Why were so many civilians at the Battle of Bull Run?

Washington, D. C., was a day's ride away, which made for an easy trip for people to come and view the proceedings.
Some thought this was going to be the one big battle of the war, and they did not want to miss it.
It was a holiday, a chance for the family to venture out of the city and be part of the excitement.
They were on their way to Richmond and got caught up in the battle.

answer:The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the American Civil War. ... many in the North, who realized the war would not be won as easily as ... hundreds of Washington civilians who had been watching the battle .

Explanation:

after a more than a decade and a half of combating al qaeda (aq) in afghanistan and pakistan,

the united states faces a diverse array of threats from al qaeda affiliates in the middle east and

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a number of affiliates across the middle east and africa including al qaeda in the arabian

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retains a small but possibly growing presence in afghanistan. u.s. officials have stated that al

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known as the nusra front), though the exact nature of that relationship may be evolving. this

report examines the threat posed by al qaeda affiliates in the middle east and africa as described

by u.s. officials and outside observers, as well as the u.s. approach to date in responding to these

threats. this was all i could find hope this : )