The wealthy elite of nearby Washington, including congressmen and their families, expecting an easy Union victory, had come to picnic and watch the battle. When the Union army was driven back in a running disorder, the roads back to Washington were blocked by panicked civilians attempting to flee in their carriages.
If they had only pressed on to Washington that day the War would have ended. I am a proud descendant of Confederate heroes. I love talking to people from up yonder that are moving here in droves ask them what they are running from and most will tell you the same thing look at a lot of the cities look like bombed out war zones makes me think did we realy lose.
They say that living well is its own revenge. I like to think of the phenomena that you speak of as "The South's Revenge" and am amused by those who claim that they are "present-day slaves"....and worse.
Compared to many areas of the northeast, the south looks awfully prosperous to me!
Probably because they were never fired and only dropped once.