Union General John Pope 
Confederate General Robert E. Lee 
Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" JacksonSecond Battle of Manassas or Bull Run: Lee's Big Gamble
Link to download map of the Battle of Second Manassas.
Links to Virginia regions and the Civil War sites and attractions.
Civil War 1.0
Gambling that McClellan would cause no further trouble around Richmond, Lee sent Stonewall Jackson’s corps northward to contain Pope. Upon learning that the Army of the Potomac was withdrawing by water to join Pope in northern Virginia, Lee marched with General James Longstreet’s corps to assist Stonewall Jackson. General Lee knew that if he wanted to defeat the Union army under Pope, he would have to strike before McClellan’s army arrived. On August 25, 1862 Lee boldly started Jackson’s army on a march of over 50 miles, around the Union right flank to strike at Pope’s rear.
Two days later, Jackson’s troops seized Pope’s supply depot at Manassas Junction. After a day of wild feasting (you’d be hungry too after marching 50 miles in two days), Jackson’s army burned the Union supplies and moved to a position in the woods near the old Manassas battlefield.
Pope, angry by the attack on his supply base, headed towards Manassas to trap Jackson. See, it was a food fight after all. At the same time, Lee was moving northward with Longstreet’s corps to reunite his army with Jackson’s troops. On the afternoon of August 28, to prevent General Pope’s attempts to concentrate his forces at Centreville and bring Pope to battle, Jackson ordered his troops to attack a Union column as it marched past on the Warrenton Turnpike. This savage fight at Brawner’s Farm lasted until dark.
Brawner's Farm
Convinced that Jackson was isolated, Pope was sure that he could destroy this Confederate army before Lee and Longstreet could arrive. On the 29th of August in a series of uncoordinated attacks, Pope hurled his men against the Confederate positions. Although breaking Jackson’s line in several places, each time the Union units were forced back. General Pope didn’t know that during the afternoon, Longstreet’s troops arrived on the battlefield, placing themselves on Jackson’s right side or flank. Lee urged Longstreet to attack, but “Old Pete” was reluctant to engage as said the time was just not right.
The morning of August 30 passed quietly. Just before noon, erroneously believing the Confederates were retreating, Pope ordered his army forward in pursuit. The pursuit, however, was short-lived. Pope found the Confederate army was in full force with Jackson, Lee, and Longstreet’s armies all together. Amazingly, Pope ordered yet another attack against Jackson’s line and the Union army was hurled back in a bloody repulse.
Confederate General James Longstreet
Seeing the Union lines in disarray, Longstreet knew the time was right and pushed his massive columns forward collapsing the Union left side. The Union army was faced with annihilation. Only a heroic stand by some northern troops, first on Chinn Ridge and then once again on Henry Hill, bought time for the rest of the Union forces.
Henry Hill
Finally, under cover of darkness the defeated Union army withdrew across Bull Run towards the defenses of Washington. Lee’s bold and brilliant Second Manassas campaign opened the way for the south’s first invasion of the north at Antietam, Maryland, and with the hopes foreign support for the Confederacy.
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