When Lincoln ordered army commander I. McDowell to attack General Beauregard’s army at Manassas Junction, McDowell protested saying that his troops were not trained well enough for battle.  Lincoln rebuked him and ordered him to do it anyway, thus producing a major mistake.  In this battle on the union side, you have an inexperienced general leading the army. The troops were not trained and the positions of your opponent are unknown.   The country was in a state of panic, yet the soldiers were overly optimistic.   Your opponent is in a fortified position, they know the ground and you don’t, and the words of Lincoln and Washington to attack, are ringing in your ears.

   Beauregard’s Army of The Potomac was only a little larger than 24,000 men divided into seven brigades of varying sizes. The first brigade went to the elderly Miledge Bonham, brother of the deceased James Butler Bonham, the Chief of Artillery at the Alamo. The second brigade was commanded by the quick-tempered Richard S Ewell.  The third brigade went to the sickly David R. Jones.  The fourth brigade went to James Longstreet like Lee, did not earn his fame yet. The fifth brigade went to the diseased Philip St. George Cocke. The sixth brigade was commanded by the crusty Virginian, Jubal Early. Finally, the small independent brigade, only 1,600 strong, went to Nathanial “Shanks” Evans. As for Johnston’s Army of the Shenandoah was organized into eight brigades, three staying at Harpers Ferry and the other five took the bumpy train ride to Manassas. Those five brigades were commanded by T.J. Jackson, F.S. Bartow, Bernard Bee, Edmund Kirby Smith and the reserve by T. Holmes.  All coming to a total of 15,000 men.

• What do my fellow countrymen think about this matter?

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