1st Battle of Bull Run
The first Battle of Bull Run was the first major land battle of the Civil War. On July 16, 1861, the Union army under gen. McDowell marched from Washington D.C. against the Confederate army, which was behind Bull Run, a stream a little farther from Centreville. On the 21st, McDowell crossed Sudley Ford and attacked the confederate left side at Matthews Hill. Throughout the day, Confederate soldiers were moved all the way back to Henry Hill. A brigade coming from the Shenandoah Valley extended and broke the Union left side. The Confederates were victorious, but they were too disorganized to continue on to Washington D.C. Thomas Jackson earned his war name, Stonewall, in this war. On July 22, the Union retreated.