“We Shall Bag the Whole Crowd”

By 4:30 pm, Ewell saw the approach of Hooker’s two regiments to the north and the withdrawal of the 60th Georgia along the railroad. In the center, Forno’s Louisianans were already slowly pulling back. The arrival of Federal artillery and more infantry indicated that there would soon be more Federal units than the three Confederate brigades could handle. Having received orders from Jackson to withdraw toward Manassas Junction, Ewell abandoned Bristoe Station and withdrew safely across Broad Run. Hooker’s men did little to press the Confederate retreat. After destroying the railroad bridge behind them, Ewell’s brigades rejoined Jackson at Manassas Junction. Confederate casualties for the day numbered an estimated 176 men, with approximately 400 men lost for the Federals. Federal soldiers took possession of Bristoe Station and celebrated their victory over Jackson’s famed Confederates. Pope arrived on the field in the waning stages of the fight. Ewell’s retreat to Manassas Junction convinced him that Jackson was within his grasp, and he ordered a concentration of his army to bag Jackson the following day. Jackson would elude Pope’s grasp, but the action at Bristoe Station successfully diverted Pope’s attention away from the rest of Lee’s army approaching from the west, beyond Thoroughfare Gap. Pope’s orders to his generals reflected his uncertainty and his fixation on destroying the famed Stonewall. This costly error resulted in the disastrous defeat of the Federal army at the battle of Second Manassas on August 28-30.

Linton Hall, Virginia · United States