Final answer:
The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas, occurred on July 21, 1861, and was the first major land battle of the American Civil War, ending in a Confederate victory.
Step-by-step explanation:
First Manassas or First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas, took place on July 21, 1861, marking the first major land battle of the American Civil War. It occurred in Prince William County, Virginia, near Manassas, and along Bull Run creek. With Confederate forces under Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard and Brigadier General Joseph E. Johnston totaling 32,320 men, they faced Union forces commanded by Brigadier General Irvin McDowell with 28,450 soldiers. The battle resulted in approximately 1,982 Confederate losses and 2,896 Union losses, leading to a Confederate victory.
The clash at Bull Run shattered the naive belief that a swift and decisive victory would quickly end the conflict. President Lincoln's Union army sought to make a strong statement by moving towards the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, but the defeat at Bull Run dampened Northern morale and obliterated such hopes. The outcome underlined the tenacity of the Confederate forces and highlighted the need for the Union to reassess its military strategy. This battle shed light on the stark reality of the conflict and dispelled the illusion that the war would be a short affair.
The repercussions of the battle were significant; Lincoln commenced his quest for a more effective general to lead the Union army, while the Confederacy's triumph only added to internal command disputes, with tensions surfacing between leaders like Beauregard and President Jefferson Davis. Nonetheless, the victory at Bull Run bolstered the Confederate morale early in the war.