Good Essay On Causes Of The Confederates’ Win In The Battle Of First Bull Run

Prior the southerners’ attack at Fort Sumter, the Union sought to thwart the possibility of war and instead, reunite the United States of America. However, after the display of the Confederates’ violence, the abolitionists’ only remaining option was war. As counterattack, the Union Army marched to Manassas Junction and stopped near Bull Run Creek. Aside from fighting in their territory, other factors aided the Confederacy in winning.
With the sudden onset of a civil war, both sides lacked proper soldiers. As a result, commoners enlisted in the army with the aim of serving their cause in the same (Murrin et al. 2010, 405). Consequently, the men engaged in a disorganized confrontation that caused not only the Union's defeat but also alerted its spectators of the possibility of a long and brutal war (Kingseed 2004, 19). Besides, the battleground formed part of the Confederate States, a fact that significantly disadvantaged invading Union soldiers in their attempt to surround the Manassas area (Kingseed 2004, 19). For instance, General Joseph E. Johnston arrived via the existing railroad to reinforce the Confederates (Murrin et al. 2010, 405). Later, under General Thomas J. Jackson, more support for the Confederate army arrived and employed tactics that prevented any possibilities of the Union’s win. In fact, said tactics earned Jackson the nickname “Stonewall” because, before his arrival with fresh troops, the Union was winning the battle (Murrin et al. 2010, 405).
Regardless, the Confederate won the battle but lost the war. However, following the events of the Battle of First Bull Run, one can safely argue that with more assault, the Confederacy might have won and ended the war with little effort.

References

Murrin, John, Paul Johnson, James McPherson, Alice Fahs and Gary Gerstle (2010). Liberty, Equality, Power: Concise. 5th. Boston: Cengage Learning.
Kingseed, Cole Christian. 2004. The American Civil War. California: Greenwood Publishing Group.