Summer Lightning: A Guide to the Second Battle of Manassas

Appendix V: The Stone Bridge

Appendix V The Stone Bridge To visit the Stone Bridge from the Visitor Center, follow these directions: Depart the Visitor Center’s parking area and drive to the Sudley Road. Turn right on the Sudley Road and drive north for 0.4 mile to the intersection with the Warrenton Turnpike (where the stoplight is). Turn right on to the Warrenton Turnpike and drive east 1.4 miles to a parking area on your left. Turn left into the parking area and park. Leave your car and walk west on the path for 100 yards to the Stone Bridge. Position V—The Stone Bridge You are at the Stone Bridge, which played a predominant role in the movement of Union troops not only at Second Manassas in 1862 but also at First Manassas on July 21, 1861. The original bridge was built in 1825. It was destroyed in July 1861 and rebuilt in 1884. During Second Manassas, although the span section of the bridge had been destroyed, the abutments were in place and planking was put down to provide a roadway. In 1926 U.S. Highway 29 (Warrenton Turnpike) was straightened out and a different bridge, which you drove over, was constructed just south of where you are. During the retreat of Pope’s army across Bull Run, this bridge provided the crossing point for the majority of the Union forces. At 8:00 p.m. Pope issued the order for the army to retreat to Centreville. The Stone Bridge 296 Report of Maj. Gen. John Pope, USA, Commanding Army of Virginia About 6 o’clock in the afternoon, I heard accidentally that Franklin’s corps had arrived at a point about 4 miles east of Centreville and 12 miles in our rear, and that it was only about 8,000 strong. The result of the battle of the 30th, the very heavy losses we had suffered, and the complete prostration of our troops from hunger and fatigue made it plain to me that we were no longer able, in the face of such overwhelming odds, to maintain our position so far to the front, nor would we have been able to do so under any circumstances, suffering as were the men and horses from fatigue and hunger and weakened by the heavy losses incident to the uncommon hardships which they had suffered. About 8 o’clock at night, therefore, I sent written instructions to the commanders of corps to withdraw leisurely toward Centreville, and stated to them what route each should pursue and where they should take post. (OR 12, pt. 2, p. 43.) Pope’s army retreating over the Stone Bridge. Library of Congress. The Stone Bridge 297 The army’s retreat was covered by Sigel’s First Corps. Report of Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel, USA, Commanding First Corps, Army of Virginia Following the troops of Generals Porter and McDowell, my corps crossed Young’s Branch, where it remained for two hours, until the commands of Generals McDowell, Reno, and Kearny had crossed Bull Run by the ford near the stone bridge, and the whole train had passed over the bridge. It was now between 9 and 10 p.m. I then marched to the turnpike, crossed the bridge over Bull Run, and took position on the left and right of the bridge, throwing my pickets out on the other side of the creek toward the battle-field. Soon afterward an officer of General McDowell’s staff directed me to fall back. It was now after midnight, when I ordered my command to continue its march toward Centreville, first destroying the bridge across Bull Run. Our rear guard was composed of part of General Schurz’ division, two pieces of Captain Dilger’s battery, and a detachment of [Lieutenant] Colonel Kane’s Bucktail Rifles, which had come up with several guns collected on their march of retreat. (OR 12, pt. 2, pp. 269–70.) Look at Bull Run and you can see how it and its steep banks form an obstacle to easy movement by any large force. So why was Pope’s army fighting west of Bull Run rather than east of it? Tactical doctrine calls for a defense to be positioned so that any major obstacle is in front of the defenders, not behind them, providing a means to slow down and channelize enemy movements. Today the area near Bull Run is more vegetated than it...