George W. Dyer July 21, 1861 George Dyer, of Calais, was serving
in Washington D. C. as an Assistant Quartermaster General for
Maine regiments in the summer of 1861. He had a close look at
the Civil War's Battle of First Bull Run, also called First
Manassas, and shared his views in a letter to Governor Israel
Washburn. In straight-forward fashion, Dyers reports that,
"Matters here in most horrible confusion." The battle fell far
short of expectations for the North. The two armies – Union and
Confederate – were new to fighting, but each believed that the
other would be defeated quickly. It was the Union Army, however,
that broke and ran. Afterward, Dyer tried to get supplies to
Maine regiments. In addition to locating and assessing the
condition of the regiments, he reports on the leadership
displayed by the officers Gov. Washburn appointed. "None of
field or staff killed," Dyers writes of Maine's officer corps,
"Allen, Buxton and Hunkins stand by the wounded and are
prisoners. Hamlin, Banks and Warren ran awa