First Bull Run 1861: The South's First Victory (Praeger Illustrated Military History) - Hardcover

At Bull Run, two inexperienced, ill-trained and poorly led armies clashed in the opening engagement of the American Civil War. Culminating in a stalwart defensive fight by Stonewall Jackson's Virginia Brigade, this book is the story of the Confederacy's first victory. The lead up to the battle, the affair at Blackburn's Ford and the fight for Henry Hill are all examined. The author investigates the backgrounds and personalities of the principle commanders on both sides and shows how their decisions influenced the outcome of the battle. He also looks at the opposing armies and shows how the widely varying uniforms of different units led to mistakes of identity which affected the battle at crucial points. Weapons, intelligence and the almost universal inexperience of troops on both sides are all shown, and help to explain events in the Battle of Bull Run itself. Finally, the significance of Bull Run is evaluated: although a victory for the South Jackson at least believed that a defeat would have been better for the Confederates. As Henry Kyd wrote: "The South was proud, jubilant, self-satisfied; it saw final success of easy attainment. The North, mortified by defeat and stung by ridicule, pulled itself together, raised armies, stirred up its people, and prepared for war in earnest."

ALAN HANKINSON is an independent writer, with two volumes in this series.