Bull Run Chaos: Civil War's First Real Battle
Confederate reinforcements raced down the railroad to meet Union troops at Bull Run, turning a planned surprise flank attack into a chaotic rout that sent 30,000 panicked civilians and soldiers fleeing back to Washington D.C. This disorganized retreat shattered Northern illusions of a quick war, compelling both sides to realize they were entering a long, bloody conflict rather than a brief skirmish.
July 21, 1861
165 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on July 21
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