Hey everyone, welcome to episode number 86 of our Civil War podcast.

My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Thanks for tuning into the podcast.

Last week we started our review of what all happened in 1861 and we wrapped up that

episode at the end of June 1861 with Abraham Lincoln's decision to approve Urban McDowell's

plan to launch an invasion of Northern Virginia.

With the start of this episode, we're going to pick back up right where we left off, so

that means we're at the beginning of July 1861.

On July 2nd, Federal troops under the command of General Robert Patterson crossed the Potomac

River at Williamsport, Maryland, with orders to advance against the Confederate force in

the Shenandoah Valley and hold it there.

While to the east, the main Union Army under McDowell moved against Manassas Junction.

But as you guys will already know, Patterson ultimately fails miserably in that assignment,

and the rebels commanded by Joseph Johnston will successfully slip away from the Shenandoah

and will reinforce Boregard at Manassas on the eve of the worst first big battle.

As y'all recall from the last episode, immediately after the fall of Fort Sumter, Abraham Lincoln

had called for a special session of Congress to open on July 4th.

Congress had adjourned in March and normally wouldn't convene again until December, so that's

why the president had to call for a special session to deal with war measures.

When the special session opened on Thursday, July 4th, Lincoln summarized the events that

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