The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the American Civil War. After the fall of Fort Sumter in April 1861, President Lincoln sent troops to Baltimore to ensure that Maryland did not secede. The Union army intended on a victory at Bull Run to prepare the way for the capture of Richmond, the Confederate capitol. Most Americans were in such disbelief that Americans would fire on each other that local people took picnic lunches with their families to view the "battle." That is until shots were actually fired and people ran! Ultimately, the Union Army retreated from the field. The Confederates won, but the battle casualties suffered by both sides (5,000 total) demonstrated that the war would be much longer and bloodier than most people expected. Here is a horrific, historic fact: 750,000 soldiers died during the 4 years of the Civil War. That is a greater # military tragedies than ALL 20th century military conflicts combined!