August 10, 2020 - Col. Marc Thompson, USAF (Ret): “The First Battle of Manassas and the Experience of War”


"The First Battle of Manassas and the Experience of War” by Marc Thompson
A Review of the August 2020 Virtual Program by Greg Mertz


Among the officers serving on the battlefield of the first major engagement of the war, past round table president and retired Air Force Colonel Marc Thompson selected the six soldiers who were both actively involved in the combat and would gain significant prominence in the war, highlighting their roles. The performances of these officers at First Manassas was generally good, but they also gained precious experience in the largest battle in United States military history up to that time. Both sides had two sizeable armies confronting each other in northern Virginia in July 1861. Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston was to prevent Union General Robert Patterson from entering the lower Shenandoah Valley, while a force under Confederate General G.T. Beauregard near Manassas Junction challenged Union General Irvin McDowell on the outskirts of Washington. As McDowell’s Army of Northeastern Virginia advanced toward Beauregard’s Army of the Potomac, Johnston had slipped away from Patterson, utilizing the railroads to reinforce Beauregard. Beauregard, one of the six officers Thompson highlighted, had few friends when attending West Point, but was an excellent student and had gained critical military experience when serving on the staff of Winfield Scott during the Mexican War, where he was breveted twice. On the morning of July 21, 1861, Beauregard planned to set his troops in motion at 7:00 am to attack the left flank of the enemy.Ironically McDowell planned an identical movement, only his troops got underway on a much earlier timetable –a predawn 2:30 am kick off.

The Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table was founded as an organization open to all people interested in learning about the Civil War and in preserving the hallowed ground where the soldiers fought.

Currently we are holding are monthly meetings in a virtual format on the second Monday of each month. An e-mail will be sent to the current membership with guidance on how to access the live version of each presentation; where participants will be able to ask their questions directly to the presenter.

When we return to normal our monthly meeting will feature dinner, a speaker, a short business meeting, a book raffle and time to socialize with your friends. Social time begins at 6:00, optional dinner at 6:45 and the meeting at 7:30; located at Brock's Riverside Grill, 503 Sophia Street in Fredericksburg, Virginia.


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About Our Logo
The Drums and the Bugles on our logo signify the calling together of our members, as in the Civil War the troops were summoned by drum rolls and bugle calls.

The flags, in order from left to right, are:
1. Flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia
2. Flag of the United States of America
3. First National Flag of the Confederate States of America ("The Stars and Bars")
4. Battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia

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