Battle of Bull Run Bridge

In Aug. 1862, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee ordered Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson from the Rappahannock River to prevent Gen. John Pope’s and Gen. George B. McClellan’s armies from uniting. Jackson marched on Aug. 25, and Lee followed the next day with the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia. Jackson captured Bristoe Station and Manassas Junction late on Aug. 26. After reports reached Pope, he dismissed the move as one of J.E.B. Stuart’s raids and sent Gen. George W. Taylor’s reinforced infantry brigade to drive off the supposed cavalry. Meanwhile, about 6 a.m. on Aug. 27, Col. Gustav Waagner led the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery from nearby Bull Run to engage Jackson northeast of Liberia. Jackson quickly counterattacked and drove the New Yorkers back toward Centreville. When Taylor’s command arrived about 8:30 as Waagner withdrew, Jackson’s men, entrenched in a line between Liberia and Fort Mayfield, met them with heavy fire. The Federals advanced within 300 yards of Fort Beauregard, and Jackson rode forward waving a white handkerchief as if inviting surrender. After a Union bullet passed his head, he ordered his troops to fire. Taylor was mortally wounded, and his force retreated to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and the Bull Run Bridge. Built for William and Harriet Weir in 1825, Liberia had served as Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard’s headquarters before and after the First Battle of Manassas in July 1861, and Union Gen. Irvin McDowell used it as his headquarters in March 1862.

Manassas, Virginia · United States