-Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts
July of 1861
The nation is at war. Twelve of the thirty three American States have broken away from the Union and formed their own Confederacy of States to rival the government in Washington. Their own Capital in Richmond Virginia is tantalizingly close to the border and many believe that one good push could decisively end the conflict before it even really begins. The public and the government of America are calling for a decisive battle to end this rebellion nonsense and President Abraham Lincoln has answered the call by pushing his Generals to march on Richmond sooner rather than later. All that stands before the largest army yet assembled on the North American continent and the City of Richmond are some rebel soldiers camped at a Railway Station known as Manassas Junction and along the banks of a small river named The Bull Run. Nobody yet knows just how dear of a price the nation will pay to stay united.
July 20th, 1861. The eve of battle.
The Union: Army of Northeastern Virginia
Commanded by General Irvin McDowell and 35,000 men strong with an effective fighting force of nearly 29,000 soldiers, it is the largest singular gathering of troops in the history of North America up until this point. They are the pride of the Union, a massive and invincible force of volunteers to the media and the public but as green as the fresh spring grass that they were drilling in only a scant few days ago. While the soldiers are all fresh faced young patriots their commander is a career officer and veteran who has served as a staff officer under some of America's best generals, however, just like his soldiers this is his first time in combat.
On the day before the battle most of the Union Army is still camped a few miles away in and around the small town of Centreville. They know the Confederacy has set up positions along the Bull Run River but their intelligence is two days old meaning they cannot be certain as to the numbers and composition of the enemy. Current orders are to sit tight and maintain a perimeter of pickets and sentries.
The Confederacy: The Army of the Potomac
Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard commands this force of 20,000 fighting men. He is at this time the biggest star in the Confederate Army; hailed as the hero of Fort Sumter and called by his rivals and admirers "Little Napoleon" behind his back. A 42 year old former Superintendent of West Point served the United States with distinction in the Mexican American War. When his home state seceded he resigned his commission to become the first Brigadier General in the new Confederate Army; it was under his command that Fort Sumter was fired upon and then seized.
The Army of the Potomac is nearly outnumbered 2 to 1 and as green as their rivals but they are not afraid because they are on the defensive and possess the superior ground. Soon they will receive reinforcements via rail line, 3,000 more men to bolster their ranks and rumors say the Joseph E Johnston will be arriving with enough men to equal or outnumber the Federals.
Orders are to hold the line and watch for any Union incursion.