The Battle of Bull Run was fought in July 21, 1861. It went from 9:30 am to 3 pm. This battle started because of the bombardment of fort Sumter. In the air there was Holiday Spirit. The Union army had 30,000 soldier under the command of Irwin McDowell. The Confederates had 22,000 men under the command of Gen. Pierre Gustave Toussaint Boerugard.  Both the North and South did not realize how strongly the other side felt.  They did not understand how long the battles would last. The soldiers came unprepared to fight for a long time and did not have the food and supplies. The troops marched towards each other and finally met near Manassas Junction, Virginia.  Many people came to watch the battle being fought not really comprehending how serious the war would become.  They brought picnic baskets of food and drink and acted as sightseers.  The Union Army lost 2,900 men killed, wounded, captured, or missing. The Confederates lost 2000 men the same ways as the Union.

Jackson began his military career shortly after graduating from the West Point Military Academy.  In 1861 Thomas Jackson joined the Confederate Army at the beginning of the war.  At the Battle of  Bull Run Thomas Jackson became a hero for the confederates because he held the union back until 9,000 reinforcements arrived that is how thomas got his nickname "Stonewall."  The confederates retreated  back to McHenry's House to wait for the reinforcements.  Jackson fought unsuccessfully at the "Seven Days Battle."  However for his determination to defend the south, he triumphantly led the confederates to several victories at the battles of the Second Battle of Bull Run,  Antietam, and Fredericksburg.  At the battle of Chancellorsville he was mistakenly shot by one of his own men.  His death shortly thereafter was a great loss to the Confederacy.

Public demand pushed General-in-Chief Winfield Scott to advance in the south.  Scott order General Irvin McDowell to advance on confederate troops stationed in Manassas Junction, Virgina.  McDowell attacked on July 21 and was initially successful, but confederate reinforcements resulted in a southern victory.