Question

the union troops commenced pouring into washington over the long bridge at daylight on monday, 22nd july... all the men with this coating of sweat and rain, now recoiling back, pouring over the long bridge - a horrible march of twenty miles, returning to washington baffled, humiliated, panic - struck. commenced: started recoiling: springing baffled: confused from whitmans account, what probably happened at the battle? the union army won the battle and took manassas junction. the union army fought the confederate army to a tie. the union army was defeated and forced to retreat. the confederate army captured washington, d.c.

Explanation:

The text describes Union troops "recoiling back" and returning "baffled, humiliated, panic - struck", which indicates a negative outcome for the Union army. A defeat would lead to such a retreating and demoralized state. The other options (winning, tie, Confederate capturing Washington) do not match the description of the Union's state in the text.

Answer:

The Union army was defeated and forced to retreat.