Northern Commander and army: McDowell, Army of the PotomacSouthern Commander and army: PGT Beauregard and Joe Johnston, Army of Northern Virginia. McDowell's army was unprepared. Beauregard knew McDowell was coming and planned a flank attack He lined up his 20,000 soldiers on eight miles (point out problems of command and control associated with Civil War armies) of the south bank of Bull Run and was going to attack the US left flank. Near Harper's Ferry, VA, CSA general Joe Johnston slipped away from union soldiers and got on railroads that brought his 9,000 soldiers to the battle just in time.

Then try StudyFetch, the AI-powered platform that can answer your questions and teach you more about it!