Second Bull Run (Manassas), VA

Date(s): August 28-30, 1862

Location: Please click on link below for map.

Campaign(s): Northern Virginia Campaign [June-September 1862]  

Battles in Campaign:

• Cedar Mountain, VA - August 9, 1862 B

• Manassas Station Operations, VA - August 25-27,1862 B

• Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), VA - August 28-30, 1862 A

• Chantilly, VA - September 1, 1862 B

• Rappahannock Station, VA I - August 22-25, 1862 D¹

• Thoroughfare Gap, VA - August 28, 1862 C¹

Situation:

Commanders:

• Union: Maj. Gen. John Pope

• Confederate: Gen. Robert E. Lee and Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson

Principal Forces:

• Union: Armies

• Confederate: Armies

Description:

• In order to draw Pope’s army into battle, Jackson ordered an attack on a Federal column that was passing across his front on the Warrenton Turnpike on August 28.

• The fighting at Brawner Farm lasted several hours and resulted in a stalemate.  Pope became convinced that he had trapped Jackson and concentrated the bulk of his army against him.

• On August 29, Pope launched a series of assaults against Jackson’s position along an unfinished railroad grade.

• The attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides.

• At noon, Longstreet arrived on the field from Thoroughfare Gap and took position on Jackson’s right flank. 

• On August 30, Pope renewed his attacks, seemingly unaware that Longstreet was on the field.

• When massed Confederate artillery devastated a Union assault by Fitz John Porter’s command, Longstreet’s wing of 28,000 men counterattacked in the largest, simultaneous mass assault of the war.

• The Union left flank was crushed and the army driven back to Bull Run. Only an effective Union rearguard action prevented a replay of the First Manassas disaster.

• Pope’s retreat to Centreville was precipitous, nonetheless.  The next day, Lee ordered his army in pursuit. This was the decisive battle of the Northern Virginia Campaign.

Photo Gallery:²

	Manassas National Battlefield Park		Battle of Second Manassas - Campbell's Battery (B - 4th U.S. Artillery)
Map of Second Bull Run	Company B 4th U.S. Artillery	Company B 4th U.S. Artillery
			Pope's Headquarters
		Fight at the Fence Line	Fight at the Fence Line
			Fight at the Fence Line

Classification³: A

Casualties⁴:

• Union: 13,830

• Confederate: 8,350

Results: Confederate Victory

Battlefield Websites:

• Manassas National Battlefield Park - National Park Service

• Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) - Wikipedia

• The Second Manassas Campaign - HistoryAnimated.com

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Please click on the image to enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link with each image: "Courtesy of civil-war-journeys.org."

³ Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

⁴ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 06/05/2008