28 August 1862: Thursday

Union - Civilian/Espionage
Confederate spy Belle Boyd is released from Old Capitol Prison in Washington for lack of evidence.

Confederates - Military
Virginia
On the night of August 27-29, Stonewall Jackson did not wait to be attacked at Manassas but withdrew, taking up a position along the Warrenton Turnpike west of the old Bull Run battlefield.

Union General John Pope and some of his troops, hurrying north from the Rapahannock, reached Manassas about noon to find Jackson and his men gone. Receiving conflicting reports as to the new location of the Confederates, Pope finally ordered his scattered troops to concentrate on Centreville, erroneously thinking the enemy to be there.

Union general Rufus King's division moved along the Warrenton Turnpike and late in the afternoon was fired on by Jackson and his troops, near Groveton/Brawner's Farm. The fierce fight resulted in heavy casualties.

In mid-afternoon, Lee and Longstreet arrived at Thoroughfare Gap, to the west of Jackson, and after a brief engagement bypassed the enemy.

There are also skirmishes at Centreville, Lewis' Ford and Haymarket.

Tennessee
From just north of Chattanooga, General Braxton Bragg led his Army of Tennessee (though not yet officially given that name) northward into Central Tennessee over Walden's Ridge. Bragg intended to recover eastern Tennessee and Kentucky as well as draw back Don CArlos Buell's threat to Chattanooga.

Union - Military
Minnesota
H. H. Sibley and his men relieve Fort Ridgely in their effort to put down the Sioux uprising.

Missouri
There are skirmishes at Ashley and in Howard County.

Mississippi
There is a skirmish at Corinth.

Arkansas
From this day until 2 Sept, a Federal expedition heads from Helena to Eunice, Arkansas.
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Bibliography
The Civil War Day By Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. E.B. Long with Barbara Long, De Capo, 1971