(A) It was their headquarters
(B) ** It protected the capital of Richmond and the railroads
(C) Many weapons factories were there
(D) The Union expressed its desire to capture it
EXPLANATIONS BELOW
Concept note-1: -During the American Civil War the junction was of strategic importance, as it afforded a direct connection between the Shenandoah Valley and the Washington-Richmond Railroad. Confederate forces won the nearby battles of Bull Run, or First and Second Manassas (July 21, 1861, and August 29–30, 1862, respectively).
Concept note-2: -The First Manassas or Bull Run resulted in thousands of lives lost and is referred to as the first major land battle of the American Civil war. It was also highly crucial as two inexperienced armies fought on the battlefield for the first time.
Concept note-3: -Bull Run was the first full-scale battle of the Civil War. The fierce fight there forced both the North and South to face the sobering reality that the war would be long and bloody.
Concept note-4: -Yet the Second Battle of Bull Run, otherwise known as the Second Battle of Manassas, was significant in its own right. An unambiguous Southern victory, it cemented General Robert E. Lee’s reputation as a brilliant tactician and paved the way for his first invasion of the North.