Bull Run Discovered

Modem detective work uncovers the spot where some 1862 images were made.

By 1860 George N. Barnard had a reputation as a talented and respected photographer. The outbreak of the Civil War found Barnard employed by Mathew Brady in his well-known Washington, DC, portrait studio. Brady's numerous photographers received the task of filling the seemingly insatiable public demand for images of the war. An opportunity not to be missed by Brady came in March 1862 with the withdrawal of Confederate forces in and around Manassas Junction. By choice or assignment, Barnard found himself and fellow photographer James F. Gibson on the battlefield shortly after Union forces occupied the area. It is not known how long he remained in the area or how many photos he took. What is known is that at least ten photographs, mostly stereographs of landmarks such as Sudley Church, Stone House, the ruins of Henry House, and the Stone Bridge, of the battlefield have been credited to Barnard.

Arguably two of the most important of these photographs are of the epicenter of the battlefield, Henry Hill correctly identified for the first time here. One photograph captures Henry Hill looking westward from the James Robinson farm, across the fields of the Robinson and Henry farms towards the ruins of Henry House. The second photograph captures the Southern portion of Henry Hill, looking southwest from an area near the present day visitor center. The Confederate graves present in the left center portion of the photograph correspond with the present day copse of oak trees located just east of the visitors center parking lot.

Evidence supporting this first photograph's interpretation is as plentiful as it is convincing. The single most important element is a dark feature on the horizon near the right of the image. Close examination reveals it to be the ruins of Judith Henry's house. The chimney ruins, the tree behind, and the stack of wood planks to the right of it are all present in Barnard's more famous and well-documented close-up of the Henry House ruins (above).

With the Henry House ruins identified, the question remaining was from what direction did Barnard take the image. This question can be answered by analyzing shadows. Shadows in the photograph suggest that the sun was behind or over Barnard's left shoulder at the time the image was made. Based on the path of the sun in the March sky, the photograph could only have been taken facing east, north, or west, or some point between. The large shadow in the foreground also suggests the presence of a structure near the camera. Barnard may have even mounted his camera on a low roof to gain a better view. Potential structures neighboring the Henry farm to include structures associated with the Robinson, Conrad, Van Pelt, Lewis, and Chinn farms were evaluated. Excessive distance, interfering treelines or elevations and/or lack of landmarks (i.e., roads, streams, etc.) ultimately ruled out all locations with one exception - the James Robinson farm.

This conclusion is further supported by topography, vegatation, and fence lines. A ravine separated the Henry and Robinson farms and this feature is clearly evident across the center of the image.

Captain John Imboden's Staunton Artillery took advantage of this depression to cover their withdrawal from the first position north of the Henry House on July 21. As Imboden subsequently reported, "By a very rapid movement up the ravine, we avoided the shells of three batteries that were now directed at us, sufficient to escape with three guns and all the caissons." Vestiges of the oak grove, seen at the left of the 1862 image, remain on Henry Hill today.

The orchard and fencelines present in the right center of the photograph were mapped by Captain David B. Harris, General P.G.T. Beauregard's topographical engineer, shortly after the battle. The historic fenceline is today marked by a row of trees. Similiarly the Robinson orchard is well documented by soldiers of Hampton's Legion as well as newspaper accounts as being located between the Robinson and Henry farms.

After establishing the location where this photograph was taken, its true importance becomes evident. It was on the fields of the Henry farm that T.J. Jackson stood like a stone wall and the Battle of First Manassas was ultimately decided. The 4th Virginia Infantry, of Jackson's Brigade, charged from the trees present near the upper left side of this photo and proceeded across the fields to Henry House yard.

An officer of the 2nd Mississippi recalled fighting a desperate delaying action in the orchard shown in the right central part of this photograph: "My men continued to advance and halt and fire as they retreated through the orchard down the hill.... The advance of the enemy was retarded and our escape secured by the firing of a portion of my men, which was kept up longer perhaps than was prudent or consistent with their safety."

Unlike the first photograph, the second photograph offers no distinguishing features to aid in its identification. It was generally assumed that the graves located around the edge of the water hole were of Confederate soldiers. Beyond that, there is little that can be derived from the photograph. It was only as a result of a fortuitous discovery of a small notation on a Civil War era map that we are now able to accurately identify the location of where this photograph was taken.