The First Battles: April 1861 to February 1862Bull Run |
Could the Federals have won the day? |
Absolutely. As late as 3 P.M., the battle was still a stalemate, but with the Federals enjoying a narrow advantage. At just about that time came a group of Confederate reinforcements, however, by train from the Shenandoah Valley. This was one of the few times in the war that the Confederates were able to use up-to-date technology to their advantage. As the Texas regiments debarked from the train, they rushed to the battlefield, and the fighting began to turn to the Southern advantage.