The Civil War battle of Bull Run - or Manassas, as the South called it - the largest gathering of soldiers in North America up to that that point around July 21, 1861. David Detzer, in his foreword and author’s note, sets down the plan of Donnybrook The first part follows Federal and Confederate preparations. The second part is on the positioning of both sides, and the third part concerns the actual battle.

Detzer relates this history in a narrative exploring the preparation – or lack thereof – on both sides leading up to this first major battle of the Civil War. He illuminates the pre-battle politics, especially how some politicians-turned-generals should have remained in their offices in Washington or Richmond instead of doing something they really had no idea how to do. For many of those involved in this battle, it was their first experience of warfare on the large scale this battle turned into. Many of the leaders did not know how to work with large groups of soldiers in battle. No one had done it before in North America; it was all new ground for them. They learned by trial and error; unfortunately, the errors lost lives.

Detzer relates this history in a narrative exploring the preparation – or lack thereof – on both sides leading up to this first major battle of the Civil War. He illuminates the pre-battle politics, especially how some politicians-turned-generals should have remained in their offices in Washington or Richmond instead of doing something they really had no idea how to do. For many of those involved in this battle, it was their first experience of warfare on the large scale this battle turned into. Many of the leaders did not know how to work with large groups of soldiers in battle. No one had done it before in North America; it was all new ground for them. They learned by trial and error; unfortunately, the errors lost lives.

David Detzer is a professor emeritus of history with Connecticut State University. He is the author of the upcoming Dissonance: The Turbulent Days Between Fort Sumter and Bull Run (May, 2006) and Allegiance: Fort Sumter, Charleston, and the Beginning of the Civil War (2001).

Donnybrook is recommended to Civil War enthusiasts and to those libraries with Civil War collections. It is a joy to read.