Sullivan Ballou Letter

I told ya'.

This letter tears me up everytime.

I mean - it's dusty in here.  
Gotta get a new air filter or something.  
Probably allergies.
I have this big, furry dog in here and he's always bringin' stuff in on his coat and it just irritates the daylights outta my good eye.
I gotta take care of that.
Yeah.  
That's it.
Allergies.

Bull Run

First Manassas
July 21, 1861
FAIRFAX COUNTY AND PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY , VIRGINIA


This was the first major land battle of the armies in Virginia. On July 16, 1861, the untried Union army under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell marched from Washington against the Confederate army, which was drawn up behind Bull Run beyond Centreville. On the 21st, McDowell crossed at Sudley Ford and attacked the Confederate left flank on Matthews Hill. Fighting raged throughout the day as Confederate forces were driven back to Henry Hill. Late in the afternoon, Confederate reinforcements extended and broke the Union right flank. The Federal retreat rapidly deteriorated into a rout. Thomas J. Jackson earned the nom de guerre “Stonewall.” By July 22, the shattered Union army reached the safety of Washington.


http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/bullrun.html