Sherman at First Manassas

I've been reading Donnybrook: The Battle of Bull Run, 1861 by David Detzer (Harcourt, Inc. 2004) and I was surprised to learn that William Tecumseh Sherman was at the Battle of First Manassas. He commanded the Third Brigade, First Division under Gen. Irvin McDowell. So last weekend I took a trip to Manassas National Battlefield Park to see the area where Sherman's troops were. It was a nice sunny morning. I pulled into the parking lot near the Stone Bridge and headed across the bridge to the trail that lead to the area.

38°49′27″N 77°30′13″W

 

The trail starts at the far end of the bridge and leads to the left. I headed up the trail. It leads long Bull Run stream. Sherman's men crossed the stream at an area called Farm Ford. There's a marker mentioning Sherman near the top of a hill overlooking the ford.

 

                                                     See: marker.

 

 There's another marker mentioning Sherman on the other side of the parking lot at the Winery at Bull Run. (which is outside the National Park) 

 

                                                     See: marker

 

As this marker mentions Sherman was one of the new commanders who performed well on the battlefield. (Although he wasn't impressed with his own performance) President Lincoln Sherman to brigadier general of volunteers as of May 17, 1861. Sherman would go on to lead Union Troops in his famous March to the Sea in 1864.