Battle of Second Manassas
In June of 1862, President Lincoln formed the Army of Virginia and put at its head Maj. General John Pope. This army was to protect Washington and also help relieve pressure in Northern Virginia from McClellan’s Army of the Potomac. Pope entered Virginia with his army and eventually camped near the Rappahannock River. Lee was successful in luring Pope out of his defensive position and the armies met near the site of the battle a year earlier at Manassas or Bull Run. Pope had a large force of 70,000 men while Lee had 55,000. Pope attacked Jackson’s position but was consistently repelled. Jackson once again earned his nickname, “Stonewall.” Lee and Longstreet arrived during the second day of battle, but did not launch a counterattack immediately. On the third day Pope is convinced, incorrectly, that the Confederates are retreating. He sent troops to attack them only to find the Confederates were still in defensive positions. Lee used this to his advantage and ordered a counterattack. Longstreet’s wing of 30,000 men was held off by a brave defense on Chinn Ridge by Union forces and Pope was saved from complete disaster. After nightfall, Pope retreated with his battered army.
Confederate casualties amounted to 7,387, while the Union suffered 14,462 casualties. It was a clear Confederate victory. This allowed Lee to cross into Maryland and begin his Northern Campaign, which would further raise Southern morale and equally raise Northern fear. Pope was relieved of his command and the Army of Virginia would be combined with the Army of the Potomac under McClellan. For his part, General McClellan would head north to stop Lee and this would lead to the Battle of Antietam, the deadliest single day of war in American history. The First Battle of Manassas and the Second Battle of Manassas were separated by a year, but there was also a great gulf in the differences of the battles. The first battle was fought by smaller armies with much fewer casualties, but the outcome had shocked the nation. The soldiers of 1861 had been inexperienced and enthusiastic, but the soldiers of 1862 were hardened and numbed to the atrocities of war. The idea of gentlemanly conduct had evaporated and the war had become cruel and savage. Pope, who had been selected to lead the Army of Virginia, had been boastful and condescending when he gained his position. Lincoln felt he had caused the loss at Second Manassas because he was so disliked by his officers. He was sent to the Department of the Northwest for the rest of the war.
Works Cited
“Battle of Second Manassas (Second Bull Run) - Manassas National Battlefield Park (U.S.” National Park Service, 18 January 2022, https://www.nps.gov/mana/learn/historyculture/second-manassas.htm. Accessed 25 November 2022.
“Second Battle of Bull Run | History, Summary, Casualties, & Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Battle-of-Bull-Run-1862. Accessed 25 November 2022.
“Second Manassas Battle Facts and Summary.” American Battlefield Trust, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/second-manassas. Accessed 25 November 2022.
