Second Battle of Manassas- Bull Run
The second Battle of Bull Run, took place on August 29-30, on the same battlefield as the first Battle of Bull Run. It began when forces of General Pope attacked those of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, who had succeeded in flanking Confederate forces and destroying the Federal supply depot at Manassas. Pope's initial attack against Jackson's well entrenched lines failed. The next day, when Pope resumed his attack, the Confederates, led by Longstreet counter-attacked. They forced back Union troops, who retreated across the stone bridge over Bull Run.
Despite Lee's victory in the Seven Days Campaign he was very concerned about his strategic position. McClellan's army was still at Harrison's Landing, bloodied but still powerful a mere days march from Richmond and Burnside had a force of 15,000 troops aboard ships that could strike at any time. Meanwhile there was a large Union force under Hooker at Fredriksburg. What became most alarming however, was a force led by Pope which on July 16th occupied Culpeper. If Pope continued his advance he would reach Gordonsville, and cut Richmond's supplies from the Shenandoah Valley.
Lee sent Jackson's division to Gordonsville to head off Pope. Jackson arrived first. After Lee sent him AP Hill's division Jackson was ordered to advance on Popes forces. Jackson advanced on Pope forces near Cedar Mt.. The battle initially favored Popes forces who attacked on Jackson's flank. However, they were repulsed at the last moment, and the Confederates went on the offensive. The battle which took place on August 9th ended in a stalemate. The battle was not resumed on the 10th. On the 11th when Union forces suggested a truce so that the dead and wounded could be tended to, Jackson readily agreed, since by now, Popes forces were being steadily reinforced, thus he had decided to withdraw.
While Jackson was forced to withdraw after the battle of Cedar Mt., he had successfully thwarted Popes further advances. Now the strategic advantage switched to Lee. General Halleck had become the new commander of all US forces. When McClellan made it clear that he would not engage in any offensive actions without substantial reinforcements, Halleck with Lincoln's concurrence ordered that he withdraw from the James River. Thus Lee was free to remove his forces from around Richmond and concentrate them against Pope. He had a short window of opportunity however, which would be open only while McClellan's army was in transit. Lee's forces joined Jackson opposite Pope. It was Lee's plan to attack Pope while his forces were between the Rapidan and Rappahannock River. Before he could attack however, Pope on August 19th pulled his forces back behind the Rappahannock. All of Lee's attempts to cross the river were repulsed. His one success was sending the cavalry commanded by Jeb Stuart on a raid behind Union lines to Warrenton Junction were he seized Popes personal baggage.
After Stuart's successful raid Lee decided to follow it with a much larger attack. On August 25th he sent Jackson's division on a large flanking movement to the west of Pope and through Thorough Gap pass, time was running out for Elements of the Army of the Potomac were arriving every day. On the evening of August 26th Stonewall Jackson appeared in Pope rear, striking Popes supply line on the Orange & Alexandria rail road, at Bristol Station and the massive supply station at Manassas junction. Jackson with his 24,000 men instead of retiring, decided to make a stand near Manassas. He sent his men a few miles away, to a ridge overlooking the Warrenton Pike. Pope lost sight of him, and first ordered his troops to converge on Manassas and then on Centerville, but Jackson could not be found. On the afternoon of the 28th Jackson took matter into his own hands and had his troops open fire on a passing federal division led by general Gibbons. The passing soldiers were surprised but did not panic. Each side stood its ground and fired until it was too dark to see anything to fire at. The short battle that was merely a prelude to tomorrow's battle became know at the battle of Groveton- and 2300 men were casualties when it ended.
The next day Pope ordered an attack against Jackson lines. Although Pope had an overwhelming numerical advantage, he was unable to deploy all of his forces against Jackson forces, entrenched in excellent defensive positions. Jackson's forces successfully repelled the various federal assaults. That night Pope became convinced that Jackson and the confederates were withdrawing and thus he ordered a pursuit for the morning. Pope was again mistaken. Not only was Jackson not beaten he was being reinforced.
In the morning Union troops attacking Jackson were met with withering fire. They almost broke through however, which forced Jackson to ask for help. Help came in the form of an attack by the soldiers of General Longstreet, who together with the rest of Lee army were now present South of Jackson's positions. Despite the massive attack, the Union lines did not break, but were slowly driven back. For a short while Union troops made a stand at the henry house, sight of Jackson's stand in the first battle of Bull Run. Slowly however, Union forces pulled back, crossing the stone bridge over bull Run, When the last bluecoat crossed they destroyed the bridge. The Union forces reformed at Centerville. The following day, Jackson's tired troops tried to outflank Pope, but in a brief battle known as the battle of Chantilly- a few miles north of Centerville Jackson was repulsed, but at the cost the lives of Union generals Stevens and Phil Kearny.
