An information panel on the ridge tells the story. Sure enough, at around 10 AM the two sides met, spoiling the Union’s surprise attack. If anyone was going to sneak up behind him, they would be coming from that direction. After two hours of shelling and no formidable attack by the Union, Confederate Colonel Nathan Evans got suspicious that perhaps this was a diversion, so he sent most of his men up to Matthews Hill. At 5:30 AM on July 21, 1861, Union artillery opened fire on them from a mile back on the other side of the creek. You can’t see anything today due to the trees, but during the Civil War all of this was farmland, and the Confederates had a clear view of Bull Run. Take a right to continue to the next point of interest, the Stone Bridge.Īs you walk south and get closer to Highway 29, you are walking along the ridge where the Confederates were positioned to guard the Stone Bridge. The Van Pelt sign also marks where the First Manassas Trail and the Stone Bridge Loop Trail merge into one. During the Second Battle of Manassas, Union soldiers used the house as a hospital. The Confederates were positioned here during the First Battle of Manassas to guard the Stone Bridge. The field you have been walking along was the Van Pelt Farm. An information panel that marks the spot where the Van Pelt House stood before burning down in the 1930s, so there is nothing to see today. Just before reaching the house site, the trail curves sharply to the right. Stay straight and cross the highway to reach the Van Pelt House site. The gravel road leads over to small parking lot a couple hundred yards away. Just before coming to the highway the gravel road veers to the right while a dirt hiking trail continues straight. 2 mile from the road to the next point of interest, the site of the Van Pelt House. Gravel road leads north towards Highway 29įrom Youngs Branch it is a. The trail begins as a path through the tall grass as it heads towards the forest. To start the hike, find the counterclockwise trailhead located to the right of the Visitor Center parking lot (when looking at the building). I suggest wearing long pants treated with Permethrin when hiking anywhere in Manassas National Battlefield Park. While I didn’t pick up any on this hike, I did on some of the other trails. Also, much of the trail follows a mowed grass path, a favorite habitat for ticks. Much of the First Manassas Trail is out in the open, so if avoiding the sun is important to you, be sure to wear a hat and apply sunscreen. The first destination is the Stone Bridge, the location where the First Battle of Manassas began. While trailheads are located at various places in the park and you can hike the loop in either direction, it is best to start at the Henry Hill Visitor Center and hike in a counterclockwise manner so that you pass the sites where events took place in chronological order. The First Manassas Trail is a loop trail that covers the eastern half of Manassas National Battlefield Park, from Sudley Road to Bull Run (creek). For planning purposes, you can download it here, but be sure to pick up a full-color version before you begin your hike.ĭifficulty: Mainly easy with a few moderate hills The best is the Trail Guide, a tri-fold map that is free at the Henry Hill Visitor Center. Note: The trails at Manassas National Battlefield Park are poorly marked, so be sure to bring a trail map with you for navigation purposes. First Manassas Trail map (click to enlarge)
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