The beginningIn Washington, Abraham Lincoln is planning for a quick victory to defeat the rebels before they gather momentum.
Mcdowell, a competant commander seeks to achieve this. There is little belief the rebels can hold out for long. One short sharp battle may end this rebellion for good.
Second Lieutenant G. A. Custer is part of several scouting operations in northern Virginia, he is anxious to get in the fight and make a few cavalry charges.
On the Confederate side, James Longstreet has been advising the Confederate army in strategy and successfully so. Their goal is to maintain their army and defeat the Union, buying time to consolidate their new nation and form a long term defence. Mosby has seen little action yet, but believes his chance will come sooner or later for glory.
Both sides are confident of victory, both sides see the war as ending soon and both sides hope casualties will be low in the decisive battle that is coming.
Some infoAbraham Lincoln“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic cords of memory will swell when again touched as surely they will be by the better angels of our nature.”Previously an Illinois state legistator, lincoln rose to become the 16th president of the USA. He was far from the safe candidate, despised in the south, but none the less won the election of 1860. A steady abolitionist, he however claimed to not touch slavery where it existed, in order to placate those fearing the abolition of slavery.
George Armstrong CusterAn energetic cavalry officer, graduated last in his class at west point. Vain and impetuous he plans to make his name heard in the world.
Irwin McdowellA competent but inexperienced leader, gained his command of the Union army mostly because of his connections in Washington. He is pushed regularly by Lincoln to put an end to this rebellion, and quickly.
James LongstreetOne of the many Civil War Generals whom fought with distinction in the Mexican war of 1847, Longstreet is one of the most competent commanders in the Confederate army.
John Singleton MosbyWith little to distinguish him as the war begins, he does however have a varied and glorious and hidden future in him. His commander JEB Stuart is already impressed with his ability to gather intelligence.
Thomas J. JacksonA fiery zealot, previously a teacher at the Virginia Military Institute shows great skill and great promise in the war.