My name is Nicholas Cutchins, and I am a fourth-year history major at UVA with a concentration in War, Violence, and Society. After a successful Nau Center internship at Antietam National Battlefield last year, I knew that my Civil War history journey was just getting started. When I applied for summer internships this year, Manassas National Battlefield Park was easily top of my list, and I am very grateful that the staff there were willing to give me this opportunity.

As an intern in the interpretation department, my job focused on frontline historical interpretation and educating the public about the two battles of Manassas. The staff allowed me to go above and beyond, expanding my knowledge and capabilities through research and programming.

One of my main tasks as an intern was developing and giving 45-minute interpretive walking tours around Henry Hill, telling the story of First Manassas in a thought-provoking manner that revolved around a central theme. For me, this was “Politics vs. Reality.” I highlighted how much of a political affair the build-up and execution of the Civil War truly was, and how the rhetoric of politicians before and during First Manassas ill-prepared the soldiers present on July 21, 1861, to face the harrowing tragedy of war.

I spent many days within the park’s library, researching to understand military movements and scouring for quotes that could mesh within my tour. Manassas’s collection of resources is a treasure trove for any Civil War researcher. It houses everything from modern monographs to letters from soldiers and civilians to even Civil War era weaponry that we were given special access to. Ranger Jim Burgess, the museum curator, was also incredibly helpful, as his extensive Civil War knowledge was rivaled by few. Not only did this make researching for my tour an absolute blast, but the ample material I found allowed me to go further, which the rangers at Manassas eagerly approved of.

One common way to share my research with the public was through social media posts that highlighted interesting stories surrounding First Manassas. These were especially needed around the time of the anniversary on July 21. One post I drafted quoted William Augustus Croffut, a journalist for the New York Daily Tribune and private in the 1st Minnesota Infantry. After visiting Sudley Church, one of several field hospitals used during First Manassas, he described the bloody scene with extensive religious undertones. Part of this letter read, “Look around you here. The grim chambers, where the deity of a strange despotism was worshipped, is turned into an altar of Freedom, and sanctified anew by the warm life of heroes. Fit choir, that in the galleries—the intermittent yells of the dying and the subdued groans of brave men! Eloquent preacher, in that pulpit so long defiled! Glorious burden on that sacramental tablet, splendid wine there flowing—where Christ has been so often crucified: Precious and acceptable Eucharist! And these are the services to day, in this chapel of paganism, once dedicated, with lying lips, to God.” Another social media post I wrote focused on the McCook family, who were a large family from Ohio that had many members who served during the Civil War. The head of the family, attorney Daniel McCook, enlisted along with his many sons and fought alongside them at First Manassas and other battles. During First Manassas, one of his sons, Charles McCook, was cut down by a Confederate officer after refusing to give up, stating, “No, never; no, never, to a rebel.” Charles was then taken to a hospital, where he died in his father’s arms.

I was also able to assist in interpretation in other ways, including operating the Stone House several times a week. The Stone House has a long and storied history, but it is particularly famous for serving as a field hospital during both battles of Manassas and housing carvings made by two privates of the 5th New York Infantry during Second Manassas. It was my job to open the house to the public and give lectures on every aspect of the house’s history, including the carvings.

I was extensively involved in the event planning and programming for the anniversary weekend on July 20-21. On both days, I worked with ranger Greg Wolf to do something I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would be doing: serving as part of the Bull Run Legion artillery battery as a cannoneer. I was positioned directly to the left of the barrel, serving as the soldier who received the ammunition from a runner and placed it inside the barrel. The footwork was complicated, and I was amazed that I did not lose my hearing, but this was an incredibly rewarding experience that I will remember for a long time.

Of course, part of the job was dealing with guests who were less than stellar. The park contains a statue of Confederate general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson that is to this day mired in controversy, so it was no surprise to me that several Lost Cause types manifested into my tour groups. The statue is a key part of my tour. Not only is it a major physical landmark that represents the pivotal moment where Jackson got the nickname of “Stonewall,” but it is also horribly inaccurate, portraying Jackson as a larger-than-life “superhero” with impossibly large muscles that the real-life, much frailer Jackson simply did not have. In my tours, I approached this directly, encouraging visitors to look closely at the statue so that they could think critically about what they heard and saw on the battlefield and about the Civil War. Unfortunately, while many accomplished my goal of thinking critically, a vocal few did not, making clear their ardent stance on the statues. Thankfully, the most that was needed was just a little patience, as their rants did not seem to change the minds of anyone else on those tours.

My crowning moment during my time at Manassas was when I delivered my very own program, titled “The Politics of War: First Manassas and Beyond.” This was a 45-minute in-depth lecture about the politics that contextualized the war, with particular deep dives into geopolitical separation, Abraham Lincoln’s firm stance on preserving the Union, and idolization. This used a combination of primary sources, such as letters from Croffut and Irish reporter William H. Russell, who was present on Centreville Heights. It also used modern interpretation, such as Gary Gallagher’s The Union War and The Confederate War. This was an incredible opportunity, as I have always wanted to give lectures on something I was passionate about. It also served as a motivator for my research and helped organize my findings.

I will be forever grateful to the Nau Center, the Manassas Battlefield Trust, and the staff at Manassas National Battlefield Park for giving me the chance to blossom as a historian. This internship helped me explore beyond my boundaries and accomplish more than I thought I was capable of. I know that the experience gained at Manassas will help me succeed both as a student and as a historian.

Note: Nicholas Cutchins' summer internship was generously funded by the Manassas Battlefield Trust.