Civil War Bull Run-A Ruined Picnic Lunch

In the preparation for Bull Run, the first major battle of the civil war, the feeling in Washington was that the Union Army would simply run the rebels off, secure an easy victory, and win the war. Hundreds of the Washington elite-including members of congress- planned to make a day of it, with a picnic lunch, and and a sideline seat to watch the battle. After the confederate victory, these same Washington elite, along with the Union Army, were soon on a mad dash back to Washington,leaving picnics and blankets in their wake. It was not the festive and rewarding experience they had planned for.

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Why do Civil War Battles Have Different Names?

The popular opinion of why early Civil War battles have different names in the North and South revolves around those that fought the war. Most of the soldiers in the North were city boys, so they were most interested in the beautiful rolling countryside that would soon become bloody battlefields. Hence, they named the battles after geographical features, primarily water features like Bull Run (creek), and Antietam (creek). On the other hand the country boys of the South we most interested in the towns and cities. Hence, they named the battles after the local town, like Manassas (VA) and Sharpsburg (MD). That's the theory I have heard. If someone has something different, I would be interested in hearing it.

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