Day 16: Battle of Bull Run July 23, 1861

Everyone is out of their minds! Chaos I tell you! Poppa brought home a news paper...ive never heard of those things before. Poppa said that its a paper that holds good things and bad things, and things happen all around us. A battle happened! The front cover...it said "Battle of Bull Run" it take place in Manassas Junction, Virginia! General McDowell attacked only 2 days and was successful. Its the first major conflict of this war and its only just begun! A army of 28,000 men was directed to crush the rebellion in the South, march towards Richmond (which i believe is in Virginia) while marching they met the confederate forces coming north of Manassas which was a southern base. The battle lasted five hours and sooner or later the Confederates surrendered and headed back up north. Except General Jackson stayed back with his men and now General Jackson is known as Stonewall Jackson because he held up so well in the battle. They were able to hold out until General Johnston showed up with 9000 reinforcements to help out the battle. The arrival changed everything and soon the Union Soldiers were fleeing back to Washington. Beauregaurd's army was so disorganized that they could not pursue McDowell any further. The battle proved that this war was not gonna go as planned. The battle news spread all around the south the victory they won, and are now egging on the North for revenge!

I hope the boys werent in this battle and that we dont get another letter. It said that in McDowell's army (which is the south) there was 2,900 people killed, wounded, captured, or missing. The war is on now, and now im scared for my life.

~Beth