in 1860, no one expected any armed conflict would come from the southern states secession from the union. or, if it did, it would be brief and mostly for show purposes. southerners did not believe the north would mobilize an army against them. the u.s. senator from south carolina made the statement he would drink all the blood shed over the south declaring their independence from the union. then, as it became apparent that it would become a military confrontation, both sides believed it would not last very long. in 1861, when the union army entered the first battle of bull run, they thought a quick victory would bring an end to the war. after the union loss at bull run, the confederates thought the union would simply give up the idea re-uniting the north and south. both were wrong.