Civil War Battle of Manassas Lessons for a Modern World

The Battle of Manassas was a gruesome perpetuation of the American Civil War.  Culminating in two groups of battles thirteen months apart (First Manassas or First Bull Run and Second Manassas or Second Bull Run) the carnage resulted in the loss of thousands of lives.  American lives, brother against brother, left to rot and wither over several hills in the hot summer sun of Virginia.  The Union dead were taken to Arlington.  The Confederate soldiers were buried in makeshift graves often on the battlefield.

These campaigns immortalized men of renown such as Generals Irvin McDowell, P.G.T. Beauregard and Joseph E. Johnson in the First Bull Run.  The Second Manassas coined Generals Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson), Robert E. Lee and John Pope. 

An over-abundance of pride and exuberant ignorance in the First Bull Run led to the death of nearly 1,000 men on July 21, 1861.  The Second Bull Run began on August 28, 1862 and lasted three days killing almost 3,500 men.  Loosely trained men on both sides expected a quick victory.  A year later the battle was fought with seasoned veterans but to no avail all the training counted for nothing relative to the casualty count. 

Instead of a history lesson on the Civil War which anyone can get off the Internet, I propose societal thoughts on the future of the United States of America.  Ask yourself if this can happen again in America.  Aside from our modern conveniences and tedious daily rituals, do you feel that this people still exhibits inflated pride capable even unto violence?  With all the massive amounts of data at our fingertips do you see a vast belt of us left with clarity of truth?

As we continue on this unprecedented age of prosperity let us hope that such a scene as the Battles of Manassas or even the American Civil War in general never happen again.  Within decades reparations from war in a forein land can be made.  Inside a nation budding from a civil war, the cost to the families cannot be calculated and can have a snowball affect for generations. 

Today we have a greater responsibility beyond self interest.  Especially in the United States any skirmish, shootout, coup attempt or all out war within our borders would have devastating global impact.  This would be in addition to an already threatened infrastructure.  The preservation of liberty and the cause of humanitarian efforts are worthy efforts at all costs.  As always but with increased modern care let's be careful of the battles we procure.