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March 1936. "Old stone bridge at Bull Run Battlefield. Manassas, Virginia." 4x5 inch nitrate negative by Paul Carter (1903-1938) for the Resettlement Administration. View full size.
Below is the same perspective from July of 2017.
My understanding is that by general policy and usage the Union named battles for bodies of water near the scene while the Confederacy based names on the nearest rail head; probably a more modern logistical perspective.
You say Manassas, I say Bull Run.
The Confederates called it the Battle of Manassas, and the Union called it the Battle of Bull Run. The first battle actually had spectators come in from D.C. to watch. No one knew what to expect, and the Confederates soundly beat the Union. The roads back to DC were full of Union solders as well as terrified citizens from DC.
The original bridge was destroyed during the time of the first Battle of Manassas. The memorial in the center of the bridge is no longer there. I am assuming that this photo was taken from Lee Highway, (Route 29), looking east-northeast. I do not believe that the farmhouse in the rear is still there.
I've always thought that "The Battle of Bull Run" was a good name for the first battle. Manassas is a good 5 miles from this battlefield.
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