On July 21, 1861 Civil War spectators had the worst picnic in history and ran for their lives

Bull Run spectators runing for their livesPhoto byLibrary of Congress screenshot

A Picnic in the midst of battle

The Civil War Battle of Bull Run, also known as the Battle of Manassas, began on July 21, 1861. This Day in History says Americans marched close to 100 miles from D.C. to Richmond, Virginia, in suppot of the Union soldiers, creating a carnival-like atmosphere as they watched history unfold.

About 35,000 Union troops marched from the federal capital in Washington, D.C., to attack a Confederate force of 20,000 along a small river (A creek) known as Bull Run. According to Battlefield, it has been rumored that the spectators had picnic baskets.

It's not clear what those individuals were expecting, but twelve reporters were on hand to give an account of the day's events. Once the bullets began flying, there was utter chaos and the crowd ran for their lives. History.com calls this the "worst picnic in history."