Untrained and Outmatched: The Marines at Bull Run

As the country fractured over slavery, the Marines went from peacetime readiness to crisis response, supporting naval blockades, fort defenses, and coastal raids. From amphibious landings in North Carolina to nighttime raids in Florida, the Corps played a supporting but critical role in shaping the early war effort. Their missions were small, fast, and dangerous. Most of the Marines who fought in these early actions were barely trained, yet they were sent straight into combat. Some of their operations succeeded. Others didn't. But through it all, the Marine Corps built its wartime footing while facing losses, logistical challenges, and growing demands from a nation at war with itself.