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THE SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS (August 28-30, 1862)Tom Reed had been hospitalized with the measles and other complications and did not participate in this battle. He writes When I got back to my command the second battle of Manassas had been fought, and in that miserable, hard struggle my oldest brother fell. He was wounded in three places before he gave up. Brother Green buried him the best he could in war times. Up to this time I had never been in an engagement, and I have not got any dates. The Second Battle of Manassas took place August 28 - 30, 1862 and Tom's brother was killed August 29, 1862. Over 22,000 other men lost their lives in these three days. Tom refers to it as a "miserable, hard struggle" and that it was. Terry Jones writes in his book Lee's Tigers the following. "After successfully breaking up three Union assaults, the Tigers found themselves dangerously short of ammunition. Two men of the 9th Louisiana were dispatched to the rear for more but a fourth Union attack was mounted before they returned. The ensuing clash was 'the ugliyst fight of any" claimed Sergeant Stephens. Groping frantically for ammunition among the dead and wounded, the Louisianians were barely able to beat off the determined Yankees, who threw themselves up to the very muzzles of the Tigers' muskets. When the Tigers fired their last round, the flags of the opposing regiments were almost flapping together. In desperation Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Nolan shouted for the men to make use of the numerous rocks that lay scattered around the embankment. Sensing that the rebels were at the end of their rope, the Yankees were charging up to the base of the embankment when suddenly fist and melon size stones arched out of the smoke that hung over the grade and rained down upon them. "Such a flying of rocks never was seen," claimed one witness, as the Tigers and other nearby Confederates heaved the heavy stones at the surprised federals. Numerous Yankees on the front line were killed by the flying rocks, and many others were badly bruised."
Second Battle of Manassas
Other Names:
Manassas, Second Bull Run, Manassas Plains, Groveton, Gainesville, Brawner's
Farm Location:
Prince William County Campaign:
Northern Virginia Campaign (June-September 1862) Date(s):
August 28-30, 1862 Principal Commanders:
Maj. Gen. John Pope [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee and Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson
[CS] Forces Engaged:
Armies Estimated Casualties:
22,180 total (US 13,830; CS 8,350) Description:
In order to draw Pope’s army into battle, Jackson ordered an attack on a
Federal column that was passing across his front on the Warrenton Turnpike on
August 28. The fighting at Brawner Farm lasted several hours and resulted in a
stalemate. Pope became convinced that he had trapped Jackson and
concentrated the bulk of his army against him. On August 29, Pope launched a
series of assaults against Jackson’s position along an unfinished railroad
grade. The attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides. At noon,
Longstreet arrived on the field from Thoroughfare Gap and took position on
Jackson’s right flank. On August 30, Pope renewed his attacks, seemingly
unaware that Longstreet was on the field. When massed Confederate artillery
devastated a Union assault by Fitz John Porter’s command, Longstreet’s wing
of 28,000 men counterattacked in the largest, simultaneous mass assault of the
war. The Union left flank was crushed and the army driven back to Bull Run. Only
an effective Union rearguard action prevented a replay of the First Manassas
disaster. Pope’s retreat to Centreville was precipitous, nonetheless.
The next day, Lee ordered his army in pursuit. This was the decisive battle of
the Northern Virginia Campaign. Result(s):
Confederate victory
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