One hundred fifty years ago last December 20, South Carolina seceded from The United States. Before the year ended, Major Anderson moved his federal garrison from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter in the middle of Charleston Harbor thus setting the stage for a heated confrontation that would lead to the secession of six more states: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.

On March 4, 1861 Lincoln was sworn in as the 16th President of the United States. Negotiations over the status of Fort Sumter broke down completely in early April and the Confederate States of America began bombarding the fort. Major Anderson surrendered the fort within 32 hours but the act of belligerence against a federal fort was tantamount to a declaration of war. Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to put down "the rebellion" and soon thereafter four more states left the Union. Virginia would be among them.

Nearly everyone thought the war would be brief, lasting a few months at most. Northerners and Southerners flocked to their colors to stand up for their beliefs. By June, thousands had joined the ranks and thousands more were coming in each week. Both sides now looked to their experienced military men to lead these green soldiers into battle. The two officers who were chosen were Irvin McDowell and Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard.

Irvin McDowell was career army. He was admired and respected by both the General in Chief, Winfield Scott, and the Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase. Born in Ohio, McDowell was 42 years old and had been schooled in France before matriculating at West Point. Beauregard was one of his classmates. He graduated in 1838 and was ordered to the artillery service. Later he would be picked to teach tactics at West Point. He served admirably in the war with Mexico and advanced in rank to captain. Afterwards, he was appointed a position in the Adjutant's General's office, essentially a desk job in military administration. By 1856 he had risen to major. After Fort Sumter, McDowell was advanced to brigadier general and given command of the then named Army of Northeastern Virginia. He had never commanded soldiers in action and resisted taking the field with his army in dire need of additional training. Nevertheless, Lincoln wanted a quick end to the rebellion because many of the men had come into the army as 90 day volunteers. Their enlistment terms would soon expire. Lincoln ordered him to proceed to Manassas Junction to take that vital rail connection and then to follow up that victory by taking Richmond. On July 16th, McDowell moved his army out of Washington and headed for Fairfax and Centreville. On July 21st, he crossed Bull Run to confront the Confederate forces arrayed behind that slow moving stream.

P. G. T. Beauregard was 43 years old and also career army. Born to Creole parents on a sugar plantation near New Orleans, Beauregard's first language was French. He was accepted into West Point and graduated in 1838 second in his class. He joined the artillery but was soon transferred to the engineers – the most prestigious service in the army. He served with distinction in the war with Mexico under General Winfield Scott. He was wounded twice there and rose in rank to major.

As an engineer, he was posted to spots along the Mississippi River to handle flood control. In 1861 he was appointed to head West Point, a post he held less than one week before resigning his commission and joining the Confederacy. He was given command of the Charleston defenses in March. There he led the forces that would initiate the war with the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter. Ironically, Major Anderson, the federal officer in charge at Fort Sumter, had been Beauregard's artillery instructor at West Point.

By early summer of 1861, Beauregard was ordered to take command of the Confederate forces in Northern Virginia, an army he would name The Army of the Potomac. There he engineered a defensive line along Bull Run that would guard the important rail connection at Manassas Junction. Other than the static defenses at Charleston Harbor, Beauregard had never before commanded men in battle.

The story of these two classmates who met as enemies on the plains of Manassas is an important part of our national history. The battle they fought took place 150 years ago this July 21st. It is a great time to refresh our memory on this history. Visit the battlefield and take in the film and electronic map presentation. There is no better place for a walk and no better place for quiet reflection.