The Battle of Bull Run, as the Union called it, or Manassas, as the Confederates called it, was the first major engagement of the Civil War. Many honestly believed that one large battle would decide the outcome of the war, almost like a Super Bowl — whoever lost would allow the other side to pursue its strategic goals unmolested. Also like the Super Bowl, civilians from Washington came with picnic lunches to watch the battle and cheer for the Union army. Everyone who volunteered wanted to get in the fight, afraid that the war would be over before they had a chance at glory.

As they quickly learned, war is not a sport. Four years later, the Civil War was still raging and had claimed more American lives than any other battle in history.