This second volume in Bruce Catton's American Civil War trilogy shows how the Union and Confederacy slowly reconciled themselves to all-out war. At the start of this period there was little action as each side reviewed its position and counted its heads and guns. The North had positive advantages (but not one in General McClellan who is impaled forever in this book by extracts from his arrogant letters). The South recognised that it would have to strike hard to win, but it had terrible handicaps (including flintlock rifles which would not fire in the rain). Gradually the action emerged and with it the stature of Lee, Grant, Jefferson Davis and Sherman. And gradually too the civil war changed its nature from an uninspiring police action to a series of bloody clashes in the cause of ending human slavery.
- ISBN10 1842124056
- ISBN13 9781842124055
- Publish Date 15 March 2005 (first published 24 April 1963)
- Publish Status Cancelled
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Orion Publishing Co
- Imprint Weidenfeld & Nicolson History
- Edition New edition
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 576
- Language English