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It was the clash of amateur armies.

The Confederates were led by a brilliant General, Joseph E. Johnston, and the Union army was led by the less experienced Irvin McDowell, who was only too aware that his men were not ready to go out on operations. But the press and politicians said it was time for some action, and so the battle had to go ahead.

Johnston managed to bring a large force to the battlefield by train - a very new idea - but the Union seemed to be gaining the advantage through their superior artillery.

Then a Confederate unit wearing blue uniforms ran up the hill to the gun emplacements, and the gunners thought they were Union troops, so they held their fire until too late.

This swung the battle the Confederate way. The Union troops retreated - in orderly fashion at first. Then a stray shell destroyed the only bridge in the area, and there was a headlong stampede, made worse because the roads were full of picnickers from Washington who had come out to watch the battle.

All of this raised Confederate morale. But they were not able to pursue, and the battle was pointless in the end. Two Generals had distinguished themselves here. T.J. Jackson, who earned his name 'Stonewall' in this battle. And William T. Sherman, who had displayed great valour, but declared himself insane, crying "Lock me up! Lock me up!"

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13y ago

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