The First Battle of Bull Run (the name used by Union forces), also known as the ´´First Battle of Manassas´´ (the name used by Confederate forces), was fought on July 21, 1861 in Prince William County, Virginia, just north of the city of Manassas and about 25 miles west-southwest of Washington, D.C. It was the first major battle of the American Civil War. The Union´s forces were slow in positioning themselves, allowing Confederate reinforcements time to arrive by rail. Each side had about 18,000... Mehr