Spring Fling 2026 - Day 23: Manassas National Battlefield Park

Martha and I drove the CRV over to the city of Manassas to check out the Manassas Battlefield Park.The site of two US Civil War battles: 1st and 2nd Bull Run or 1st and 2nd Manassas. Why the two names you ask? Well it depends on whose side's naming convention you want to use. The North would use the name of the nearest land mark or river, in this case the nearby Bull Run Creek. If you refer to use the naming convention used by the southern forces, they used the name of the nearest town or railroad junction.So, why were there two battles here?The visitor center on Henry Hill (battle site of First Manassas) is small but nicely done. Their lighted map display gives you a very good understanding of the battle flow during the Battle of First Manassas. That along with the film it's worth watching before you venture out onto the actual battlefield sites. In case you've been both wondering about the difference between smooth bar and rifled artillery:The hideous price paid in terms of…