example numero uno: i was walking through higlmarch (windhelm) and there was a pretty decent sized battle going on 5 bandits vs. 4 stormcloaks and thalmor justicars, who were also fighting each other.
numero dos: in markarth there was almost 10 forsworn vs. 6 imperials in heavy armor. they said " thanks for the help, not many people are willing to fight the forsworn." are the big battles just random patrols running into each other or are they set? either way it was awesome

Cool. Never had that happen.

this is something ive had happen. i am on the stormcloaks and have one the war and when i one every guard in the game was a stormcloak but for some reason when i downloaded the DLC it reseted all the guard to the colours of thier city and i have also randomly come across imperial patrols they shouldnt be there!!!

I think it's a good thing. it makes it seem like an actual war.