A Single Grand Victory is a highly readable, concise, comprehensive narrative of the first major battle of the Civil War. Rafuse served as park historien at Bull Run, where he gained great familiarity with the site and the literature on this battle. His book incorporates insights offered in recent scholarship on Civil War military, political, and cultural history. The author describes the factors that led President Abraham Lincoln to order an offensive against Confederates at Manassas Junction at a time when his most prominent military men advised against it. The war policies of both the Union and Confederate sides are explained. Rafuse offers descriptions and analysis of the individuals involved and the circumstances that influenced the manner in which the campaign was conducted. He covers the critical events and operational and tactical decisions that shaped the campaign’s course and outcome.