Romantic enthusiasm for war placed
pressure on Northern leaders to seek
a swift military decision. But their
haste led to a Northern defeat.VICTORIOUS SOUTH
This rush to battle helped lead to Union defeat
at First Bull Run (First Manassas) 60–61 ❯❯,
a battle and campaign waged in part against the
better judgment of General-in-Chief Winfield
Scott. This first major battle of the war showed
both the strengths and the weakness of the early
Union and Confederate armies. The volunteers on
both sides displayed admirable fighting spirit,
but even the victorious Confederates revealed
flaws in discipline, training, and organization. Their
victory did, however, enhance the South’s
credibility in the eyes of foreign powers.shortages of equipment and supplies.
Even after factoring in militia arsenals
and other small depositories of
military supplies, both armies had
difficulty acquiring the most basic
materials. They also needed to
create the logistical and
administrative machinery
necessary for sustaining
lengthy active operations
in the field.
Despite all of these
challenges, both armies
also had the important
advantage of drawing
from a patriotic and highly
motivated citizenry that
believed their causes
to be just. With training
and battlefield seasoning,
this raw material could
and would become the
bedrock of powerful and
effective forces.AFTER
organization of the new armies, the
sheer size of the forces and their
democratic organization required most
officers to come from civilian life.
In this phase of the war, before the
rise of conscription, local leaders raised
companies and regiments by personal
influence (and sometimes even using
their own money). In keeping with
democratic practice, regiments also
elected their officers. These volunteers
thus tended to hold their roles by virtue
of a whole range of factors unrelated to
military competence, such as political
influence, wealth, social standing, and
simple popularity. As early as
September 1861, one officer, Wilder
Dwight of the 2nd Massachusetts,
Departing for war—April 19, 1861
Thomas Nast’s huge painting of the 7th New York
Regiment being cheered on by their fellow citizens
includes the hero of Fort Sumter, Major Robert Anderson,
above the entrance of Ball, Black & Co. on the left.
Zouave recruiting poster
Colonel Abram Duryea’s
Zouaves (the 5th New York
Volunteers) was one of the
most celebrated Zouave units,
noted for its defensive role at
Second Bull Run (Manassas).grumbled that “Today our army is
crippled by the ideas of equality and
independence which have covered the
whole life of our people. Men elect
their officers, and then expect them to
behave themselves!” Such opinions
were rare among his
peers during the early
part of the war.Equipment shortages
Not only would the
armies struggle with
training and
discipline, they also
had to cope with