A Short History of the Civil War: Ordeal by Fire

The US Civil War was one of the most terrible of human conflicts. It was a time of violent hatreds, dishonest profiteering, huge sacrifices and almost inhuman bravery. It was a time of destruction, of hope, of bitterness and love. It was America’s greatest ordeal and a time when as a young and powerful nation, the United States flared into violence over the fierce issues of slavery and secession! Here, in one volume, is that flaming story. First published in 1935, this book has withstood the test of time to become one of the classics on the American civil war. Written in a fresh and invigorating style, it comes to exciting life through the dynamic personalities of the men who led the struggle: Grant, Davis, Sheridan, Thomas, Sherman, Lee and Lincoln.

Novelist, historian, and critic Bernard De Voto called this book the best one-volume history of the Civil War I’ve ever read.