Background
On July 18, 1861, it was the site of the Battle of Blackburn's Ford, Brigadier General (United States), Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell, Irvin McDowell's initial probe of Confederate States Army, Confederate defenses in what would become the first major land battle of the American Civil War, Civil War, First Battle of Manassas, First Manassas. Due to heavy resistance from the fortified Confederate position that he encountered here, McDowell decided against a direct attack on the Manassas, Virginia, Manassas railroad junction and chose instead a flanking maneuver. During the actual battle on July 21, the ford was again the site of action as Brig. Gen. James Longstreet first crossed the Bull Run but found his position exposed to Union (American Civil War), Union artillery. Later he sent reconnaissance missions that discovered McDowell had sent his forces to cross Sudley Ford on the Confederate left. In the final stages of the battle Longstreet again sent forces across the ford in an attempt to rout the Union (American Civil War), retreating Union Army but rear guard action halted his advance. Modern day Virginia State Route 28 crosses Bull Run near Blackburn's Ford. The area still bears the name Yorkshire, Virginia, Yorkshire.References
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