Here's what transpired at the Battle of Bull Run:
1. Confederate Victory: The battle resulted in a significant victory for the Confederate army led by General P.G.T. Beauregard and General Joseph E. Johnston. It was the first major land battle of the Civil War and boosted the morale of the Confederate forces early in the conflict.
2. Unprepared Union Troops: The Union army, commanded by General Irvin McDowell, consisted of mostly untrained and inexperienced volunteers eager to see action. This lack of combat readiness would significantly affect the Union's performance in the battle.
3. Initial Union Advances: The Union forces initially advanced and engaged Confederate units stationed at Centreville. However, due to poor communication and coordination, Union regiments got separated, and their advances began to falter.
4. Arrival of Confederate Reinforcements: Confederate general Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's brigade from the Shenandoah Valley arrived on the battlefield at a critical moment. Their stand on Henry House Hill earned Jackson his famous nickname from his men, who rallied and held their ground against Union assaults.
5. Confederate Counterattack: With Jackson's brigade holding firm, the Confederates regrouped and launched a powerful counterattack led by General Beauregard's Virginians. They pushed back the disorganized Union regiments.
6. Rout of the Union Army: Faced with intense Confederate fire and realizing the situation had turned against them, many Union soldiers started to retreat in disarray. The routed soldiers abandoned weapons, equipment, and even their personal belongings in their haste to escape.
7. Union Retreat: The battle quickly descended into chaos as the Union lines disintegrated. Union soldiers fled toward Washington, D.C., clogging roads and turning retreat into a full-scale panic. Some civilian spectators, hoping to witness battle spectacle, got caught up in the Union retreat.
8. Aftermath: The Confederate victory had numerous consequences. It emboldened the Southern war effort and encouraged foreign countries, particularly in Europe, to consider intervention and recognizing the Confederacy as a legitimate entity. However, the heavy casualties on both sides also shocked the nation, bringing home the grim reality of the conflict.
The First Battle of Bull Run's outcome had a substantial impact on the dynamics of the Civil War as the Union had to reassess its military leadership and strategies while realizing that the conflict would be longer and more challenging than they initially anticipated.