Return to Bull Run

In one of the best Civil War campaign histories ever written, John Hennessy presents the most comprehensive account of Second Manassas, August 29-30, 1862. Return to Bull Run tells the compelling story of the men - from privates to generals - who responded to an awesome challenge. Making superb use of primary sources, including diaries, letters, and official communications, Hennessy reveals the personalities of the leaders on both sides and details the background of every event. The summer of 1862 marked a dramatic change in fortunes for both sides in the Civil War. Robert E. Lee had rebuffed George McClellan's assault on Richmond, leaving a demoralized and exhausted Army of the Potomac stalled twenty miles outside the city. For Lincoln, the stalemate in Virginia was a stark milestone: hopes for an easy Northern victory shattered as losses mounted throughout the state; confidence among leaders and soldiers alike was falling precipitously. Angered by McClellan's conservatism and eager to extend the dimensions of the war and bring its hard edge to the Southern populace, Lincoln established a new army in northern Virginia, entrusting command to John Pope, fresh from victories in the West. The repercussions of Pope's appointment would extend far beyond the brutal two-day conflict at Manassas. From the move of McClellan's troops northward, giving Lee a military opportunity, to Pope's arrogant boast that he would "bag" Stonewall Jackson, to the dangerous disaffection of Pope's subordinates, Hennessy traces the misjudgments, scapegoating, and ill-conceived tactics that led to Union disaster. - Publisher.