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The focus of the battle shifted to Henry House Hill. The Confederate army was pushed back several times by the fierce Union attacks, but managed to re-establish their defensive line with the arrival of reinforcements. During this process, Brigadier General Thomas J. Jackson, a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, led his brigade and formed a strong defensive line. It is said that Virginia cavalry officer General Barnard Bee, pointing to Jackson's troops, told his soldiers something to the effect of "standing like a stone wall," and Jackson subsequently became known by the nickname 'Stonewall' Jackson. The Union army repeatedly attacked Henry House Hill in an attempt to break through the Confederate defenses, but the Confederates held their ground. Especially as Confederate reinforcements continued to arrive, the tide of the battle began to turn. The Union army, which had the upper hand in the morning, gradually lost its offensive momentum, while the Confederates secured enough troops to counterattack. The battle was no longer about the Union advancing on the Confederate capital, but about the Union army itself needing to survive on the battlefield. Finally, the Confederate hero, General 'Stonewall' Jackson, makes his appearance!

Instead of crossing the Bull Run River head-on, McDowell planned an operation to go around the left flank of the Southern army. While a portion of the Northern army attacked near Stone Bridge, the main force was to make a large northward detour, cross at Sudley Ford, and attack the Southern army's flank. In the early morning of July 21, 1861, the Northern flanking units began their movement, and by morning, they clashed fiercely with the Southern army at Mathew's Hill. Initially, the Northern army pushed back the Southern forces with superior numbers and firepower. The Southern front lines retreated multiple times, and the Northern commanders believed victory was within reach. However, the Southern commanders bought time while waiting for reinforcements. Johnston's troops, moving from the Shenandoah Valley, also began arriving at Manassas via railroad. As the Northern attack took longer than expected, the Southern army secured time to concentrate its scattered forces on the battlefield.

In April 1861, the American Civil War began when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter. With the war's commencement, both the North and South believed victory would be swift. The North's objective was to capture Richmond, the Confederate capital, and suppress the rebellion. The Union army defending Washington was led by Brigadier General Irvin McDowell, and approximately 35,000 troops marched towards Manassas, Virginia. Manassas was a crucial transportation hub where multiple railways converged, making it a vital point for the Confederacy to defend. The Confederate army, commanded by General P. G. T. Beauregard, established a defensive line along the Bull Run River. However, the Confederate forces were not initially concentrated in one place. The balance of the battle began to shift as General Joseph E. Johnston's troops, stationed in the Shenandoah Valley, moved to provide support. I'm a history major who loves military history. I'm going to try summarizing war stories I've learned from books and YouTube channels (like 'Tojeonsa' and 'Yeokjeon Dabang' - highly recommend!).

Did you know that Balhae, which once dominated the Manchurian plains, was actually a formidable 'maritime power' that navigated the rough East Sea? To trade with Japan, Balhae would set sail in the dead of winter, crossing the East Sea. It might seem like a reckless endeavor, but they scientifically leveraged the winter northwest monsoon, which allowed sailing ships to reach Japan the fastest and most accurately. Braving sub-zero temperatures and fierce waves, Balhae's envoys captivated the Japanese court by presenting top-quality sable furs and other treasures. Balhae, often known only as a continental power, was in fact a premier seafaring nation, perfectly understanding the winds and the sea of its time.

Taejong, the third king of Joseon, once fell from his horse while enjoying a hunt. Embarrassed, Taejong looked around and ordered, "Do not let the royal scribes know of this incident." However, a scribe, possessing the utmost integrity in historical record-keeping of the era, documented the king's embarrassing accident and his command verbatim. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty clearly state, 'The king fell from his horse but was not injured. He commanded that the scribes not be informed.' This is an interesting anecdote that showcases the profound philosophy and independence of Joseon's record-keeping culture, demonstrating that even a king with absolute power could not arbitrarily manipulate historical records.

Did you know that Gojoseon, which we only know through the Dangun myth, was the top 'luxury export country' in ancient China 2,700 years ago? According to the ancient Chinese book <Guanzi>, Guan Zhong, a politician of the State of Qi in the 7th century BC, valued Gojoseon's animal skins (leopard and tiger furs) as top-tier luxury goods, worth so much that they were traded for rare treasures. At that time, Gojoseon was not just a mythical land but a trade powerhouse that engaged in large-scale fur trade with China, leveraging the abundant resources of East Asia. Beyond the mysterious old tales we imagine, Gojoseon was, in essence, an economic powerhouse that already showcased a unique presence at the center of international trade.

Did you know that the thousand-year-old capital of Silla was known as a 'paradise on Earth' in the Middle East, Persia, 1,200 years ago? An ancient Persian epic, <Kushnameh>, details the story of Prince 'Abtin' of the fallen Persian empire who exiled to Silla and married Princess 'Pararang' of Silla. In the book, Silla is depicted as the best paradise on Earth, rich in gold, with clear waters, and kind to foreigners. Their son, 'Fereydun', born between the two, later becomes a hero who reclaims Persia. This is a fascinating historical fact that shows Silla was a global cosmopolitan city, the end point of the East-West Silk Road, to the extent that it led to royal marriages, beyond simple exchanges.

Furthermore, following King Jeongjo's wishes, she arranged the marriage between Kim Jo-soon's daughter and King Sunjo. She also cared for the people's livelihood and was not the main culprit of the Sesedo politics. In the first place, Sesedo politics itself was a product of a long buildup. It began during King Injo's reign, and through King Sukjong's political purges, King Yeongjo's politics of favoring relatives, and King Jeongjo's declining health, power was eventually consolidated under the Kim clan. Of course, she wasn't without her missteps, but can we really define her as simply a villain?

What comes to mind when you think of Queen Dowager Jeongsun? Was she the decisive cause of Crown Prince Sado's death? The leader of the Byeokpa who tried to assassinate King Jeongjo? The one who undid everything King Jeongjo achieved? In typical educational comics, Queen Dowager Jeongsun is depicted as someone who tried to eliminate King Jeongjo, essentially a 'piece of trash' who nullified everything he did. However, the reality is a bit different. First, King Jeongjo actually trusted her greatly during his lifetime. It was also she who told King Yeongjo that it was right for the Crown Prince to act as regent. Before his death, King Jeongjo mentioned Sujeongjeon, referring to the Queen Dowager. Furthermore, she inherited some of King Jeongjo's policies. A prime example is the burning of slave documents. Regarding the downsizing of the Gyujanggak, it's understandable that it was reduced because the Gyujanggak had become too large, making other institutions feel like mere spectators. The Persecution of the Shinyu also escalated due to incidents like the Hwang Sa-yeong's White Paper, rather than solely being an attempt to suppress the Namin and Sipha factions, and it wasn't solely Queen Dowager Jeongsun's doing. Daewongun also did the same. Of course, expelling the Namin and Sipha factions was contrary to King Jeongjo's principle of loyalty and impartiality, but that's another story.

Abdication refers to a monarch handing over their throne to a successor. The monarchs who abdicated during the Joseon Dynasty are Taejo, Jeongjong, Danjong, Sejo, and Gojong. Taejo, Jeongjong, Danjong, and Gojong were semi-forced, and in Sejo's case, he died a day after abdicating, so King Taejong is the only one who abdicated of his own free will. Abdication, or 'Seonwi' in Korean, is essentially a sophisticated political performance. If one readily accepts an abdication offer, it's akin to treason, so the benefits are used to save the king's face and test the loyalty of the officials. King Seonjo staged an abdication commotion to salvage his reputation after the Japanese invasions, and King Taejong used the commotion to eliminate opposing political factions. King Yeongjo also frequently caused a stir by threatening to abdicate to Crown Prince Sado. The abdication commotion puts immense pressure on the Crown Prince. In reality, Crown Prince Sado met a tragic end, and Gwanghaegun, after ascending the throne, engaged in acts of tyranny such as large-scale construction projects. Furthermore, the Crown Prince's support base would crumble. If an abdication was genuine, it was either pre-arranged with officials like King Taejong, or carried out just before death as with Yeongjo or Sejo.