The Guns of Bull Run: A Story of the Civil War's Eve

Two cousins on opposite sides of a national conflict experience the outbreak of hostilities, moving from tense political developments and the crisis at Sumter through mobilization, mountain marches, and the lead-up to Bull Run. The narrative alternates domestic scenes with military preparations, reconnaissance, and combat, following enlistments, journeys, and encounters with scouts, guerrillas, spies, and fellow volunteers. Personal loyalties and family ties are interwoven with newspaper reports, political decisions, and appearances by historic leaders, portraying how ordinary young men are drawn into the violent beginnings of war.