What you’ve stumbled upon here is not your typical blog – Bull Runnings is a little schizophrenic. Yes, there are original content postings arranged from newest to oldest, consisting of news items and opinion pieces on various topics, all Civil War related and many associated with the First Battle of Bull Run. But Bull Runnings is also a repository of primary data on the First Battle of Bull Run: orders of battle, biographical sketches, after action reports, testimony, letters, diaries, memoirs, newspaper articles, etc. (Some refer to this site as an Information Compilation Blog or Battle Blog.) You can find these items listed in the right hand column of the page or in the masthead above as Bull Run Resources. These resources are constantly growing, and contain minimal interpretation. So if you’ve come here for a quick and dirty description of the battle, you’ve probably come to the wrong place (though I do provide a Time Line). But if it’s nitty-gritty detail you want, the detail from which battle summaries are drawn, you made the right click. OK, maybe the left-click.
So come in and browse. You can search the site using the engine in the right hand column, you can search by categories in the drop down window, or you can search by most popular tags in the tag cloud (here’s a hint: original content stuff can be found newest to oldest under the category or tag “Articles“, and primary data can be found under the category or tag “Resources“).
Also see other blogs and sites I like in the Links tab. Book me to speak to your group or give a tour using the comments feature on the Book Me, Danno page. Comments to articles and resources are encouraged, but please follow the Comment Rules. If you’re an author or publisher and would like me to consider posting info on your book, see my Review Policy. And if you’re wondering about your host, check out About Me.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you find what you’re looking for. If you don’t, drop me a note – my contact info is in the right hand margin. Many descendants of participants have left messages here to our mutual benefit, so don’t be shy.
Harry Smeltzer
Bull Runnings 
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Where is the Black Horse Calvary today? Is it part of the Black Horse Regiment that still exists today?
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If you’re referring to the 11th Armored Cavalry regiment of the U. S. Army, no, I don’t believe they have anything other than a titular similarity with the Confederate (enemy) regiment. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Armored_Cavalry_Regiment_(United_States)
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Today’s official Virginia Defense Force use (or used) the name Black Horse Brigade. For what it’s worth.
https://militarygraphics.com/product/virginia-defense-force-black-horse-brigade-decal/
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Dimitri! Good to hear from you!
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Can you tell me the date, time and location of your next meeting? Thanks.
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Was the right flanking movement at Bull Run stream on July 21, 1861 doomed before it started due to poor engineering scouting and no realization that the route was an obstacle course which took much time for all the troops to traverse? Union forces mustered at 2:30am only to start engaging Colonel Evan’s forces at Mathews Hill not until 11am. The march was exhausting and thirst was abundant. Only by the heroism of Union troops under these circumstances were they able to make a fight of it as long as they did that day.
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Hi Bernie. I’m assuming this is a question and not a statement. McDowell’s operation of the 21st against the Confederate left was a turning movement, not a flanking movement. This difference is far more than semantics. The march did take time, and thirst and exhaustion were issues later in the day, but despite all that, McDowell achieved nearly all of the objectives of his plan, which ended with establishing his line along the Warrenton Turnpike. The failure was in not establishing that line across the Stone Bridge.
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The two divisions (Hunter and Heintzlman) were 2-3 hours late arriving at Sudley Ford because their guide took them on a much longer farm road than previously reconnoitered. Their delays were caused by Tyler’s division having so much trouble getting across the narrow suspension bridge at Cub Run – including time to shore it up. The turning divisions should have gone first. Tylers division was to conduct a diversionary attack, make enough noise, to hopefully convince Confederate Col Evans’ brigade that it was coming across the Stone Bridge. The flag message from Capt EP Alexander at 0800 from Signal Mountain, near Manassas Junction, that Evans was turned alerted him to the danger of the Union forces coming around The attack at Matthew Hill did not start until 0930 – by 1100, Evans as joined by Gen Bee and Gen Bartow’s brigade but insufficient force to withstand the Union forces coming across the top of the hill. Evans and company were forced to withdraw by 1130 that day.
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Thank you for the insight on the “guide.”
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Are there future meetings scheduled to discuss General Rufus Barringer? We would love to attend, if possible! Thanks alot.
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Bull Runnings has no meetings on anything. You may be asking me this because I have spoken in the past to the Rufus Barringer Civil War Round Table in Pinehurst, NC.
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