Hey everyone, welcome to episode 53 of our Civil War podcast.

My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello, y'all.

Thanks for tuning into the podcast.

On July 16th, 1861, a wave of excitement raced through Washington, D.C., the 35,000

man army that had been gathering in and around the city for the past three months was marching

at last, heading westward under Brigadier General Urban McDowell to attack the main Confederate

Army in Northeastern Virginia.

When McDowell's army began its advance, there were actually two Confederate armies in Northern

Virginia.

The main force, roughly 20,000 strong, was commanded by PGT Borigard.

It was protecting the vital rail junction at Manassas, about 30 miles from Washington.

And then in a lower Shenandoah Valley near Winchester, where 11,000 or so Confederates commanded

by Joseph E. Johnston.

Johnston's force faced a small federal army under Robert Patterson.

McDowell's plan depended upon Patterson pinning down the rebel force in the Shenandoah

to keep them from slipping east to reinforce the Confederates at Manassas.

While Patterson immobilized Johnston in the Shenandoah, McDowell would march his army southwest

from Washington, scatter or dry back Borigard's force at Manassas junction, and then advance

on the Confederate capital at Richmond.

If everything went as planned, Richmond might be taken by the end of the month, and the

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