Jackson struck a lone Union division near Brawner Farm on the evening of August 28th, knowing that General Robert Lee and his contingent of soldiers would arrive the next day. Pope commanded his forces, already scattered, to slowly attack Jackson's, who were positioned along an unfinished railroad on August 29th. Pope's forces were able to penetrate Jackson's forces, but were driven back each time. Lee arrived late in the morning with hopes to use Longstreet's forces for a flanking maneuver, but Longstreet persuaded Lee that the attack wasn't favorable.
The next day, Pope was conflicted, as his intelligence could not tell him exactly what the Confederates were doing. He decided that they were retreating, so around midday, he ordered an attack that soon ended when his forces encountered Jackson's hidden forces along the unfinished railroad, resulting in a major assault on Jackson's line. At Deep Cut, a section of the unfinished railroad that was still just a hole, the two union forces tried to attack the right flank. Porter's corps traversed the fields of Dogan Farm while Hatch's brigade were stuck at the railroad embankmant after crossing a brief stretch of exposed ground. Some of the Confederates were getting low on ammunition, so they were forced to hurl rocks at the Union soldiers, resulting in a large rock fight simply to defend their position. Finally, help for the Confederates arrived as a fresh brigade of A. P. Hill's division forced the Union force to flee. Porter's corps suffered severe tragedies during the retreat, leaving behind heaps of their dead. Jackson, too exhausted, was unable to organize a rapid pursuit of the retreating Union soldiers, allowing Porter to secure a position north of Warrenton Turnpike.
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| Confederates throwing rocks http://civilwarriors.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Rock-fight.jpg |
At Chinn Ridge, the Union forces under Irvin McDowell, who feared for Porter and his men's safety, tried to build a defense. McDowell made a severe tactical mistake when he ordered Reynold to move his men across the turnpike, leaving only 2,200 men to oppose more than ten times that many Confederates.
Lee and Longstreet, hearing the news, schemed a massive attack against the Union left, with Longstreet's division heading toward Henry Hill to cut off the Union escape while Confederate leader John Bell Hood and his Texans opposed the Tenth and Fifth New York Zouaves. The thousand men deployed in skirmish formation along Lewis Lane, almost annihilating the regiment, killing the most men in ten minutes of any regiment in a single battle throughout the entire Civil War.
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https://afatherswarstorynevertold.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/1st-battle-of-bull-run.jpg |
At this point, Pope and McDowell finally understood the consequences of their mistaken strategies and tried to salvage the battle to save the rest of their army. Pope ordered the Union soldiers to occupy Henry Hill, which took a considerable time. Pope ordered Nathaniel McLean and his Ohioans to purchase time by firing their artillery on the Confederates as they advanced from the grim slopes of Chinn Ridge.
Hood, in order to recapture the Confederates' momentum, ordered Evans to shift his regiment to the south and towards the Union's left flank. Unfortunately, Mclean deployed two of his units, forcing Evans to regroup in some piney woods. The Union line held, for the moment.
Montgomery Corse, a former milita officer from Alexandria, came to the Confederates' rescue by approaching Evans at a right angle. Due to the dark uniform of the Virginia Brigade, the Ohioans of McClean mistook them as friends, allowing them to get closer without any opposition until they realized their error. Suddenly, the Ohioans started to fire and battle commenced at point-blank range for ten minutes, until a Louisiana artillery battery joined in the foray, collapsing McLean's line at last.
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| http://fusilier.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/2nd-manassas.jpg?w=538 |
Meanwhile, Longstreet needed help to obtain Henry Hill from the Federals. Lee decided to move soldiers from Brawner Farm; however, several commands couldn't make it in time, including Hood who was still in combat at Chinn Ridge. Neighbor Jones took up the responsibility and sent G.T. Anderson and Benning's Georgians, who unfortunately lacked discipline. The Union line was able to use that lack of cohesion to halt the Confederates with firepower. Although other commanders came to help and Lee's goal of Henry Hill could have been accomplished, Anderson stalled for an unknown reason, resulting in a squandered opportunity that was earned by several hours of fierce fighting.
Finally, on September 1st, the Confederates tried to flank Pope as he retreated, resulting in a bloody fight at Chantilly on Ox Hill. The Union quickly retreated toward Washington defenses, giving Lee the chance to lead his army across the Potomac and into Maryland for the Confederates' first chance to bring the fight to the North.
The Second Battle of Manassas became the most costly battle of the Civil War, with thousands of men killed and wounded. The ground was littered with the unburied dead, while those who fought hurried to the next battle. Abraham Lincoln ended John Pope's Civil War career afterwards, giving his combined forces to McClellan.
As I entered the Manassas National Battleground on October 14, 2014, a little over 152 years later, I decided to hike the Second Battle of Manassas. It's a 6.2-mile trek through some of the major positions of the battle, including Chinn Ridge and the unfinished railroad. Again, I grabbed my trail map for Manassas at the visitor center and set off.
It was a perfect day for the most part. There was a nice steady breeze that forewarned of a cold front coming in the following day. Tall, gray clouds crept along the mountainous horizon, but no rain was in the forecast. Cerulean skies peeped occasionally as the sun baked away clouds.
I first headed back along the First Manassas trail, bypassing Judith Carter's gravesite and a line of cannon as I headed to Route 29. It was a slight downhill section at this point, warming up my body for the uphill climb that followed. I crossed Route 29 and passed the Stone House, mentioned here in my first visit, and continued to climb up to Henry Hill, a pivotal plateau for both Manassas battles and a wonderful spot to really imagine soldiers trying to obtain such a great vantage point.
On the downhill slope, I admired the first signs of fall. The colors blazing away as the clouds rolled past the sun. At this point, there was a junction where three trails crossed: the First Manassas Trail, Henry Loop Trail, and the Second Manassas Trail. I knew the latter was the one I needed, as I had already been on the first two, so I continued walking to the parking lot that led to the Second Manassas Trail.
At first, I thought the trail simply ended, finding no real blazes to lead the way. I roamed the parking lot before thinking about heading back to the visitor center to ask for directions when I noticed a small sign, obscured by the sawgrass, pointing to the direction across Sudley Road.
After cautiously crossing Sudley Road, as there was no crosswalk, I picked up the muddy trail, dodging the horse manure that littered the trail. At this point, the Second Manassas Trail and the Bridle Trail merged and remained so for most of the hike. The mud made the hike a little more treacherous and exhausting, but still enjoyable.
The Second Manassas Trail opened up once I crossed the street, and I could see hawks floating serenely overhead on the thermals, twirling gracefully higher and higher. The clouds broke apart a little, silhouetting them against the sky.
After walking for a quarter of a mile in the open field, I heard galloping behind me as a man and his beautiful black mare ran around a bend. He reigned in, saluted me, and passed along my left. After being far enough away, he kicked his horse back into a gallop and disappeared along the lane that we had just entered. I tried to take a picture of them as they sped down the lane, but I was too slow.
The lane ended in a deciduous wood, the horse trail veered off, and I was left on a slick, leaf-strewn path with the autumn leaves rustling in the slight breeze. The humidity was a little thicker here, with the trees more enclosed. I heard the scampering of squirrel feet and saw snippets of deer as they fled from my approach. In solitude, I found my inner peace.
I found myself in another parking lot, with the unfinished railroad loop heading off to the right. I meandered a little towards the unfinished railroad, but didn't do the entire loop. I started to really feel the echoes of the battle that had occurred, goosebumps prickling my flesh as I read the signage that told the story.
I left the unfinished railroad loop, skirting the parking lot, and headed back into the woods on the left. Here and there, rocks and boulders peeked out of the leaf litter, catching me unawares as my mind drifted to the battle that happened, wondering if this was Jackson's entire line strewn like the leaves. I bypassed several tall trees with the Witness Tree signs, meaning that these trees were old enough to actually have been in the battle's background. If only those trees could tell their story.
Suddenly, the trail opened on the left side to an expanse of exposed ground with slight steps leading up to an embankment. Large rocks were scattered along both sides. I then realized that this is where the infamous rock fight began -- where the Confederates had run out of ammunition and Porter abandoned his initiative. The knowledge that hundreds of Union soldiers were killed and abandoned here sent chills down my spine.
I then followed the trail into the exposed area of field towards Brawner Farm, which I had sadly missed, and towards Deep Cut Loop. The sawgrass waved, golden brown, in the breeze. Some areas reached over the top of my head. I imagined being a soldier, trying to navigate the tall grass while dodging artillery fire.
I soon found myself in front of a monument, looming out of the exposed ground like a monolith. The obelisk was erected by the Union soldiers in memory of the hundreds who had fallen. I could not determine if these were the ill-fated Porter men who were killed upon retreat or another brigade. Still, knowing that men had died to defend their beliefs made me pause.
The trail turned and meandered through the tall grass, leading to another little lane next to the road. The lane was bordered by trees on one side and the old farm-style fence on the other. The Bridle Trail for horses merged back on and I had to again watch my step, failing at one point on top of a small bridge that covered a little brook.
The lane ended at Route 29, where you have to cross cautiously once again after viewing the Dogan House. The trail picked back up along another exposed field, where a monument sat in the distance. I had hoped that the trail would go past the monolith so that I could see for whom it was erected, but, unfortunately, it snaked away in the other direction. It, also, led away from the Groveton Confederate Cemetery, a place I wanted to also visit.
The trail then led to New York Avenue, where the New York Zouaves were routed and almost annihilated. Stone monuments stood for both the third and fifth New York regiments, honoring the hundreds who lost their lives because of a tactical error.
I silently left, following the trail into the woods again, passing several more witness trees in the process. The autumn leaves fluttered down, raining silently on my head, as I somberly walked through the woods, lifting my spirits as I caught a few in mid-flight. I crossed Young's Branch and turned onto the Chinn Ridge Trail, mainly to skip out on the manure that still littered the Second Manassas Trail.
I emerged from the woods into another open field with hay bales strategically placed every few hundred yards. I had finally reached Chinn Ridge after 5.5 miles of walking. I read some of the historical signs, then walked over to the ruins of Hazel Plain. In the distance, the Hooes family cemetery sat, alone and quiet.
I jumped back onto the Second Manassas Trail as it merged with the Chinn Ridge Trail, following it up to a large rock and monument before a lone field. The rock was a monument for Colonel Fletcher Webster, who led the 12th Massachusetts volunteers. The small obelisk, recently erected, was for the Texans who gave up their lives to fight a war far away from home.
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| http://www.ozarkrambler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/jacksonlee.jpg |
The Second Battle of Manassas became the most costly battle of the Civil War, with thousands of men killed and wounded. The ground was littered with the unburied dead, while those who fought hurried to the next battle. Abraham Lincoln ended John Pope's Civil War career afterwards, giving his combined forces to McClellan.
 |
| General John Pope http://www.history.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/general-john-pope.jpg |
As I entered the Manassas National Battleground on October 14, 2014, a little over 152 years later, I decided to hike the Second Battle of Manassas. It's a 6.2-mile trek through some of the major positions of the battle, including Chinn Ridge and the unfinished railroad. Again, I grabbed my trail map for Manassas at the visitor center and set off.
It was a perfect day for the most part. There was a nice steady breeze that forewarned of a cold front coming in the following day. Tall, gray clouds crept along the mountainous horizon, but no rain was in the forecast. Cerulean skies peeped occasionally as the sun baked away clouds.
I first headed back along the First Manassas trail, bypassing Judith Carter's gravesite and a line of cannon as I headed to Route 29. It was a slight downhill section at this point, warming up my body for the uphill climb that followed. I crossed Route 29 and passed the Stone House, mentioned here in my first visit, and continued to climb up to Henry Hill, a pivotal plateau for both Manassas battles and a wonderful spot to really imagine soldiers trying to obtain such a great vantage point.
On the downhill slope, I admired the first signs of fall. The colors blazing away as the clouds rolled past the sun. At this point, there was a junction where three trails crossed: the First Manassas Trail, Henry Loop Trail, and the Second Manassas Trail. I knew the latter was the one I needed, as I had already been on the first two, so I continued walking to the parking lot that led to the Second Manassas Trail.
At first, I thought the trail simply ended, finding no real blazes to lead the way. I roamed the parking lot before thinking about heading back to the visitor center to ask for directions when I noticed a small sign, obscured by the sawgrass, pointing to the direction across Sudley Road.
After cautiously crossing Sudley Road, as there was no crosswalk, I picked up the muddy trail, dodging the horse manure that littered the trail. At this point, the Second Manassas Trail and the Bridle Trail merged and remained so for most of the hike. The mud made the hike a little more treacherous and exhausting, but still enjoyable.
The Second Manassas Trail opened up once I crossed the street, and I could see hawks floating serenely overhead on the thermals, twirling gracefully higher and higher. The clouds broke apart a little, silhouetting them against the sky.
After walking for a quarter of a mile in the open field, I heard galloping behind me as a man and his beautiful black mare ran around a bend. He reigned in, saluted me, and passed along my left. After being far enough away, he kicked his horse back into a gallop and disappeared along the lane that we had just entered. I tried to take a picture of them as they sped down the lane, but I was too slow.
 |
| Walking down the lane, I found this picturesque. |
The lane ended in a deciduous wood, the horse trail veered off, and I was left on a slick, leaf-strewn path with the autumn leaves rustling in the slight breeze. The humidity was a little thicker here, with the trees more enclosed. I heard the scampering of squirrel feet and saw snippets of deer as they fled from my approach. In solitude, I found my inner peace.
I found myself in another parking lot, with the unfinished railroad loop heading off to the right. I meandered a little towards the unfinished railroad, but didn't do the entire loop. I started to really feel the echoes of the battle that had occurred, goosebumps prickling my flesh as I read the signage that told the story.
I left the unfinished railroad loop, skirting the parking lot, and headed back into the woods on the left. Here and there, rocks and boulders peeked out of the leaf litter, catching me unawares as my mind drifted to the battle that happened, wondering if this was Jackson's entire line strewn like the leaves. I bypassed several tall trees with the Witness Tree signs, meaning that these trees were old enough to actually have been in the battle's background. If only those trees could tell their story.
 |
| Random lichen/mushroom at the bottom of the sign reminds me of a green snowman |
Suddenly, the trail opened on the left side to an expanse of exposed ground with slight steps leading up to an embankment. Large rocks were scattered along both sides. I then realized that this is where the infamous rock fight began -- where the Confederates had run out of ammunition and Porter abandoned his initiative. The knowledge that hundreds of Union soldiers were killed and abandoned here sent chills down my spine.
I then followed the trail into the exposed area of field towards Brawner Farm, which I had sadly missed, and towards Deep Cut Loop. The sawgrass waved, golden brown, in the breeze. Some areas reached over the top of my head. I imagined being a soldier, trying to navigate the tall grass while dodging artillery fire.
I soon found myself in front of a monument, looming out of the exposed ground like a monolith. The obelisk was erected by the Union soldiers in memory of the hundreds who had fallen. I could not determine if these were the ill-fated Porter men who were killed upon retreat or another brigade. Still, knowing that men had died to defend their beliefs made me pause.
The trail turned and meandered through the tall grass, leading to another little lane next to the road. The lane was bordered by trees on one side and the old farm-style fence on the other. The Bridle Trail for horses merged back on and I had to again watch my step, failing at one point on top of a small bridge that covered a little brook.
The lane ended at Route 29, where you have to cross cautiously once again after viewing the Dogan House. The trail picked back up along another exposed field, where a monument sat in the distance. I had hoped that the trail would go past the monolith so that I could see for whom it was erected, but, unfortunately, it snaked away in the other direction. It, also, led away from the Groveton Confederate Cemetery, a place I wanted to also visit.
The trail then led to New York Avenue, where the New York Zouaves were routed and almost annihilated. Stone monuments stood for both the third and fifth New York regiments, honoring the hundreds who lost their lives because of a tactical error.
I silently left, following the trail into the woods again, passing several more witness trees in the process. The autumn leaves fluttered down, raining silently on my head, as I somberly walked through the woods, lifting my spirits as I caught a few in mid-flight. I crossed Young's Branch and turned onto the Chinn Ridge Trail, mainly to skip out on the manure that still littered the Second Manassas Trail.
I emerged from the woods into another open field with hay bales strategically placed every few hundred yards. I had finally reached Chinn Ridge after 5.5 miles of walking. I read some of the historical signs, then walked over to the ruins of Hazel Plain. In the distance, the Hooes family cemetery sat, alone and quiet.
I jumped back onto the Second Manassas Trail as it merged with the Chinn Ridge Trail, following it up to a large rock and monument before a lone field. The rock was a monument for Colonel Fletcher Webster, who led the 12th Massachusetts volunteers. The small obelisk, recently erected, was for the Texans who gave up their lives to fight a war far away from home.
Finally, I descended a small hill between two trees and reached the road back to the visitor center. Along the way, I met two ladies with their very beautiful German Shepherds, who bounded towards me for some attention. I talked a little with them, then crossed Sudley Road and got back to my car.
This hike was a beautiful hike -- my favorite between the two Manassas Trails. Although somber and chilling at times, I was able to fully enjoy the scenery and the history that the National Park had. I definitely plan on returning, reading more of the historical signage, and using this trail as one of my go-to trails. Wonderful!
References:
Second Manassas . (n.d.). Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved October 18, 2014, from http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/second-manassas.html?tab=facts
States. National Park Service. (n.d.). National Park Civil War Series: The Second Battle of Manassas. National Parks Service. Retrieved October 18, 2014, from http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/civil_war_series/18/sec6.htm
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