The battle scenes were filmed using hundreds of Civil War reenactors who were paid as extras but who supplied their own uniforms, muskets, etc. The first large battle scene shot (Manassas/Bull Run) was such a spectacle that word went back to Hollywood and the later battle filmings were visited by some of the principle actresses, including Kirstie Alley and Terri Garber, who posed for photos with the reenactors.