July 18, 1861, The Road from Sumter -95, U.S. General

July 18, 1861, The Road from Sumter -95,

U.S. General 

Winfield Scott and U.S. General George McClellan have ordered U.S. General  Irvin McDowell's invasion force of ~35,000 troops, named the “Army of Northeastern Virginia”, to make the first major push to capture the C.S. Capital in Richmond Virginia, at Manassas Rail Junction. (Bull Run)

July 18th, U.S. General McDowell sent 3000 troops from General Daniel Tyler's division to reconnoiter the C.S. defenses

 along Bull Run Creek to locate the C.S. flank.  

At Blackburn's Ford, the U.S. troops attempted to cross, but after Intense and highly accurate fire from C.S. “Washington Artillery” batteries, quickly firing ~ 310

 rounds, General Tyler realized that the Confederates had a strong force at the ford, and ordered the rest of his infantry to retreat.  C.S. Troops broke up the attack and the report of a quick U.S. defeat at Blackburn's Ford led McDowell to seek to attack the C.S. defenses a different point along their line, leading to a C.S. Victory as opening battle at the First Battle of Manassas Junction. (Bull Run) 

Sources: Salmon, John S. (2001). The Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-2868-4.

—————————————————————-

Review of events leading up to July 18, 1861: 

-80+ years of sectional tensions between northeastern and southeastern states over tariffs, states rights/popular sovereignty, federal power over new territories and most recently, the practice of chattel slavery. 

-1857 - Massive Financial Collapse And panic hits Northeastern banks triggered by the sinking sinking of the S.S. Central America carrying 30,000 pounds of gold destined for northern banks. 

-A new “Republican” political party is formed with a platform of federal control of new territories, diminishing popular sovereignty, and enforcing new tariffs “by force”, which are all usurpations of the U.S. Constitution. 

-The increasing federal debt has lead to a proposed drastic increase in Tariffs that disproportionately effect agricultural southern states as the 48% Morrill Tariffs. 

-Radical Republican Leader Thaddeus Stevens, sponsor of the Morrill Tariff, stated: “the Tariff would impoverish the southern and western states, but that was essential for advancing national greatness and the prosperity of [northern] industrial workers.”

-Southeastern states have minority representation in the U.S. Congress due to the 3/5ths rule, which does not allow negro persons to be fully counted for representation. 

-Southeastern “Cotton states” protest tariffs, and the fact that these agricultural state are already paying ~75% to 85% of the federal budget with little to none returned in support for infrastructure. 

-1859 - John Brown and 18 accomplices began their illegal invasion of Virginia, and murder spree at Harper’s Ferry Virginia, financed by northeastern “abolitionists”. 

-November 1860, Abraham Lincoln is selected as U.S. President with a minority of the popular vote and was not even on the ballot in 10 states, with a pledge to institute the new party’s platform, by force if necessary. 

-The seven “cotton states” that are most impacted by the new 48% Morrill Tariffs begin secession proceedings citing historical causes, tariffs and the federal government’s usurpation of the “voluntary compact” called the U.S. Constitution.

-U.S. President Buchanan begins deliberations over payment for federal properties with South Carolina representatives and is informed that garrisoning troops at Fort Sumter would be considered and act of war. 

-December 8th, The South Carolina Delegation delivers a written agreement or “armistice” to U.S. President Buchanan, promising not to attack the remaining forts garrisoning U.S. troops in the sovereign state of South Carolina, with the understanding that the U.S. will not attempt to reinforce them. 

-U.S. President Buchanan extended the December 10th “armistice” to all states considering secession.

-December 12th, U.S. President Buchanan’s armistice agreement that “there would be no reinforcement coastal fortifications” was now extended to all states considering secession until March 4, 1861. 

-December 13th, The “Southern Manifesto” was published In Montgomery Alabama.  Twenty-three House members and seven Senators from southern states make a public announcement, "a manifesto which urged secession and the organization of a Southern Confederacy."

-December 16th, South Carolina legislature elects Francis Wilkinson Pickens Governor. In his inaugural address he cited the sectional election, northern states violations of the Constitution and that South Carolina will open her ports to the world and advocate free trade, (Without the U.S. 48% Morrill Tariffs) and that South Carolina “acceded to the Constitution alone, and will secede alone of necessity.”

-December 17th, “Convention of the People of South Carolina”,  South Carolina’s Secession Convention opens, the Convention passed a unanimous resolution to secede from its voluntary compact with the union.

-December 20th, Delegates to the South Carolina Convention unanimously vote to secede by adopting 169 - 0 an "Ordinance To Dissolve the Union between the State of South Carolina and other States United with her under the Compact Entitled 'The Constitution of the United States of America.'

-December 21st, Incoming U.S. President Lincoln sends a “confidential” letter to Democrat Francis P. Blair, Sr., Representative Elihu B. Washburn, and General Winfield Scott, regarding his plan to break US President Buchanan’s armistice and instigate war on American state’s immediately after inauguration. 

-December 23rd, South Carolina’s Rep. William Porcher Miles confirms the December 10th armistice with U.S. President Buchanan and that Fort Sumter is abandoned property In Charleston Harbor, now sits unoccupied. 

-December 26th, U.S. Major Robert Anderson violates U.S. President Buchanan’s December 10th armistice with South Carolina’s Representatives, and Governor, by illegally seizing Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, (Act of War) 

-December 28th, In response to U.S. Major Andersons illegal seizure and occupation of Fort Sumter, Cadet Riflemen and the Palmetto Guard, with a detachment of City Police, were detailed to take charge of the Arsenal in the city of Charleston, and a line of patrols was established around the walls.

-December 30th, Colonial John Cunningham of the South Carolina militia was officially ordered by Governor Francis Pickens to seize control of the Charleston Arsenal.

-January 1st 1861, Political Resignations Begin, Labors expose US. Maj. Anderson’s subversion, U.S. Blockade of Charleston Harbor expected (Act of War). 

-January 2nd, Gulf state Governors and local officials order State Guard Troops, Local Militias and Police to secure or seize coastal forts, armories, and powder magazines. 

-January 4th, Governor A.B. Moore ordered Alabama Militia to seize three installations in the state, the arsenal at Mount Vernon, Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, in preparation for secession.

-U.S. President Buchanan responded to Major Anderson’s breach of the “compact” or Armistice of December 10th, by justifying it as a “military necessity” to occupy Fort Sumter, and blaming possible “Mob” violence.

-Rumors that the steamer “Harriet Lane”had been hired and dispatched, with supplies and 150 reinforcements for U.S. Major Anderson at Fort Sumter. (Act of War) 

-January 5th, A caucus of U.S. Senators from seven Southern states meet in Washington, D.C.. The Senators from South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas discuss an orderly secession, independence and a “confederation of states.”

-January 7th, U.S. Congressional Committee “on the part of the boarder states” proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure chattel slavery, and the interstate slave trade, is made “permanent and irrevocable” in all states “loyal to the union”… 

-January 8th, The Steamer “Star of the West” has been hired by President Buchanan to invade Charleston Harbor with 150-200 reinforcements and supplies for Fort Sumter, in violation of the December 10th Armistice. (Act of War) 

-January 9th, The Steamer “Star of the West” arrives at Charleston with supplies and reinforcements for Fort Sumter and attempts to invade the Harbor but, is unable to navigate the channel.  (Act of War)… South Carolina forces fire warning shots, block the channel, and the ship is ordered to retreat.

--Mississippi votes to join South Carolina in secession and independence from the Union. 

-January 10th, Florida joins South Carolina and Mississippi and secedes from the federal Union, U.S. forces break the armistice with Florida’s Governor and occupy the formerly abandoned Fort Pickens. (Act of War)

-January 11th, Alabama votes for secession and independence from the federal union, discussions of a “Southern Confederacy” begin.  *The first Black “Freedmen” Volunteers begin to be accepted into service to the South Carolina state militia’s. 

-January 12th, Fort Sumter Deliberations begin between U. S. President Buchanan and South Carolina, and S.C. Governor Pickens sends a letter to U.S. Major Anderson at Fort Sumter.  (Attempted at a peaceful resolution) 

-January 13th, The South Carolina General Assembly looks upon any attempt to reinforce the troops now in possession of Fort Sumter, as an act of open and undisguised hostility on the part of the Government of the United States.

-January 15th, Louisiana Governor orders Coastal Forts to be seized, the “Star of the West” returns to New York with reinforcements and supplies after being turned away from Charleston Harbor South Carolina.

-January 16th, The “Crittenden Compromise” Bill dies in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. government continues to offer amendments to make chattel slavery “permanent and irrevocable” in all states “loyal to the union”. 

-January 17th, The War Ship U.S.S. Brooklyn attempts to invade Charleston Harbor and is turned back (Act of War), more U.S. Officers resign to join their respective states militias, some Virginia counties urge secession. 

-January 18th, South Carolina Governor Pickens is authorized to raise an army, and declared South Carolina ports are closed to northern shipping.  

—-A U.S. federal fleet, led by the U.S.S. Macedonian with 500+ men and 36 guns, is sent under sealed (Secret) orders to break the armistice and reinforce Fort Pickens in the now Independent Republic of Florida. (Act of War) 

-January 19th, The State of Georgia becomes the 5th state to vote to secede from the Union, and Former U.S. President Taylor leads a piece delegation while U.S. President Buchanan secretly develops plans to invade former states and reinforce Forts Pickens and Sumter. 

-January 21st, The Honorable Jefferson Davis of Mississippi, hero of the Mexican War, former U.S. Secretary of War, resigns from the U.S. Senate. 

-January 24th, U.S. Major Anderson receives word that February 9th has been established as the date by which his command would be “evacuated with honor” as per the armistice,  his men travel freely, and that his command is being supplied with fresh produce and meat by Charleston merchants.

-January 26th, Louisiana joins South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama and Georgia in voting for secession. 

-January 29th, The territory of Kansas is admitted to federal union as the 34th state. The Charleston Mercury Hails Kansas for ensuring “Popular Sovereignty” as its citizens determine its domestic institutions and not the federal government. 

-February 1st, The people of Texas vote to become the 7th state to secede from its voluntary compact with the federal union. 

-February 4th, A Peace Commission convened in Washington D.C., while Convention Delegates from seven independent states is assembled in Montgomery Alabama to draft a provisional constitution and government for a new confederacy of states.

February 6th, U.S. President Buchanan concedes to political pressure from his cabinet and informs Peace Commissioners that he has no intention of honoring his December 10th pledge to withdraw federal forces from Fort’s Sumter and Pickens by February 9th. (Act of War) 

-February 7th, U.S. President James Buchanan publicly asserts that “It is beyond the power of any president” to interfere with secession, and negotiations begin on the disposition of “public property” with seceded states. 

-February 8th, A provisional confederated government and draft constitution is formally established in Montgomery Alabama by 6 independent states. (Texas Delegates in transit)

-US President Buchanan’s original armistice agreement to evacuate federal troops from all forts by February 9th, expires, he has informed former President Tyler’s Peace Commission that he now has no intention of evacuating the remaining occupation troops from the 7 newly confederated states.  (Act of War)

-February 11th, Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as provisional President of the 7 Confederate States of America.  

-February 13th, The U.S. Congress met in a Joint Session to count the Electoral College votes to certify the results of 1860 presidential election, the most highly contested in American history. 

-February 16th, The Republic of Texas begins seizing forts and armories within its boarders after secession, and subsequently joining the C.S.A.

-February 18th, U.S. President Buchanan ordered a Naval Squadron sent to Florida with reinforcements for Fort Pickens however, is only allowed to resupply, not permitted to land troops in accordance with Buchanan’s armistice with Florida’s Governor Perry. 

-February 22nd, The new Government of the Confederate States of America (CSA) has now assumed delegated authority for the coastal defenses of seven member states, with consent of the Governors.

-February 23, The Baltimore Plot”; 

Rumors circulate of a plan to assassinate Abraham Lincoln, the most Unpopular President in American history, as he travels through Baltimore Maryland, on his way to Washington D.C., for his inauguration. 

-February 27th, C.S. President Davis has requested commissioners to be sent to Europe to establish diplomatic relations, and names three C.S. commissioners to be sent to Washington DC to negotiate peaceful relations with the U.S. Government.

-February 28th, C.S. President Jefferson Davis becomes the first American President to use a line item veto, to specifically outlaw his nation’s participation in the international slave trade in any form, as drafted into the C.S. Constitution.  

-March 2nd, With two days left in his lame duck administration, U.S. President James Buchanan is pressured to sign two landmark pieces of legislation, the “Morrill Tariffs” and the “Corwin Amendment.”  Both planks in the new radical Republican platform. 

-March 3rd, Abraham Lincoln sends secret orders Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, to break the armistice and send a naval expedition from New York City, to “reinforce” U.S. Commander Slemmer at Fort Pickens Florida with four companies of U.S. troops. (Act of War)

-March 4th, Abraham Lincoln is Inaugurated as U.S. President, and  he immediately orders General Winfield Scott to initiate war at Fort Pickens at Pensacola. (Act of War) 

-March 11, The C.S. Constitution was unanimously ratified by seven, It outlawed participation in the international slave trade, recognized the right of any state or territories to decide the question of slavery within their own borders, and contained strict limitations on tariffs creating a low tariff zone on the North American Content.  As a result, the Northeastern financial markets went into a panic!

-March 13, The U.S. Congress, Secretary of State William Seward, Confederate Peace Commissioners, American News reporters and President Lincoln’s own Cabinet are assured that troops illegally occupying Forts Pickens and Sumter are to be evacuated, and that war with the Confederate States will be avoided…

-March 15th, U.S. President Lincoln sends a letter to urge governors of U.S. states to quickly ratify the Corwin Amendment to make the institution of slavery “permanent and irrevocable” in all states a territories “loyal to the union”, without interference from the federal government. 

-March 16, Arizona Territory Secedes from Lincoln’s Union. 

-March 18, Gustavus V. Fox is provisionally appointed U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy by President Lincoln, and ordered to reconnoiter Fort  Sumter and plan an invasion of Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.  Against the advice of his cabinet. 

-March 22nd, All U.S. Naval Commanders stationed off of Galveston TX, New Orleans LA, and Pensacola FL have all refused to execute any of Lincoln’s secret orders that could be seen as a violation of the armistice thus, initiating war. 

-March 27th, C.S. General Beauregard and South Carolina’s Governor Pickens again offer U.S. Major Anderson evacuation Fort Sumter “with all honors”.  

-March 29th, U.S. Merchant Ship S.S. Isabella is captured by Confederate Officers, and Lincoln’s secret plan to break the armistice is discovered on board. The French call for the “abolition” of the Morrill Tariffs as a first step in reconciliation.

-April 1st, U.S. President Lincoln severely rebuked his Secretary of State, W. H. Seward, for his continued insistence on a peaceful solution, Lincoln openly admits he will usurp the Constitution and initiate war on American states. 

-April 5th, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln illegally initiates war on South Carolina, Florida, and on the Confederate States of America, without the consent of congress. 

~ April 8th, 3 U.S. naval squadrons in two  expeditions secretly left port, blowing gale winds, rain, and high seas.  One Squadron has departed for Pensacola, two are pending departure for Charleston Harbor.

-April 10th, With the U.S. Naval Invasion Fleet in route, the C.S. Congress sends a wire to Generals Beauregard and Bragg that: “a federal [U.S.] expedition force will be landed to overcome all [C.S.] opposition”. 

-April 11th, The first evacuation date of the armistice was broken on February 9th, by U.S. President Buchanan. (Act of War) 

Now the second on April 10th by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. (Act of War) 

-April 12th, The U.S. Naval Fleet arrives at Charleston Harbor; Fort Sumter bombardment begins, Florida is invaded, and Fort Pickens is reinforced!  War is initiated. 

-April 14, 1861, Victorious Confederates occupy Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor after the attempted federal invasion, bombardment and subsequent surrender of federal troops. Private John S. Byrd, Jr. of South Carolina's Palmetto Guard places this flag on the fort's wall facing Charleston.

-April 15th, Lincoln usurps the Constitution and the U.S. Congress and ordered governors to provide 75,000 troops to illegally invade C.S. States. 

-Second Wave of States Secession Begins

-April 17th, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln has now formally declared war on the seven Confederate States of America without the consent of the U.S. Congress, and carrying out further invasion of Florida by reinforcing Fort Pickens.

-April 19th, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, under a plan devised by U.S. Gen. Winfield Scott,  proclaims that all Southern ports will be blockaded by the U.S. Navy (Act of War). 

-April 20th, Just 3 days after Virginia’s peaceful secession from the U.S., U.S. Commodore McCauley plans and executes the demolition and evacuation of Virginia’s ports.  (Act of War)

-April 21st, Pratt Street Riot, Baltimore Maryland;  A clash between civilian anti-war secessionists and Union troops in Maryland's largest city resulted in what is commonly accepted to be the first bloodshed of The War Between States.  

-Maryland’s General Assembly voted to approve a resolution vehemently protesting the federal occupation of Maryland, and sent it to President Lincoln.

-April 23rd, “McClellan orders Invasion” of Virginia. (Act of War).  Virginia becomes the 8th State of the Confederate States of America, and Robert E. Lee takes  command of Virginia's defense forces. 

-April 25th, After illegally suspending the U.S. Constitutional “Writ of Habeas Corpus”, Abraham Lincoln orders U.S. Gen. Winfield Scott to arrest the Maryland State Legislature, and imprison them indefinitely without warrant or charges.

-April 27th, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln illegally suspended the writ of habeas corpus between Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia to give military authorities the necessary power to “silence dissenters” and “rebels”.

-April 28th, The Republic of California Moves Toward Secession and Independence

-April 29th, The Corwin Amendment goes to the state Legislatures for Ratification. U.S. President Abraham Lincoln has personally urged all governors to support this Amendment making chattel slavery “permanent and irrevocable” in all states “loyal to the Union.”

-May 3rd, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issues Proclamation #83, which illegally established a state of war with American states, usurping the U.S. Constitution, and without the consent of the U.S. Congress. 

-May 4th, The C.S. Government establishes diplomatic relations with Great Britain and Brazil.  Britains Foreign Minister, Lord Lyons, attempts to negotiate a settlement to prevent U.S. President Lincoln from escalating war on American states. 

-May 6th, Arkansas Secedes, with 69 out of 70 delegates voting for the ordinance of secession.

-May 7th, First cannon shot of Lincoln’s war in Virginia. Tennessee declares secession. 

-May 9th, C.S. President Jefferson Davis commissions James  Dunwoody Bulloch, a former U.S. Naval Officer and Savannah native, as the primary naval agent of the Confederacy in Europe.  

-May 10th, The “Camp Jackson Massacre”, which resulted in the killing of unarmed civilians by U.S. Federal Troops, the Missouri General Assembly immediately authorized the use of military force in defense of Missouri. 

-May 12th, U.S. General Butler is “verbally” ordered by U.S. General Winfield Scott, to illegally invade, reinforce, confiscate arms of citizens and occupy Baltimore Maryland.  (Act of War)

-May 13th, Britain’s Queen Victoria issues a proclamation recognizing the Confederate States of America as having “belligerent rights.”…

-May 15th, - Lincoln’s Federal troops, U.S. General Nathaniel Lions, invade Missouri’s capital and draw the first blood in both an Act of War, and openly committed War Crimes on American Citizens during the “Camp Jackson Massacre”. 

-May 16th, Kentucky’s Governor and House of Representatives - Committee on Federal Relations passes a “Resolution of Neutrality” stating “Kentucky will furnish no troops for the wicked purpose of subduing her sister Southern states.”

-May 19th, The first “Confederate” combat Victory in Virginia.  Virginia State Militia and C.S. troops from Georgia under the command of Captain Peyton H. Colquitt.

-May 20th, North Carolina Secedes!   “whereas, this high-handed act of tyrannical outrage is not only in violation of all constitutional law, in utter disregard of every sentiment of humanity and Christian civilization”

-May 21st, Missouri declares its “neutrality” in the secession crisis, and like Kentucky, remains a “slave state”, under federal occupation, in Lincoln’s Union until after his war.  

-May 22nd, The first Documented U.S. casualty by a C.S. Troop.  U.S. Federal troops illegally occupying Western Virginia fire on a C.S. Picket, Daniel W. S. Knight.  Knight is injured but returns fire killing U.S. Infantrymen Bailey Brown. 

-May 23rd, The people of Virginia formalize secession, Arkansas is admitted to the C.S., Virginia’s Fort Monroe is illegally reinforced by U.S. Troops, and Colonel Thomas Jackson conducts a raid on the B&O Railroad Depot near Harper’s Ferry Virginia, cutting U.S. supply lines on Lincoln’s most probable overland invasion route. 

-May 24th, U.S. General George B. McClellan orders Federal troops to cross the Potomac River under the cover of night, invade the Commonwealth of Virginia and occupy the city of Alexandria. [Act of War]

-May 25th, U.S. President Lincoln’s Federal troops have illegally declared martial law in Baltimore Maryland, arrests and confiscation of firearms begin.  The Chickasaw Nation Joins the Confederate States of America. 

-May 26th, Virginia Militia and C.S. forces from 9 states respond to Lincoln’s illegal invasion of Alexandria and Western Virginia.

-May 27th, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney issues rulings citing Lincoln’s direct violations of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights,  Lincoln responded by issuing an order to arrest Justice Taney!

-June 1st, The Battle of Fairfax Court House took place and was the first direct land engagement in Lincoln’s invasion of American States resulting in combat casualties.  

-June 5th, Missouri Governor Cleburne Jackson leads his newly formed “State Guard” to Victory over U.S. occupation forces at the Battle of Carthage.  

-June 8th, The People Tennessee Vote for Secession

-June 10th, U.S. Maj. Winthrop, an ardent writer and abolitionist, was one of the first Federal  officers killed in Lincoln’s war.  Ironically, he was reportedly shot and killed by Confederate African-American Sam Ashe, the servant that accompanied an officer of the 1st North Carolina, Company D. 

-June 12th, Missouri Governor, CLAIBORNE F. JACKSON, calls up the State Militia Militia of the State into for the purpose of repelling the illegal federal invasion, and for the protection of the lives liberty, and property of the citizens of this State.

-June 13th, U.S. Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon orders U.S. forces to illegally seize and occupy the Missouri capital, attempted to arrest the States Governor and legislature. 

-June 17th, General Nathaniel Lyon ordered 1700 well armed U.S. troops to engage a newly formed group of Missouri State Guardsmen (M.S.G.), under the command of M.S.G. Colonel John S. Marmaduke, alongside Governor Jackson, Lyon’s troops captured Boonville Missouri. 

-June 23rd, U.S. Major-General George B. McClellan, U. S. Army, Commanding, illegally declares martial law, confiscates firearms, and suspends the Constitution in the federally occupied counties of western Virginia. 

-June 27th, U.S. Commander James H. Ward ordered an illegal invasion of King County Virginia, which was repulsed.  U.S. Commander Ward was killed in the attempt, becoming the first U.S. Navy officer to be killed in Lincoln’s attack on Confederate States. 

-June 30th, Confederate Steam Cruiser C.S.S. Sumter breaks through the illegal U.S. Federal Blockade at New Orleans, Commanded by Captain Raphael Semmes, who would become noted as one of the most feared and effective naval commanders in American history. 

-July 2nd, U.S. Federal troops had crossed the Potomac River and were marching south.  C.S. Colonel Jackson ordered the 5th Virginia Regiment north along the Valley Turnpike to meet the invaders.

-July 5th, Missouri Governor Cleburne Jackson leads his newly formed “State Guard” to Victory over U.S. occupation forces at the Battle of Carthage.  

-July 10th, Charles Benedict Calvert, a U.S. Representative from Maryland, writes U.S. President Abraham Lincoln regarding the resolution U.S. House, protesting the federal confiscation of slave property for Maryland residents without compensation.  Note: Illegal Federal “contraband camps” began to be established in U.S. occupied areas. 

-July 11th, U.S. Senate Expels remaining Ten Southern Members, U.S. President Lincoln continues arresting his political opponents without  warrants or charges, in direct violation of the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court. 

-July 18th, U.S. General Winfield Scott and U.S. General George McClellan have ordered U.S. General  Irvin McDowell's invasion force of ~35,000 troops, named the “Army of Northeastern Virginia”, to make the first major push to capture the C.S. Capital in Richmond Virginia, at Manassas Rail Junction. (Bull Run)