The Divided Union: The Story of the American Civil War

Forward to Sumter tells the story of the background to the War (1861-65), its causes, particularly the impact of slavery: how North and South in the United States had been evolving into two separate societies and cultures, such that some form of conflict between them was perhaps inevitable.

Bloody Stalemate deals with the early skirmishes and how the South fails to exploit its initial victory at Manassas, the North's decisive victory at Shiloh, the Battle of Antietam where more Americans died in a single day than on any field of battle before or since and concludes with President Lincoln's first Emancipation Proclamation.

High Tide of the Confederacy shows how the North seems unable to exploit its superiority with its military commanders forever squabbling. Meanwhile in the South Robert E Lee overreaches himself with his attack on Gettysburg and together a day later with the North's capture of the strategic port of Vicksburg on the Mississippi is a crucial turning-point in the War.

Conclusion at Appomatox describes how the dramatic saga does not end with General Lee's surrender to General Grant at Appomattox. Lincoln is tragically assassinated only 5 days later before the struggle for reunification of the country had begun. The South's legacy of defeat is pondered as well as the War's continuing impact on American life.