387 The Bull Run Campaign , July ,1861

387.The Bull Run Campaign , July ,1861

Northern soldiers crossed the Potomac into Virginia and found the Confederates posted atBull Run near Manassas Junc - tion . Other Northern soldiers pressed into the Shenandoah Valley from Harper ＇ s Ferry . They , too , found a Confederate army in front of them . The plan of the Union campaign is now clear : General McDowell was to attack the Con - federates at Bull Run , while General Patterson attacked the Confederates in the Valley , and kept them so busy that they could not go to the help of their comrades at Bull Run . It fel out otherwise , for Patterson retreated and left the Confederate general , Johnston , free to go to the aid of the sorely pressed Confederates at Bull Run . McDowel attacked vigorously and broke the Confederate line ; but he could not maintain his position . The Union troops at first retreated slowly . Then they became frightened and fled , in al haste , back to Washington . The first campaign ended in disaster .