock are hit within minutes of each other.
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MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
You and me both. Here I am at the Angle on Cemetery Ridge portraying mortally wounded Lew Armistead as my friend, retired Maj. Tom Veleker sets the scene for cadets on our staff ride at Gettysburg during winter break in 1990. . . .
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