Northern Virginia Campaign

Overview

The Northern Virginia Campaign, also known as the Second Bull Run Campaign or Second Manassas Campaign, was a series of battles fought in Virginia during August and September 1862 in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee followed up his successes of the Seven Days Battles in the Peninsula campaign by moving north toward Washington, D.C., and defeating Maj. Gen. John Pope and his Army of Virginia.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Northern Virginia Campaign, fought in August and September 1862, marked a significant Confederate strategic success in the Eastern Theater. Following his successes in the Seven Days Battles during the Peninsula Campaign, General Robert E. Lee moved north toward Washington, D.C., and defeated Major General John Pope and his Army of Virginia. The campaign demonstrated Lee's ability to shift from defensive operations on the Peninsula to offensive action against a larger Union force — the Army of Virginia numbered roughly 75,000 against a Confederate strength of approximately 48,500. Union casualties of over 16,000 against Confederate losses of roughly 9,200 reflected the scale of the Federal defeat. The Confederate victory removed the immediate threat posed by Pope's army, consolidated Southern control of northern Virginia, and set the stage for Lee to carry the war northward into Union territory.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)