The Dawn of the American Civil War: 1861 First Battle of Bull Run | Total War Battle

The First Battle of Bull Run, called the Battle of First Manassas by Confederate forces, was the first major battle of the American Civil War. The battle was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, just north of the city of Manassas and about thirty miles west-southwest of Washington, D.C. The Union Army was slow in positioning themselves, allowing Confederate reinforcements time to arrive by rail. Each side had about 18,000 poorly trained and poorly led troops. The battle was a Confederate victory and was followed by a disorganized post-battle retreat of the Union forces.
00:00 Introduction
01:05 The Armies Form
01:43 The Battlefield
02:00 The Union gathers their forces
03:03 The Confederates gather their army
03:20 Opening moves
04:25 The Battle Breaks out
04:53 The Confederates withdraw from the bridge
05:45 Confederate reinforcements arrive
07:01 The Confederate line breaks
07:46 Confederate reinforcements arrive
08:55 The Union attempts to take the hill
09:58 The Confederates take Union guns
11:07 The Confederates continue to press the attack
12:23 The Union line breaks
13:10 Aftermath

[@ajaxmaintenance5104]

As the hill was in peril of being taken by the Federal Army, General Bee pointed to Gen Jackson on his horse and shouted, “Look! There sits Jackson like a stone wall!” His army rallied, the South carried the day, and the nickname stuck.

[@analtubegut66]

Federal army? It was the united states army

[@zargonfuture4046]

And thus legends are truly born. The actions of one and the utterances of others. A monumental figure never to be forgotten by history. He holds special praise in my pantheon of great generals and leaders of wartimes.

[@analtubegut66]

@@zargonfuture4046 confederate generals are remembered as losers and racists. Their names don't carry honor

[@manuelacosta9463]

The beginning if the Civil War. First Bull Run was wild, even civilians arrived from as far as Washington to watch and they too joined the chaotic rout as things turned sour for the Union. It was quite a start for the war.

[@warrenbates2949]

Kind of like Jan 6th.

[@apocalypticpraefectus8575]

in literally no way like January 6th, which was a bunch of boomers sightseeing then getting federally charged@@warrenbates2949

[@peterrodriguez3609]

​@warrenbates2949 not sure if you know what you are taking sbout SMH.

[@Geep615]

“ Let us determine to die here and we will conquer! Rally behind the Virginians!” And that is exactly what happened, the man that said that died within minutes but their small under equipped army whipped the invaders

[@edgingjogo]

I've been wanting an ACW historical battle for some time now, and I've finally got one. Thank you so much for the work you do.

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks man I try my best, I’ve got a few others on my channel and plan of making more in the near future 👌

[@SlumberBear2k]

my great great great great grandfather was wounded at first bull run.

[@jarom676]

Which side was he on? My great grand uncle was there too. He was a confederate in the 27th Va infantry, company B. He survived.

[@SlumberBear2k]

@@jarom676 He was on the union side, in a New York regiment. But unfortunately I don't know which regiment it was!

[@jarom676]

When I say my great grand uncle survived, I mean he survived first Manassas. He died however later in June 1863 from heart disease apparently around the time of second Winchester. You can probably find out. If you have his name, there’s record sites you can go to to find him. Fold 3 is a good one.

[@jodynunley6447]

The army of Northern Virginia was Lee's Confederate army, and the army of the potomac was the union.

[@peanutwars]

this channel is underrated this is really amazing man! to learn and see all at the same time is so epic! great narration i love you

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks man glad you enjoy the videos !!

[@user-fx3lv8im7f]

Love the work you do , in recreating these amazing historical battles. Thanks for sharing with me !

[@cinematicbattles559]

Glad you like them!

[@dividednations44]

The overall command was under Johnston, who was not gathering his army near Manassas. He was actually some distance west near Staunton and his army moved by train to Manassas once the battle started, although mostly too late to participate.

[@jarom676]

Jackson's brigade were on those trains.. and I think you'll agree that his brigade had a central role in the battle.. They arrived in enough time and boosted Beauregaurd's numbers.

[@Nerdy_dude]

Great job! Keep up the work!

[@cinematicbattles559]

Cheers bro will do😁

[@daveh9551]

"The Second Bullrun"", I think it was called the Battle of Manasses the first go around and the Battle Of Bullrun the second. The Battle of Antietam was called the Battle of Sharpsburg by the Confederates. Great history lesson. I always wondered why they used the same tactics as the Revolutionary War when those rifled musket barrels played no games at 100 yards? I always thought it interesting that the Gatling gun was invented in 1861 but didnt get its patent until after the war. Just imagine if that was on the battlefield at the beginning of the war?

[@Hinkel84]

To bad the mod does not support the colorful uniforms, which we seen at Bull Run. New York regiments in grey, Virginia in blue, Minnesota in red uniforms and such.

[@aesoundforge]

Fantastic. Better than watching a movie. I wonder if you use historical numbers in the visuals.

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks a lot glad you enjoyed, I try as best as I can to keep the number of troops somewhat consistent to the real numbers 👍

[@MegaWillieo]

Blue uniforms were Regular Army while gray was militia uniforms. Some Union regiments wore gray. The Confederate first flag resembled the US flag. Most of the units were low on ammunition and water and had not eaten since early morning

[@TostitoMan]

Heyo dude been a fan of your content and Ive recently been in to making documentaries about historical battles, I know it might be a lot to ask but any softwares and tips you may have for making such cinematics? Either way, awesome content and hope to continue seeing you in my notifications. Cheers!

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks a lot man it means a lot 😀 personally I use davinci to edit , it’s a great free editing software that is easy to navigate , as for the actual content I use total war games and you can get into cinematic camera by pressing K , I always try and move the camera around as a whole video of still shots would get boring , if there’s anything else you want to know please just reach out

[@sirburpsalot3692]

You did not mention that the Yankees were utterly humilated in this battle. DC people came out to "picnic" and watch the battle. They saw it for sure as Yankees ran over them in a full rout. If the Confederates had pressed their advatage they could have walked right into DC. This version is a bit deceptive and does not relay how devastating this defeat was to the Yankees.

[@dougmeekins]

The conferate army was the Army of Northern Virginia, the unios army was the Army of the Potomac.

[@UnRu1eD]

How do you recreate these? It’s awesome.

[@zach7193]

Feeling like it's Gods and Generals with this battle.

[@jackdelong714]

the army of northern Virginia was the confederate army...the army of the Potomac was the Union army

[@stoneyard100]

I know very little about the American Civil War. I did find this interesting but lacking a map, I struggled to understand the topography and unit movement.

[@yourmom9951]

Understand this topography 🍑💨

[@poodlemeister22314]

www.nps.gov/mana/index.htm here is the national park's website on manassas (the location of the first and second battles of bull run)

[@niono1587]

Agreed, this is very confusing for alot of historical videos is there's no "bigger" picture.

[@robertmchaney3046]

Good animation. Got the proper Confederate Flag of that time, first National Flag called the Stars and Bars.

[@RobertWF42]

This is great - is this a Total War scenario we can buy on Steam?

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks :) , you can download the American Civil War mod off the ModDB website

[@user-oo8xh4nh1x]

графику ещё хуже можно было настроить?)

[@bizzmo13]

rebel againt federal laws

[@matthewclark6871]

I done forgot. What is the name of this game you are using for these videos???

[@cinematicbattles559]

Napoleon total war with an American civil war mod installed 👍

[@mr.t114]

All probably knows that Gettysburg were the biggest battle of the war but what was the second biggest one?

[@olderola5308]

How are these videos made without combat? Like showing soldiers marching without interference?

[@pepelore5024]

2nd Battle or Bull Run when?

[@WysteriaGuitar]

Wait, what mod is this again please?

[@cinematicbattles559]

American civil war mod for napoleon total war , it’s on the mod DB website

[@WysteriaGuitar]

@@cinematicbattles559 Thank you

[@tomalakis2483]

the uniforms at bull run were way more diverse... yankees in gray, confederates in blue and even red and green...

[@owenlindkvist5355]

So, what AI did you use for narration?

[@cinematicbattles559]

Descript

[@owenlindkvist5355]

@@cinematicbattles559 Figured. IT sounded incredibly stiff and lacking.

[@waroftherebellion.]

It hurts my soul you aren't using the ACW mod for Napoleon with all of the historically accurate units, artillery and uniforms. Its even done by brigades and has over 50+ themed historical armies and historical maps. Pleas use that mod going forward for your videos!

[@DonaldKDever]

I like this animation better than a bunch of fat reinactors.

[@TEN_652]

what game name

[@jeffthebovine4158]

Total War: Napoleon with a Civil War Mod

[@giorgiodemajo]

What game is this?

[@cinematicbattles559]

Napoleon Total War with an American Civil War mod installed

[@EpochBattles]

What game is this total war napoleon?

[@Hinkel84]

Yes with mod.

[@cinematicbattles559]

Yes It has the American Civil War mod which can be found on Mod DB

[@johnfreeman9766]

Confederates fought for independence. Union fought to forcibly keep the Confederate states from separating. Forcing people to stay. Oh the irony.

[@MountainRaven1960]

They look like Zombies with guns!

[@PeroZderoPeroZdero]

In Star Wars Universe this would be the First Battle of Geonosis.

[@rileyfair5]

By definition this wasn't a civil war. The term civil war wasn't used till after the war

[@thecentralscrutinizerr]

It was the North vs. the Americans. 😁

[@professorwoland3181]

By North do you mean the Irish?

[@mr.s2005]

its was Americans vs anti-constitutional rebels who had zero justification for both interfere with the 1860 election and firing the first shot.

[@analtubegut66]

It was the united states against the confederate traitors

[@charliefoxtrot1273]

American civil war 2.0 when

[@M60gunner1971]

This war was not about slavery!

[@WillyShankspeare]

Dude, I will literally voice these for you for free so you don't need an AI just please get somebody that isn't a computer

[@richandrose6348]

I’m not familiar with the Confederate army of the Potomac.

[@mattmerritt5541]

That was what Beauregard’s army was known as at the time. After First Bull Run, it was changed.

[@michaelvaughn8864]

Rally behind The Virginians

[@user-qc8zv5sd5f]

He has the names of the two Armys mixed up,, listen closely

[@trajan231]

the Confederate army was the Army of the Potomac at the start of the war. Along with the Army of the Shenandoah, it merged into the First Corps of the Army of Nothern Virginia in 1862. Likewise the Federal Army of NorthEastern Virginia, was reorganised into the Federal Army of the Potomac after McLellan took command the same year.

[@GiviTolstykh]

why the AI voice

[@abrushwithhistory]

These animations are really great. Some things to keep in mind for future videos. Infantry during the Civil War would march down a road in a Column of four soldiers abreast (known as a Column of fours - two front rank file men and two rear rank file men) or two soldiers abreast (known as a Column of twos - two men one from the rear rank and one from the back rank or file mates). They would not march in a large mass as shown here. There would be a space in between each row of four or two solders wide enough to allow an officer to pass between. This space/interval would be maintained throughout the line of march and all the way down the line. The only way they would move across an area like this would be in a line marching by Column of Companies, or column of Brigades, in where there would be a sizable space in between each company or brigade line, in which each would only be in a two-rank line. In other words, the soldiers not be bunched-up as closely together in a large mass. Also, infantry that is moving forward in a battle line would only be in no more than two ranks. You would never see a line shooting in three ranks as shown here. The reason being, is that soldiers during this era were only trained to fight in two rank battle line with the soldiers being shoulder to shoulder. When marching forward in a deployed battle line soldiers were trained to habitually maintain a touch of the elbow with the men next to them in order to maintain the line's cohesion. When the line was in the act of firing, the rear rank man would fire over the right shoulder of the front rank man directly in front of him. This man would be his file mate. Also, the only way you would see soldiers fighting spaced apart would be when they were deployed on Skirmish Duty (known as a Skirmish line). The Skirmish line would be made up of a number of companies from the regiment who would be deployed out ahead of the main battle line to move ahead and either scout, or engage the enemy battle lines as a sort of early warning system, or a method of slowing down an enemy assault. Infantry soldiers in the Civil War were trained to maintain a tight line in two ranks in order to deliver a large volume of fire to their intended targets with muzzle loading single shot rifles. It would really help to read the period military manuals to better understand how these army's moved and fought. It was organized in a very methodical way for a specific purpose.

[@user-ou8vp7qs1u]

? Nam game

[@cinematicbattles559]

Napoleon: Total War but I also installed an American Civil War mod

[@sid2112]

Use your voice.

[@facelessforcamgaming2086]

I wished the CA would of made a total war civil war game, this mod is great but I'd like a campaign as well.

[@cinematicbattles559]

Yes I really want a modern Historical Total War game, hopefully they get their act together and produce a quality game in the future

[@facelessforcamgaming2086]

@@cinematicbattles559 time will tell.

[@robertmchaney3046]

We called this battle, the Battle of Manassas. The yankees call it something else......

[@fearlessfosdick160]

Shut it down at 4:21. I won't listen to AI narration.

[@britishpatriot7386]

It had nothing to do with slavery really 😂

[@larryedwards9501]

Wasn't about slavery, initially. Love the series though!

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thank you🙏😁

[@gregcampbell619]

Total lie. The south seceded because Lincoln said he may impose the tariff Jackson threatened the south with years earlier. When the south seceded, Maryland and Delaware still had slaves, which means the USA could have banned slavery on the spot. Say that again, the USA could have ended thevery in the USA the day the south seceded, they didnt. Lincoln gave 2 emancipation proclamation in which NEITHER freed slaves in the US. Only US controlled lands in the CSA. The war started because a base in South Carolina was occupied by a foreign government. That army was asked to leave, they didnt until they were forced too. Get your facts right

[@l0mis326]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4ulY5mqeNFljM0si=9AGRmXS3bCPz8rGY

[@user-cm8ld7rh1h]

The South was gay 🌈

[@danielgrigsby4153]

Thank you for sharing your viewpoint. Firstly, it is important to note that these states were referred to as border states, and Lincoln refrained from abolishing slavery in the entire U.S. due to concerns that they would join the Confederate States of America (CSA) if he did so. While unfortunate, the Emancipation Proclamation was primarily a strategic move. By depriving the South of a crucial resource and forcing nations like England and France to reconsider supporting the CSA, it aimed to shed light on the issue of slavery. The Civil War, without a doubt, revolved entirely around slavery. I reiterate, it was unequivocally about slavery. There are numerous accounts from southerners expressing fears of Lincoln taking away their slaves upon his election. Prior to the Civil War, the conflicts between pro and anti-slavery factions in "bleeding Kansas" further exemplify the significance of this issue. Additionally, if these points are insufficient, a study of the CSA constitution, which closely resembled the U.S. constitution with the exception of provisions on state's rights and, of course, slavery, would provide further evidence. Finally, to quote Nathan Bedford Forest, “If we ain't fightin' to keep slavery, then what the hell are we fightin' for?”

[@rockjohnson7980]

You have no idea what you’re talking about, lost causer. The Southerners were VERY CLEAR why they were seceding. Overwhelmingly, that was to protect slavery and white supremacy. Republicans, which had come into power, did not claim-nor did they have the legal power-to abolish slavery outright. What they wanted to do-and what southerners realized they wanted to do-was to arrest the spread of it, and generally treat it as a BAD thing, hoping that it would one day be killed off. We don’t know how that plan would have worked out, because Southerners decided that was enough to cut bait and run, thus creating the catalyst for abolishing slavery totally. Contrary to your claims, the Federal government did not have power in peace time, to end slavery in the border states without some sort of sweeping amendment, since slavery was a STATE controlled institution. However, they were doing all they could to form a gradual abolition plan in those states, but it simply wasn’t excepted. The Emancipation Proclamation was a stepping stone along the way, freeing more and more. It could ONLY legally be in effect in states IN REBELLION-since again, it was a state controlled institution, and this was a WAR MEASURE. Nevertheless, the nation was able to rid itself of this institution, which plagued the nation for centuries, in just over 1 Presidential term-something no one expected in 1860. It would be like a President and Congress eliminating school shtings and abortion controversy put together, in such a short time span-all during the worst violent struggle the nation ever endured! Yet you don’t think it was quick enough!! Thats some wild lost cause thinking😂

[@scottmurray8055]

To bad the south lost

[@fth5263]

Civil war was started over money power states rights...slavery was just a thread

[@robertvergason4491]

Specifically which state rights?

[@dylan4964]

@@robertvergason4491 Its pretty obvious it was over states rights and the ability of the federal government to push law down peoples throats. Remembering just 50 years before the civil war the united states was almost destroyed just by a very small war and had barely codified a real constitution

[@robertvergason4491]

@@dylan4964 You are right and which one of those “Federal” issues kept causing a clash in Congress? Which issue hung up the Missouri Comprise in constant debate? Why did Douglas and zero Southern Congressmen agree on making Nebraska and Kansas part of the Louisiana purchase west of Iowa and Missouri? Not slavery, I’m sure.

[@dylan4964]

@robertvergason4491 this is a fallacy in which because one thing arose historically you believe it was the only point of friction or the only possible point of friction which is obviously not true considering the wide spread rebellions in the years before the Civil War which occurred mostly due to the governments incursions into people's lives

[@analtubegut66]

​@@dylan4964- it was about slavery, it was even self proclaimed

[@davereed417]

Every thing the said is a lie same today God Bless the CSA

[@misterdeadhead]

Lmaooo

[@johnstewart9591]

1863 emancipation proclamation was the first time slavery was mentioned in the civil war. If you're going to make educational videos let's make them correct. Repainting history is bad history. For whatever reason it may be. Tell it how it is.

[@patrickwaldeck6681]

Every Confederate article of secession specifically mentioned slavery as their reason for secession. The Confederacy was a dystopian police state of sadists that held an entire race in bondage and intended to do so literally forever if they could have managed it. "Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner-stone rests upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery - subordination to the superior race - is his natural and normal condition." -Alexander Stephens, vice president of the Confederate States of America

[@AdamFuller50]

The Confederate army is not the Army of the Potomac lots of mistakes throughout but that is so egregious I had to click off

[@travisdonaldstanley6420]

"Originally called the Confederate Army of the Potomac, the confederate forces were renamed the Army of Northern Virginia when Robert E. Lee assumed command on June 1, 1862, in a battle to defend the city of Richmond from Union forces."

[@AdamFuller50]

@@travisdonaldstanley6420 did not say “Confederate Army of the Potomac”

[@davec8730]

the war fought over slavery huh? is that the same slavery that had slaves owned in NORTHERN/UNION states beyond appomattox? is that the same slavery that lincoln himself in his open letter to horace greeley (editor of the new york tribune) in august of 62 states he has no interest in, as the war is over UNION, and forcing the population of the south back into his union, much a putin does toady in ukraine? is that the same lincoln that wanted top deport all the blacks to the caribbean? IF the war was over slavery why did the emancipation act only free slaves in the south, and NOT in the north? the emancipation was a war measure against the south, to stop the south defending itself effectively against the invaders, at a time that the south was winning the war. the war wasn't over slavery as the VAST majority of confederates barley saw a slave let alone owned any, they fought to repel the invader. the war was over the south's refusal to fund NORTHERN/UNION industrial expansion, and northern recruitment posters call for volunteers to fight for UNION, as he couldn't have raised a division to fight to free slaves in 1861.

[@musicmadgic6931]

It's the same old BS history revision, and I hate to say "woke", "virtue signaling", that drives cowards to "bend the knee". Try as they might, "they" can't bury the facts!!.

[@dutchmandave6605]

No slavery=no war it's really that simple

[@johnstewart9591]

​@@dutchmandave6605no it's really not. The south went to war because of tariffs placed on them from the north, and the takings of their land to build factories. Only 7% of the African American population were slaves and they were owned by a total of 13% of the south. Of the 13% only 7% owned more than 10.

[@__mindflayer__]

I love this cute argument. Let me break it down for you. Did the union own slavery? Yes it did here’s the kicker my simple minded friend. The north agreed to no longer expand slavery. That’s what the south wanted, not only the preservation of slavery but the right to expand it to the west and push deeper with more southern slave states. The agreement that Lincoln sent to the south proves that it was about slavery expansion. He asked the slave states to return to the union and they could keep slavery in the ALREADY EXISTING state. When that happened the CSA declined and refused to rejoin. It doesn’t help that they saw Lincoln as a threat that could be a president that would remove slavery so they decided to leave the union BEFORE Lincoln was even inaugurated as sworn president proving MORE it was about slavery. The south didn’t plan to go to war over slavery then please do explain why the South committed raids on federal weapons warehouses and started arming themselves with rifles and canons one example being in Kentucky where they killed and captured a few number of federal troops and took federal weapons and property to begin their fight and used this exact weapons to fire at Fort Sumter. I hate lost causers trying so hard to compare the civil war to the Ukrainian war. Ukriane was a sovereign independent nation since 1991 since the USSR fell apart. The CSA was never a nation to begin with and almost the entire world didn’t see them as a country and refused to recognize it as one. Unlike ukriane where it has already existed for almost four decades. Lincoln didn’t want to “DEPORT” them to the Caribbean. He wanted to send them and a few American armies to set up a colony for themselves in Africa with the assistance of the United States and you love not adding the context as to why Lincoln wanted that. He wanted to move them because he believed that whites and blacks wouldn’t be able to coexist because of the way they were treated for 100 years of American slavery and thought that it would embark racial violence. Which he was half right. We figured out how to co-exist but he was correct about racial violence especially because of the KKK and Jim Crow and because of segregation that ignited racial tensions from 1865-1967. So it’s understandable when Lincoln was coming from and you’re trying to paint him evil when you don’t add his context as why he wanted to do it. The reason why the emancipation proclamation was only applied to the south was because it was a form of punishment to those states that LEFT. You forget that Missouri, Maryland Kentucky, and eventually West Virginia stayed with the union even though they themselves were slave states that needed to be pleased with the fact they will have the right to keep their slaves. Eventually those states didn’t need slavery and outlawed it themselves on their own accord since they weren’t so dependent on slavery unlike the major Deep South was. The war was definitely about slavery. Just because your fellow man didn’t fight for slavery it doesn’t mean the Confederate States of America didn’t fight for slavery. Their constitution changed only one thing about the original American constitution and guess what. It was slavery. They took out “ALL men are created equal” and switched it out so their government wouldn’t sound hypocritical and made it clear in their succession papers why they left. Where each paper mentions slavery over 300 times. Not only that but every confederate politician of the CSA owned a mass portion of the slave aristocracy so trying to say they never fought for it is a downright lie. Bro what industrial expansion are you talking about? The union stuck to itself and let the south be with slavery and let the south use an outdated system of raising low quality cotton even when the cotton gin was introduced the south made bare anything from it, why? Cause the slave family members that basically owned the southern Democratic Party were the ones making all the cash to themselves cause they would distribute it to the north where New York had to export it out having to play ridiculous amounts of tariffs. Yes before you even make it about taxes and tarrifs NEW YORK was the one paying for most if not all of the tariffs cause it was the richest state at the time.

[@johnstewart9591]

KZbin will remove your comment. They removed mine already. Bastards want to paint the united states as racists and refuse for the real history of this nation to be told. China owned KZbin. F em.

[@zargonfuture4046]

Stop talking the politics as you see it, show the battle and narrate that. 🙄 I know this battle well and have gamed it. Stopped watching your vid 2 minutes in.

[@cinematicbattles559]

My apologies , I did try and leave the politics out of it

[@zargonfuture4046]

@@cinematicbattles559 I'd have started with the forces arrival their dispositions. The impact of the trains ect. This is a pivotal battle fought by amateurs on both sides which actually built a few generals their characters and tarnish a few others. Amazing battle to wargame btw and the combatants were brave but were outclassed by the novelty of modern weapons in a war they were starting and fighting to Napoleonic standards, same thing happened to the belligerents of the Crimean war ten years earlier.. Anyway nice animated scenes.

[@scottmurray8055]

To bad the south lost