NARRATOR: ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF "THE CIVIL WAR" WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THESE FUNDERS.

AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

NARRATOR: CORPORATE FUNDING FOR THIS SPECIAL 25TH ANNIVERSARY PRESENTATION WAS PROVIDED BY.

MAN: BEFORE THOUSANDS FELL ON THE BATTLEFIELD, BEFORE MILLIONS WERE FREED AND BEFORE A COUNTRY FORGED ITS IDENTITY... A NATION DECLARED A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM, REDEDICATING ITSELF TO THE PROPOSITION THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.

BANK OF AMERICA IS PROUD TO SPONSOR "THE CIVIL WAR," A FILM BY KEN BURNS, NEWLY RESTORED FOR IT'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY.

Man: "I HAVE JUST THIS MOMENT HEARD FROM THE FRONT.

"THERE IS NOTHING YET OF A MOVEMENT, "BUT EACH SIDE IS CONTINUALLY ON THE ALERT, "EXPECTING SOMETHING TO HAPPEN.

"TO THINK WE ARE TO HAVE HERE SOON "WHAT I’VE SEEN SO MANY TIMES-- "THE AWFUL LOADS AND TRAINS AND BOATLOADS "OF BLOODY AND PALE, AND WOUNDED YOUNG MEN AGAIN.

"FOR THAT IS WHAT WE CERTAINLY WILL HAVE.

I SEE ALL THE SIGNS HERE."

WALT WHITMAN.

MEN’S BELIEFS, UH, HAD A STARTLING SIMPLICITY TO IT.

UH, FOR EXAMPLE, A SOLDIER IN LINE AT GETTYSBURG TOLD, "YOU WILL ADVANCE A MILE ACROSS THAT OPEN VALLEY AND TAKE THAT HILL."

I, FOR ONE, WOULD SAY, "GENERAL, I--I DON’T THINK WE SHOULD DO THIS.

I DON’T BELIEVE WE CAN GET THERE."

BUT THEY--THEY--THEY TOOK IT IN A MATTER OF COURSE.

UM, AND YOU MUST REMEMBER THEY FOUGHT FOR FOUR YEARS, WHICH IS A LONG TIME.

AND THIS SIMPLICITY WAS SEVERELY TESTED, BUT THEY NEVER LOST IT.

UH, THEY--THEY--DUTY, UH, BRAVERY UNDER ADVERSITY-- VERY SIMPLE VIRTUES, AND THEY HAD THEM.

Narrator: IN 1864, A REBELLION IN CHINA THAT COST 20 MILLION LIVES FINALLY CAME TO AN END.

IN 1864, THE CZAR’S ARMIES CONQUERED TURKISTAN AND TOLSTOY FINISHED WAR AND PEACE.

IN 1864, LOUIS PASTEUR PASTEURIZED WINE, THE GENEVA CONVENTION ESTABLISHED THE NEUTRALITY OF BATTLEFIELD HOSPITALS, AND KARL MARX FOUNDED THE INTERNATIONAL WORKINGMEN’S ASSOCIATION IN LONDON AND NEW YORK.

NEVADA BECAME A STATE, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE WORDS "IN GOD WE TRUST" APPEARED ON A U.S.

COIN.

IN 1864, THE CIVIL WAR WAS IN ITS FOURTH YEAR.

UNION SHIPS CONTROLLED THE MISSISSIPPI.

THE UNION BLOCKADE WAS TIGHTENING.

LEE HAD BEEN BEATEN AT GETTYSBURG.

VICKSBURG AND CHATTANOOGA HAD FALLEN.

AS CONFEDERATE HOPES BEGAN TO DIM, UNION OBJECTIVES BECAME CLEAR-- ATTACK THE HEART OF THE CONFEDERACY AT ATLANTA AND DESTROY LEE’S ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

BUT THERE WAS STILL NO REAL END IN SIGHT.

AS ROBERT E. LEE AND ULYSSES S. GRANT PREPARED TO CONFRONT EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME, NEITHER KNEW WHAT AWAITED THEIR ARMIES ALONG A 100-MILE CRESCENT EAST OF RICHMOND.

TO WIN, ONE WOULD HAVE TO OUTTHINK AS WELL AS OUTFIGHT THE OTHER.

IN 1864, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, A NATION WOULD TRY TO HOLD AN ELECTION IN THE MIDST OF CIVIL WAR.

AFTER 3 1/2 YEARS OF WAR, ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S PROSPECTS FOR REELECTION DID NOT SEEM BRIGHT.

FOR ELISHA HUNT RHODES, STUCK IN THE UNION TRENCHES OUTSIDE PETERSBURG, THE WAR STRETCHED ON INTERMINABLY.

TO CONFEDERATE SAM WATKINS AT FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE, IT SEEMED "THE DEATH ANGEL WAS THERE TO GATHER ITS LAST HARVEST."

THAT SAME YEAR, WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN, NOW IN COMMAND OF THE UNION’S WESTERN ARMIES, WOULD SET OUT THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS OF GEORGIA FOR ATLANTA.

LIEUTENANT WASHINGTON ROEBLING, WHO THOUGHT HE’D SEEN THE WORST AT GETTYSBURG, CAME CLOSE TO LOSING HIS FAITH IN THE UNION CAUSE.

IN WASHINGTON, A SOMETIME POET, WALT WHITMAN, WORKED AS A NURSE IN THE CROWDED UNION HOSPITALS UNTIL THEY OVERWHELMED HIM.

IN 1864, THE PICTURES THAT WOULD COME BACK FROM THE WAR WOULD BE TOO HORRIBLE TO LOOK AT FOR YEARS TO COME.

Man: "IT IS ENOUGH TO MAKE THE WHOLE WORLD START "AT THE AWFUL AMOUNT OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION "THAT NOW STALKS ABROAD.

"I BEGIN TO REGARD THE DEATH AND MANGLING "OF A COUPLE OF THOUSAND MEN AS A SMALL AFFAIR, "A KIND OF MORNING DASH, "AND IT MAY BE WELL THAT WE BECOME HARDENED.

THE WORST OF THE WAR IS NOT YET BEGUN."

WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN.

[EXPLOSIONS] IN EARLY 1864, SPOTSWOOD RICE, A SLAVE ON A TOBACCO PLANTATION, ESCAPED AND MADE HIS WAY TO GLASGOW, MISSOURI, WHERE HE ENLISTED IN THE UNION ARMY.

Man: "BENTON BARRACKS HOSPITAL, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

"MY CHILDREN, "A FEW LINES TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE NOT FORGOT YOU "AND THAT I WANT TO SEE YOU AS BAD AS EVER.

"I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT I WILL GET YOU.

"YOUR MISS KITTY SAID THAT I TRIED TO STEAL YOU, "BUT I LET HER KNOW THAT GOD NEVER INTENDED FOR MAN "TO STEAL HIS OWN FLESH AND BLOOD.

"I ONCE THOUGHT THAT I HAD SOME RESPECT FOR THEM, "BUT NOW MY RESPECT IS WORN-OUT, AND I HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR SLAVE HOLDERS."

SPOTSWOOD RICE.

Different man: "THE WILLARD HOTEL MAY BE MUCH MORE JUSTLY CALLED "THE CENTER OF WASHINGTON AND THE UNION "THAN EITHER THE CAPITOL, THE WHITE HOUSE, "OR THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

EVERYBODY MAY BE SEEN THERE."

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

Narrator: ON THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 8, 1864, A STUBBY, RUMPLED MAN MADE HIS WAY ACROSS THE CROWDED LOBBY OF WILLARD’S HOTEL.

A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY CARRYING A SATCHEL FOLLOWED IN HIS WAKE.

Foote: HE DIDN’T HAVE HIS THREE STARS ON YET BECAUSE HE WASN’T GOING TO GET HIS COMMISSION UNTIL THE NEXT DAY, BUT HE JUST WALKED UP TO THE DESK AND ASKED FOR A ROOM, AND THERE HAD BEEN A GREAT MANY GENERALS IN AND OUT OF WILLARD’S.

PRACTICALLY ALL OF THEM HAD BEEN IN AND OUT OF WILLARD’S.

THE DESK CLERK SAID, "WELL, I’VE GOT SOMETHING UP ON THE TOP FLOOR, IF THAT WILL DO," AND GRANT SAID, "THAT WILL DO FINE," AND HE GAVE HIM THE REGISTER TO SIGN, AND GRANT SIGNED IT.

WHEN THE CLERK LOOKED DOWN AND SAW "U.S. GRANT AND SON, GALENA, ILLINOIS," HIS EYES BUGGED OUT OF HIS HEAD.

Narrator: WORD SPREAD QUICKLY THAT THE MAN LINCOLN HAD RECENTLY PLACED AT THE HEAD OF ALL THE UNION ARMIES WAS IN THE HOTEL, AND WHEN HE AND HIS SON ENTERED THE CROWDED DINING ROOM, EVERYONE STOOD AND CHEERED.

AFTERWARDS, HE STROLLED TWO BLOCKS UP PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE TO THE WHITE HOUSE, WHERE PRESIDENT AND MRS. LINCOLN WERE GIVING A RECEPTION.

Man: "I WISH TO EXPRESS MY ENTIRE SATISFACTION "WITH WHAT YOU HAVE DONE UP TO THIS TIME, "SO FAR AS I CAN UNDERSTAND IT.

"THE PARTICULARS OF YOUR PLANS I NEITHER KNOW NOR SEEK TO KNOW."

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Narrator: THREE YEARS EARLIER, GRANT HAD BEEN NOTABLE ONLY FOR HIS FAILURES.

NOW HE WAS THE CONQUEROR OF DONELSON, VICKSBURG, AND CHATTANOOGA COME TO WASHINGTON TO RECEIVE THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL, LAST HELD BY GEORGE WASHINGTON.

HE HAD COMMAND NOW OF 533,000 MEN, THE LARGEST ARMY IN THE WORLD.

[CANNON FIRE] Man: "I WANT TO PUSH ON AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE "TO SAVE HARD FIGHTING.

"THESE TERRIBLE BATTLES ARE VERY GOOD THINGS TO READ ABOUT "FOR PERSONS WHO LOSE NO FRIENDS, "BUT I AM DECIDEDLY IN FAVOR "OF HAVING AS LITTLE OF IT AS POSSIBLE.

THE WAY TO AVOID IT IS TO PUSH FORWARD."

ULYSSES S. GRANT.

Narrator: HIRAM ULYSSES GRANT WAS BORN AT POINT PLEASANT, OHIO, ON APRIL 27, 1822.

HIS FATHER JESSE RAN A TANNERY, AND ITS STENCH WAS ONE OF HIS FIRST MEMORIES.

HE WAS SENSITIVE AND WITHDRAWN WITH PEOPLE, BUT WONDERFUL WITH HORSES.

HIS FATHER THOUGHT HIM HOPELESSLY IMPRACTICAL AND GOT HIM AN APPOINTMENT TO WEST POINT.

A CLERK MISTAKENLY REGISTERED THE BOY AS ULYSSES S. GRANT AND RATHER THAN COMPLAIN, HE LIVED WITH IT.

HIS FRIENDS CALLED HIM SAM.

[MARCHING] HE WAS GRADUATED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS CLASS.

THE NEXT YEAR HE WAS ENGAGED TO JULIA DENT, THE DAUGHTER OF A MISSOURI SLAVE OWNER.

HE ADORED HER, AND SHE BORE HIM FOUR CHILDREN.

GRANT THOUGHT THE MEXICAN WAR WICKED BUT WENT ANYWAY.

"I CONSIDERED MY SUPREME DUTY WAS TO MY FLAG," HE WROTE, AND SERVED BRAVELY IN BATTLE, RIDING ALONE THROUGH A HAIL OF ENEMY FIRE TO BRING AMMUNITION TO HIS MEN.

AFTER THE WAR, THE ARMY SENT HIM TO A REMOTE CALIFORNIA OUTPOST, WHERE, LONELY AND MISERABLE WITHOUT HIS FAMILY, HE BEGAN TO DRINK.

Man: "DEAR JULIA, I SOMETIMES GET SO ANXIOUS TO SEE YOU "AND OUR CHILDREN THAT I AM ALMOST TEMPTED TO RESIGN "AND TRUST TO PROVIDENCE "AND MY OWN EXERTIONS FOR A LIVING.

"WHENEVER I GET TO THINKING UP THE SUBJECT, HOWEVER, POVERTY, POVERTY BEGINS TO STARE ME IN THE FACE."

Narrator: IN 1854, HE LEFT THE ARMY AND RETURNED EAST TO REJOIN JULIA AND WORK A PIECE OF LAND HIS FATHER-IN-LAW GAVE HIM.

HE CALLED IT "HARDSCRABBLE FARM" AND COULD NOT MAKE A GO OF IT.

HE TRIED BILL COLLECTING, REAL ESTATE, RAISING POTATOES, EVEN PEDDLING FIREWOOD IN THE STREET.

NOTHING WORKED.

ONE YEAR, IN ST. LOUIS, HE PAWNED HIS WATCH TO BUY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR HIS FAMILY.

HE HAD BEEN REDUCED TO WORKING AS A CLERK IN HIS FATHER’S HARNESS SHOP IN GALENA, ILLINOIS, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN.

AS A WEST POINT GRADUATE, GRANT WAS A SCARCE COMMODITY.

HE REENTERED THE ARMY AND NEVER LOOKED BACK.

Man: "IN THIS SEASON, I SAW ENERGIES IN GRANT.

"HE DROPPED A STOOPED-SHOULDERED WAY OF WALKING "AND SET HIS HAT FORWARD ON HIS HEAD IN A CARELESS FASHION."

JOHN A. RAWLINS.

Narrator: HE WAS PROMOTED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL, WON A SMALL BATTLE AT BELMONT, MISSOURI, THEN A BIG ONE AT FORT DONELSON AT A TIME WHEN OTHER NORTHERN GENERALS WERE GOING DOWN TO DEFEAT.

Man: "HIS SOLDIERS DO NOT SALUTE HIM.

"THEY ONLY WATCH HIM "WITH A CERTAIN SORT OF FAMILIAR REVERENCE.

"THEY OBSERVE HIM COMING AND, RISING TO THEIR FEET, "GATHER ON EACH SIDE OF THE WAY TO SEE HIM PASS.

"NO NAPOLEONIC DISPLAYS, NO OSTENTATION, NO SPEECH, NO SUPERFLUOUS FLUMMERY."

Narrator: HE WAS DISTINCTLY UNGLAMOROUS AND HAD ONLY ONE PERSONAL ATTENDANT, A RUNAWAY MISSOURI SLAVE NAMED BILL.

HE DIDN’T LIKE MARCHING BANDS AND COULD RECOGNIZE ONLY TWO TUNES.

"ONE WAS YANKEE DOODLE," HE SAID, "AND THE OTHER WASN’T."

HE INSISTED THAT HIS MEAT BE COOKED DRY BECAUSE EVEN A SUGGESTION OF BLOOD ON HIS PLATE MADE HIM SICK.

ONCE, ON THE EVE OF A BATTLE IN WHICH THOUSANDS OF MEN WOULD DIE, HE HAD A TEAMSTER TIED TO A TREE FOR SIX HOURS FOR MISTREATING A HORSE.

HE WAS METHODICAL, DOGGED, AND UNCOMMONLY CLEARHEADED UNDER FIRE.

GRANT THE GENERAL HAS MANY QUALITIES, BUT HE HAD A...A THING THAT’S VERY NECESSARY FOR A GREAT GENERAL.

HE HAD WHAT THEY CALL 4:00-IN-THE-MORNING COURAGE.

YOU COULD WAKE HIM UP AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING AND TELL HIM THAT THEY JUST TURNED HIS RIGHT FLANK, AND HE WOULD BE AS COOL AS A CUCUMBER.

HE HAD AN ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE, AND A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS HE WOULD BE WORKING AT HIS DESK, BENT OVER WRITING, AND HE WOULD NEED SOMETHING ACROSS THE ROOM-- A DOCUMENT OR SOMETHING.

HE WOULD GET UP AND NEVER GET OUT OF THAT CROUCHED POSITION, GO OVER THERE AND PICK UP THE DOCUMENT HE’D NEED, AND COME BACK TO HIS DESK AND SIT DOWN AGAIN WITHOUT EVER HAVING STRAIGHTENED UP.

IT’S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW HE COULD CONCENTRATE.

Narrator: HE DRANK BOURBON, AND HE GOT DRUNK EASILY.

A GALENA NEIGHBOR, JOHN RAWLINS, WAS MADE HIS CHIEF OF STAFF AND TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO KEEP GRANT SOBER.

Foote: GRANT NEVER GOT DRUNK WHEN HIS WIFE WAS AROUND.

THERE WAS ONLY TWO CONDITIONS GRANT WOULD DRINK UNDER.

ONE WAS HIS WIFE WASN’T THERE, AND THE OTHER WAS THERE WASN’T ANYTHING GOING ON.

HE WENT ON A TRUE BENDER DURING THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN, BUT IT WAS WHEN NOTHING WAS HAPPENING.

IT WAS IF HE-- WHETHER IT WAS ANYTHING SEXUAL ABOUT HIS WIFE BEING OUT OF TOUCH, I’M NOT TOO SURE ABOUT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT WAS, UH, BOREDOM THAT WOULD-- THAT WOULD MAKE HIM DRINK.

NOW HE TRAVELED SOUTH TO MEADE’S HEADQUARTERS AT BRANDY STATION NEAR CULPEPER, VIRGINIA-- THE LARGEST UNION ENCAMPMENT OF THE WAR.

Man: "APRIL 19.

YESTERDAY THE 6th CORPS WAS REVIEWED "BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL U.S. GRANT.

"HE IS A SHORT, THICKSET MAN "AND RODE HIS HORSE LIKE A BAG OF MEAL.

"I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IN THE APPEARANCE, BUT I LIKED THE LOOK OF HIS EYE."

ELISHA HUNT RHODES.

Different man: "WE ALL FELT AT LAST THAT THE BOSS HAD ARRIVED."

Narrator: WHILE GRANT CONFERRED WITH MEADE, MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF DESCRIBED GRANT’S TRIUMPHS IN THE WEST.

VETERANS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC WERE NOT IMPRESSED.

"THAT MAY BE," ONE SAID, "BUT GRANT NEVER MET BOBBY LEE."

[CANNON FIRE] Woman: "CAN ANYBODY SAY THEY KNOW THE GENERAL?

"I DOUBT IT.

HE LOOKS SO COLD, QUIET, AND GRAND."

Man: "I THINK THAT LEE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANGED.

"IT WAS ALL THE WORSE THAT HE WAS A GOOD MAN "AND A FINE CHARACTER AND ACTED CONSCIENTIOUSLY.

"IT’S ALWAYS THE GOOD MEN WHO DO THE MOST HARM IN THE WORLD."

HENRY ADAMS.

LEE IS, UH, ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE HE’S BEEN IMMORTALIZED, OR AS THEY CALL HIM NOW, SOME PEOPLE, "THE MARBLE MAN."

HE’S BEEN DEHUMANIZED BY THE GLORY AND THE WORSHIP.

UH, HE WAS A WARM, OUTGOING MAN, ALWAYS HAD TIME FOR ANY PRIVATE SOLDIER’S COMPLAINT.

UH, ONCE A NORTHERN SOLDIER BEING MARCHED TO THE REAR AS A PRISONER COMPLAINED TO LEE IN PERSON THAT SOMEONE HAD TAKEN HIS HAT.

AND HE SAID, "THAT MAN GOT IT."

AND LEE MADE THE MAN GIVE HIM HIS HAT BACK.

Narrator: THE MAN GRANT FACED ACROSS THE RAPIDAN RIVER IN VIRGINIA CAME FROM A FAMILY AS CELEBRATED AS GRANT’S WAS OBSCURE.

ROBERT E. LEE WAS BORN IN 1807 AT STRATFORD IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA, AND WAS RAISED BY HIS MOTHER.

SHE TAUGHT HIM TO REVERE GENERAL WASHINGTON, A NEIGHBOR REMEMBERED, "TO PRACTICE SELF-DENIAL AND SELF-CONTROL" IN ALL THINGS.

HIS FATHER, "LIGHT HORSE HARRY" LEE, HAD BEEN A FRIEND AND FAVORITE LIEUTENANT OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, BUT LIGHT HORSE HARRY ALSO SQUANDERED TWO WIVES’ FORTUNES BEFORE DESERTING HIS FAMILY FOR THE WEST INDIES.

AT WEST POINT, ROBERT E. LEE DID NOT EARN A SINGLE DEMERIT.

CLASSMATES CALLED HIM "THE MARBLE MODEL," BUT LIKED HIM IN SPITE OF HIS PERFECTION.

HE WAS GRADUATED SECOND IN HIS CLASS IN 1829.

IN 1831, HE MARRIED MARTHA WASHINGTON’S GRANDDAUGHTER, MARY CUSTIS.

SHE BORE HIM SEVEN CHILDREN AND ENDURED HIS LONG ABSENCES AS BEST SHE COULD.

THE MANSION AT ARLINGTON WITH ITS 250 SLAVES WAS HER HOME BEFORE IT WAS HIS.

APPOINTED TO THE PRESTIGIOUS CORPS OF ENGINEERS, HE WAS THREE TIMES PROMOTED FOR BRAVERY DURING THE MEXICAN WAR, WHERE HE ONCE MET A YOUNG ULYSSES S. GRANT.

SUPERINTENDENT OF WEST POINT, CAPTOR OF JOHN BROWN, HE WAS AT THE START OF THE WAR THE NATION’S MOST PROMISING SOLDIER.

IN 1861, LEE REFUSED COMMAND OF THE UNION ARMY AND FOLLOWED HIS STATE OUT OF THE UNION, NOT BECAUSE HE APPROVED OF SLAVERY OR SECESSION, BUT BECAUSE HE BELIEVED HIS FIRST DUTY WAS TO VIRGINIA.

Man: "I DID ONLY WHAT MY DUTY DEMANDED.

"I COULD HAVE TAKEN NO OTHER COURSE WITHOUT DISHONOR."

Woman: "THE MAN WHO STOOD BEFORE US WAS THE REALIZED KING ARTHUR.

"THE SOUL THAT LOOKED OUT OF HIS EYES "WAS AS HONEST AND FEARLESS "AS WHEN IT FIRST LOOKED OUT ON LIFE.

"ONE SAW THE CHARACTER AS CLEAR AS CRYSTAL, "WITHOUT COMPLICATION, AND THE HEART AS TENDER AS THAT OF IDEAL WOMANHOOD."

A UNION GIRL WATCHING LEE RIDE PAST HER PENNSYLVANIA HOME SAID, "I WISH HE WERE OURS."

EARLY IN THE WAR, HE WAS RIDICULED AS "THE KING OF SPADES" BECAUSE OF HIS FONDNESS FOR ENTRENCHING AND "GRANNY LEE" BECAUSE OF HIS GRAY HAIR AND STRICT WAYS, BUT AFTER HE DROVE McCLELLAN OFF THE PENINSULA, STOPPED POPE AT SECOND MANASSAS, DEMOLISHED BURNSIDE AT FREDERICKSBURG, AND DESTROYED HOOKER AT CHANCELLORSVILLE-- ALL DESPITE OVERWHELMING ODDS-- HE WON THE UNSHAKABLE CONFIDENCE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS AND THE UNQUALIFIED LOVE OF HIS OFFICERS AND MEN.

HE IS A VERY GREAT GENERAL, AND, UH, H-HE’S SUPERB ON BOTH THE OFFENSIVE AND THE DEFENSIVE.

UH, HE TOOK LONG CHANCES, BUT HE TOOK THEM BECAUSE HE HAD TO.

IF GRANT HAD NOT HAD SUPERIOR NUMBERS, HE MIGHT HAVE TAKEN CHANCES AS LONG AS LEE TOOK.

THE ONLY WAY TO WIN WAS WITH LONG CHANCES, AND IT MADE HIM BRILLIANT.

Narrator: NO ONE EVER CALLED HIM BOBBY LEE TO HIS FACE.

HIS MEN CALLED HIM "MARSE ROBERT" OR "UNCLE ROBERT."

HE HAD A TERRIBLE TEMPER, WHICH HE WORKED ALL HIS LIFE TO CONTROL.

WHEN ANGERED, HIS ICY STARE WAS UNFORGETTABLE.

Foote: THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN BROUGHT BEFORE HIM FOR SOME INFRACTION OF THE RULES, AND CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING BROUGHT BEFORE GENERAL LEE FOR HAVING BROKEN THE RULES?

AND THE YOUNG MAN WAS TREMBLING, AND LEE SAID, "YOU NEED NOT BE AFRAID.

YOU’LL GET JUSTICE HERE," AND THE YOUNG MAN SAID, "I KNOW IT, GENERAL.

THAT’S WHAT I’M SCARED OF."

HA HA HA HA!

Narrator: HE REFERRED TO THE UNION ARMY AS "THOSE PEOPLE" RATHER THAN AS "THE ENEMY."

NOW "THOSE PEOPLE" HAD A NEW COMMANDER WHOM LEE HAD NOT TESTED.

Foote: WHEN GRANT BEGAN HIS SPRING CAMPAIGN OF ’64, HE TOOK WHAT THEY CALLED "THE HEAVIES"-- THE HEAVY ARTILLERYMEN OUT OF THE FORTS IN WASHINGTON AND PUT THEM IN THE FIELD.

MANY HAD BEEN IN THE ARMY TWO OR THREE YEARS AND NEVER HAD HEARD A SHOT FIRED IN ANGER, AND AS THESE UNITS MARCHED INTO CAMP, THEY WERE SO MUCH LARGER THAN THE COMBAT REGIMENTS THAT, UH, SOLDIERS ALONGSIDE THE ROAD USED TO SAY, "WHAT DIVISION IS THAT?"

THERE WERE SO MANY OF THEM, BUT THEY HAD SOME FIERCE THINGS.

THE FIRST TIME THEY’D GO INTO COMBAT, THEY’D HAVE A MANGLED CORPSE-- AN ARTILLERY CASUALTY-- BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A BLANKET OVER HIM, AND AS THE NEW GREEN REGIMENTS CAME ABREAST OF THEM, THEY’D WHISK THE BLANKET OFF AND SAY, "THIS IS WHAT’S WAITING FOR YOU UP AHEAD."

NOT A--NOT A-- NOT A VERY PLEASANT STORY.

Man: "TO GET POSSESSION OF LEE’S ARMY WAS THE FIRST OBJECT.

"WITH THE CAPTURE OF HIS ARMY, "RICHMOND WOULD NECESSARILY FOLLOW.

"IT WAS BETTER TO FIGHT HIM OUTSIDE HIS STRONGHOLD THAN IN IT."

ULYSSES S. GRANT.

[SHOUTING] Different man: "THIS ADVANCE BY GENERAL GRANT "INAUGURATED THE SEVENTH ACT IN THE ON TO RICHMOND DRAMA PLAYED BY THE ARMIES OF THE UNION."

GENERAL JOHN B. GORDON.

Different man: "THAT MAN GRANT WILL FIGHT US EVERY DAY AND EVERY HOUR TILL THE END OF THE WAR."

GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET.

Narrator: GRANT’S PLAN CALLED FOR FOUR SIMULTANEOUS BLOWS.

WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN HAD ORDERS TO STRIKE OUT FROM CHATTANOOGA FOR ATLANTA.

FRANZ SIGEL WOULD ADVANCE UP THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

BENJAMIN BUTLER WAS TO LEAD AN ARMY UP FROM THE JAMES RIVER, AND GEORGE GORDON MEADE WAS TO LEAD THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, 110,000 STRONG, SOUTH AGAINST LEE.

"WHEREVER LEE GOES, YOU WILL GO ALSO," GRANT TOLD MEADE, AND GRANT WOULD COME ALONG, TOO.

LEE’S STRATEGY WAS UNCHANGED-- DESTROY THE UNION RESOLVE TO WAGE WAR.

HE WOULD REFUSE TO FIGHT GRANT IN THE OPEN, FORCE HIM TO ATTACK FORTIFIED CONFEDERATE POSITIONS, AND THEREBY OFFSET GRANT’S SUPERIOR NUMBERS.

THE BLOODY COST OF TRYING TO FORCE THE SOUTH BACK INTO THE UNION AT GUNPOINT WOULD BOLSTER ANTIWAR SENTIMENT IN THE NORTH.

Man: "IF WE CAN BREAK UP THE ENEMY’S ARRANGEMENTS EARLY "AND THROW HIM BACK, "HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER HIS POSITION OR HIS MORALE "UNTIL THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS OVER, AND THEN WE SHALL HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT TO TREAT WITH."

GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET.

Different man: "APRIL 1, 1864.

"THE PRESIDENT CAME DOWN TO CULPEPER TO REVIEW THE ARMY.

"THE PRESIDENT WAS MOUNTED ON A FRACTIOUS HORSE.

"SOON AFTER THE MARCH BEGAN, HIS TALL HAT FELL OFF.

"HIS PANTALOONS SLIPPED UP TO THE KNEES, "SHOWING HIS WHITE HOMEMADE DRAWERS, "WHICH PRESENTLY SLIPPED UP ALSO, "REVEALING A LONG, HAIRY LEG.

"WHILE WE WERE INCLINED TO SMILE, "WE WERE, UH, VERY MUCH CHAGRINED TO SEE OUR POOR PRESIDENT COMPELLED TO ENDURE SUCH...TORTURE."

WASHINGTON ROEBLING.

Different man: "ON THE MORNING OF MAY 4, 1864, "WE, WITH THE ENTIRE GRAND ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, "WERE IN MOTION TOWARD THE RAPIDAN.

"THE DAWN WAS CLEAR, WARM, AND BEAUTIFUL.

"AS THE ALMOST COUNTLESS ENCAMPMENTS WERE BROKEN UP, "WITH BANDS IN ALL DIRECTIONS PLAYING LIVELY AIRS, "BANNERS WAVING, "REGIMENTS, BRIGADES, AND DIVISIONS FALLING INTO LINE.

"THE SCENE, EVEN TO EYES LONG FAMILIAR "WITH MILITARY DISPLAYS, WAS ONE OF UNUSUAL GRANDEUR."

CHAPLAIN A.M. STEWART.

Narrator: LEE’S 60,000 MEN WERE WAITING FOR GRANT IN THE TANGLED THICKET KNOWN AS THE WILDERNESS, IN WHICH THEY HAD TRAPPED THE SAME ARMY UNDER JOSEPH HOOKER ONLY A YEAR BEFORE.

Man: "COVERED BY A DENSE FOREST "ALMOST IMPENETRABLE BY TROOPS IN LINE OF BATTLE, "THE UNDERGROWTH WAS SO HEAVY "THAT IT WAS SCARCELY POSSIBLE TO SEE MORE THAN 100 YARDS "IN ANY DIRECTION.

"THE MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY COULD NOT BE OBSERVED UNTIL THE LINES WERE ALMOST IN COLLISION."

Narrator: ADVANCE UNITS OF THE UNION ARMY CAMPED FOR THE NIGHT ON THE OLD CHANCELLORSVILLE BATTLEFIELD, WHERE WINTER RAINS HAD WASHED OPEN THE SHALLOW GRAVES.

Man: "IN GLADES THEY MEET SKULL AFTER SKULL "WHERE PINE CONES LAY-- "THE RUSTED GUN, GREEN SHOES FULL OF BONES, "THE MOLDERING COAT AND CUDDLED-UP SKELETON.

"AND SCORES OF SUCH.

"SOME START AS IN DREAMS, "AND COMRADES LOST BEMOAN.

"BY THE EDGE OF THESE WILDS, STONEWALL HAD CHARGED, BUT THE YEAR AND THE MAN WERE GONE."

Different man: "IT GREW DARK, AND WE BUILT A FIRE.

"THE DEAD WERE ALL AROUND US.

"THEIR EYELESS SKULLS SEEMED TO STARE STEADILY AT US.

THE TREES SWAYED AND SIGHED GENTLY IN THE SOFT WIND."

PRIVATE FRANK WILKESON.

[CANNON FIRE] [SHOUTING] Narrator: THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS BEGAN IN CHAOS.

UNITS GOT LOST, FIRED ON THEIR OWN COMRADES.

OFFICERS TRIED TO NAVIGATE BY COMPASS.

[BUGLE BLOWING] BUT ON THE SECOND DAY, UNION FORCES DROVE THROUGH THE CONFEDERATE CENTER.

AS A WORRIED LEE WATCHED, GENERAL JOHN GREGG’S TEXANS HURRIED TO PLUG UP THE HOLE.

Man: "SCARCE HAD WE MOVED A STEP "WHEN GENERAL LEE, IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE COMMAND, "RAISED HIMSELF IN HIS STIRRUPS, UNCOVERED HIS GRAY HAIRS, "AND WITH AN EARNEST VOICE EXCLAIMED, TEXANS ALWAYS MOVE THEM."

Different man: "NEVER BEFORE IN MY LIFETIME DID I EVER SEE SUCH A SCENE "AS WAS ENACTED WHEN LEE PRONOUNCED THESE WORDS.

"A YELL RENT THE AIR "THAT MUST HAVE BEEN HEARD FOR MILES AROUND.

"A COURIER RIDING BY MY SIDE, "WITH TEARS COURSING DOWN HIS CHEEKS, EXCLAIMED, I WOULD CHARGE HELL ITSELF FOR THAT OLD MAN."

Narrator: THE TEXANS HELD THE POSITION UNTIL REINFORCEMENTS CAME.

BY THE END OF THE DAY, THE CONFEDERATES HAD SMASHED GRANT’S RIGHT, SEIZED TWO GENERALS AND 600 PRISONERS, AND COME CLOSE TO CUTTING THE UNION SUPPLY LINE.

GRANT RECEIVED THESE REPORTS WITHOUT COMMENT.

Foote: RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS, ALL STAFF MEN WHO HAD BEEN FIGHTING IN THE EAST ALL THIS TIME-- AND HE HAD JUST COME FROM THE WEST-- KEPT TALKING ABOUT BOBBY LEE, BOBBY LEE.

HE WILL DO THIS AND DO THAT OTHER, AND GRANT FINALLY TOLD THEM, "I’M TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT BOBBY LEE.

"YOU’D THINK HE WAS GOING TO DO A DOUBLE SOMERSAULT "AND LAND IN OUR REAR.

"QUIT THINKING ABOUT WHAT HE’S GOING TO DO TO YOU "AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO TO HIM.

BRING SOME GUNS UP HERE."

THINGS LIKE THAT.

GRANT’S, UH--HE’S WONDERFUL.

THE WILDERNESS IS PROBABLY NOT THE BLOODIEST BATTLE IN THE WAR, BUT THE MOST TERRIBLE BATTLE IN THE WAR IN MANY WAYS.

GRANT IN TWO DAYS LOSES MORE MEN THAN HOOKER DID--DID AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.

BUT IN THE WILDERNESS, THE LEAVES FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR COVER THE GROUND, AND USING THE TYPE OF WEAPON THEY USED IN THE CIVIL WAR, YOU HAVE LOTS OF LINT AND LINEN SMOLDERING, FALLING INTO THE LEAVES, AND IT WILL SET THESE LEAVES AFIRE, AND MEN WHO’VE BEEN SHOT BADLY THROUGH THE BOWELS, WITH BROKEN LEGS, WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE AS THE FIRE STARTS BURNING TOWARD THEM, AND LARGE NUMBERS OF WOUNDED MEN WILL PERISH IN THE FLAMES.

[FIRE CRACKLING] Narrator: GRANT’S FIRST MOVE HAD BEEN A DISASTER.

THE WILDERNESS HAD COST 17,000 MEN.

THAT NIGHT, BRUSH FIRES RAGED THROUGH THE WOODS.

200 WOUNDED FEDERAL SOLDIERS BURNED ALIVE WHILE THE ENTRENCHED ARMIES LISTENED TO THEIR SCREAMS.

Woman: "I AM HOLDING MY BREATH IN AWE AT THE VASTNESS OF THE SHADOW "THAT FLOATS LIKE A PALL OVER OUR HEADS.

"IT IS COME THAT MAN HAS NO LONGER AN INDIVIDUAL EXISTENCE, BUT IS COUNTED IN THOUSANDS AND MEASURED IN MILES."

CLARA BARTON.

Narrator: IN THE WILDERNESS, SURGEONS AMPUTATED LIMBS WITHOUT LETUP FOR MORE THAN 100 HOURS AND SENT BACK BEHIND THE LINES 2,000 WOUNDED MEN EACH DAY.

Man: "AS A WOUNDED MAN WAS LIFTED ON THE TABLE, "OFTEN SHRIEKING WITH PAIN AS THE ATTENDANTS HANDLED HIM, "THE SURGEON QUICKLY EXAMINED THE WOUND "AND RESOLVED UPON CUTTING OFF THE WOUNDED LIMB.

"SOME ETHER WAS ADMINISTERED.

"THE SURGEON SNATCHED HIS KNIFE FROM BETWEEN HIS TEETH, "WIPED IT RAPIDLY ONCE OR TWICE "ACROSS HIS BLOODSTAINED APRON, "AND THE CUTTING BEGAN.

"THE OPERATION ACCOMPLISHED, "THE SURGEON WOULD LOOK AROUND WITH A DEEP SIGH "AND THEN...

NEXT."

CARL SCHURZ.

Different man: "THE WILDERNESS WAS A USELESS BATTLE FOUGHT WITH GREAT LOSS AND NO RESULT."

WASHINGTON ROEBLING.

GRANT, IN THE WILDERNESS-- AFTER THAT FIRST NIGHT IN THE WILDERNESS-- WENT TO HIS TENT, BROKE DOWN, AND CRIED VERY HARD.

UH, SOME OF THE STAFF MEMBERS SAID THEY’D NEVER SEEN A MAN SO UNSTRUNG, BUT HE DIDN’T CRY UNTIL THE BATTLE WAS OVER, AND HE WASN’T CRYING WHEN IT BEGAN AGAIN NEXT DAY.

[BUGLE BLOWING] Narrator: WHAT WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT GRANT BECAME CLEAR THE NEXT MORNING WHEN HE GAVE THE ORDER TO MARCH.

FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER A DEFEAT, THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC WAS MOVING FORWARD.

Man: "MAY 7.

"IF WE WERE UNDER ANY OTHER GENERAL EXCEPT GRANT, "I SHOULD EXPECT A RETREAT, BUT GRANT IS NOT THAT KIND OF SOLDIER."

ELISHA HUNT RHODES.

[SHOUTING] Narrator: "OUR SPIRITS ROSE," ONE UNION MAN REMEMBERED.

"WE MARCHED FREE.

THE MEN BEGAN TO SING."

"ULYSSES," ANOTHER SOLDIER SAID, "DON’T SCARE WORTH A DAMN."

Man: "GENERAL GRANT IS NOT GOING TO RETREAT.

"HE WILL MOVE HIS ARMY TO SPOTSYLVANIA.

"I’M SO SURE OF HIS NEXT MOVE THAT I HAVE ALREADY MADE ARRANGEMENTS."

HE KNEW WHAT GRANT WAS GOING TO DO BECAUSE HE COULD MAKE HIMSELF GRANT FOR LONG ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT WHAT GRANT WOULD DO IN A SITUATION.

WHEN, UH, THEY FIRED, LET’S SEE, FIVE OR SIX GENERALS BEFORE THEY GOT TO GRANT, AND BY THE TIME THEY LET McCLELLAN GO, LEE SAID, "I’M AFRAID THEY’RE GONNA KEEP MAKING THESE CHANGES UNTIL THEY GET SOMEONE I DON’T UNDERSTAND."

UH, THEY NEVER GOT ANYONE HE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND, BUT, UH, THEY FINALLY GOT GRANT, WHO KNEW HOW TO WHIP HIM AND DID.

Narrator: IN THE FIRST YEARS OF THE WAR, BATTLE WAS BLOODY BUT SPORADIC.

FROM NOW ON, IT WOULD BE WAGED WITHOUT A BREAK.

FROM THE WILDERNESS TO COLD HARBOR, IT WOULD NOT STOP FOR 30 DAYS.

IT WAS, ONE SOLDIER WROTE, "LIVING NIGHT AND DAY WITHIN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH."

Group: OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN... Woman: "MAY 8.

"THE DREADFUL WORK IS BEGINNING AGAIN.

"JOHN L. MILLER, MY COUSIN, "KILLED AT THE HEAD OF HIS REGIMENT.

"THE BLOWS NOW FALL SO FAST ON OUR HEADS, IT IS BEWILDERING."

MARY CHESNUT.

Group: BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

[CANNON FIRE, SHOUTING] Narrator: AT SPOTSYLVANIA, THE TWO ARMIES MAULED EACH OTHER FOR DAYS WITHOUT GAINING GROUND.

IT WAS THE MOST RELENTLESS EXCHANGE OF FIRE IN THE HISTORY OF WARFARE UP TO THAT TIME.

SOME MEN WERE HIT BY SO MANY BULLETS THAT THEIR BODIES FELL APART.

A UNION VETERAN REMEMBERED IT SIMPLY AS "THE MOST TERRIBLE DAY I HAVE EVER LIVED."

Men: "THE ENEMY’S DEAD WERE PILED UPON EACH OTHER "IN FRONT OF THE CAPTURED BREASTWORKS, "IN SOME PLACES FOUR LAYERS DEEP.

"BELOW THE MASS OF FAST-DECAYING CORPSES, "THE CONVULSIVE TWITCHING OF LIMBS SHOWED "THAT THERE WERE WOUNDED MEN STILL ALIVE.

THE PLACE WAS WELL NAMED THE BLOODY ANGLE."

Narrator: THE TWO ARMIES LOST ANOTHER 20,000 MEN.

Man: "MAY 12th, YELLOW TAVERN, VIRGINIA.

GENERAL JEB STUART KILLED."

Narrator: WHEN LEE GOT THE NEWS, HE SAID, "I CAN SCARCELY THINK OF HIM WITHOUT WEEPING."

[HOOFBEATS] [MAN SHOUTS] [HORSE NEIGHS] AGAIN AND AGAIN, LEE ANTICIPATED GRANT, AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, THE UNION COMMANDER SKIRTED SOUTH AND EAST IN A SEMICIRCLE, THE TWO ARMIES LOCKED IN A BRUTAL, CLUMSY STRANGLEHOLD AS THE BATTLE LINES LURCHED TOWARD RICHMOND.

Man: "WE MUST DESTROY THIS ARMY OF GRANT’S "BEFORE HE GETS TO THE JAMES.

"IF HE GETS THERE, IT WILL BECOME A SIEGE, AND THEN IT WILL BE A MERE QUESTION OF TIME."

Different man: "MAY 11th.

"WE HAVE NOW ENDED THE SIXTH DAY OF VERY HEAVY FIGHTING, "AND THE RESULT UP TO THIS TIME IS MUCH IN OUR FAVOR.

"I PROPOSE TO FIGHT IT OUT ON THIS LINE, IF IT TAKES ALL SUMMER."

Narrator: GRANT CONTINUED HIS STUBBORN FLANKING MANEUVERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET AROUND LEE’S RIGHT AND MOVE ON RICHMOND.

[EXPLOSIONS] HE DID IT WITH SUPERIOR NUMBERS AND DOGGEDNESS, KEPT GOING, MOVE BY THE LEFT FLANK, MOVE BY THE LEFT FLANK, MOVE BY THE LEFT FLANK, AND LEE’S BACKING UP THE WHOLE TIME, LOSING MEN THAT HE COULDN’T REPLACE.

Man: "MAY 15, 1864.

"DEAR EMILY, THE PAPERS MUST HAVE TOLD YOU "THAT WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING A LITTLE.

"OUR CORPS HAS ONLY 12,000 LEFT OUT OF 27,000.

"UNCLE ROBERT E. LEE ISN’T LICKED YET BY A LONG SHOT, "AND IF WE ARE NOT MIGHTY CAREFUL, HE’LL BEAT US.

"I THINK WE HAVE DONE VERY WELL TO AVOID THAT FATE SO FAR.

"TOMORROW WE HAVE ANOTHER BATTLE.

I DON’T THINK IT WILL AMOUNT TO MUCH."

WASHINGTON ROEBLING.

Narrator: GRANT AND LEE NOW RACED FOR A CROSSROADS CALLED COLD HARBOR NEAR THE CHICKAHOMINY RIVER.

AGAIN, LEE GOT THERE FIRST AND ORDERED HIS MEN TO DIG IN AND PREPARE FOR THE ALL-OUT ASSAULT HE KNEW WOULD FOLLOW.

AS THEY SETTLED DOWN FOR THE NIGHT ON JUNE 2nd, VETERANS ON THE UNION SIDE SENSED WHAT WAS COMING.

Man: "THE MEN WERE CALMLY WRITING THEIR NAMES AND HOME ADDRESSES "ON SLIPS OF PAPER "AND PINNING THEM TO THE BACKS OF THEIR COATS "SO THAT THEIR BODIES MIGHT BE RECOGNIZED AND THEIR FATE MADE KNOWN TO THEIR FAMILIES AT HOME."

GENERAL HORACE PORTER.

[BUGLE BLOWING] Narrator: WHEN THE BUGLES BLEW FOR THE ATTACK AT 4:30 A.M., 60,000 UNION MEN STARTED TOWARD THE UNSEEN ENEMY.

THE BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR HAD BEGUN.

[CANNON FIRE] Man: "I HAD SEEN THE DREADFUL CARNAGE IN FRONT OF MARYE’S HILL "AT FREDERICKSBURG, "BUT I HAD SEEN NOTHING TO EXCEED THIS.

IT WAS NOT WAR.

IT WAS MURDER."

Foote: THOSE WERE MEN WHO KNEW HOW TO TAKE A POSITION WHERE YOU COULD DO THE MOST KILLING FROM.

WHEN THAT WHOLE ARMY WAS LINED UP, THEY’RE WAITING AND HOPING AND PRAYING SOMETHING WOULD COME AT THEM, AND GRANT THREW THREE CORPS AT THEM, AND IN APPROXIMATELY 7 MINUTES, THEY SHOT ABOUT 7,000 MEN DOWN.

IT WAS A BLOODY MESS.

IT’S THE ONLY THING GRANT EVER ADMITTED THAT HE’D DONE WRONG.

Man: "I’VE ALWAYS REGRETTED "THAT THE LAST ASSAULT AT COLD HARBOR WAS EVER MADE.

"NO ADVANTAGE WHATEVER WAS GAINED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE HEAVY LOSS WE SUSTAINED."

Narrator: WHEN ANOTHER ASSAULT WAS SUGGESTED, UNION OFFICERS REJECTED THE IDEA OUTRIGHT.

"I WILL NOT TAKE MY REGIMENT IN ANOTHER SUCH CHARGE," SAID A NEW HAMPSHIRE CAPTAIN, "IF JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF SHOULD ORDER IT."

AFTER THE BATTLE, THE DIARY OF A YOUNG MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER WAS FOUND SPATTERED WITH BLOOD.

ITS LAST ENTRY READ, "JUNE 3, 1864, COLD HARBOR, VIRGINIA.

I WAS KILLED."

Man: "OUR MATTERS HERE ARE AT A DEADLOCK.

"UNLESS THE REBS COMMIT SOME GREAT ERROR, "THEY WILL HOLD US IN CHECK UNTIL KINGDOM COME.

"WE ARE THOROUGHLY TIRED AND DISGUSTED.

"THESE TWO ARMIES REMIND ME VERY MUCH OF TWO SCHOOLBOYS "TRYING TO STARE EACH OTHER OUT OF COUNTENANCE.

"EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IF LEE WERE TO COME OUT OF HIS TRENCHMENTS, "WE COULD WHIP HIM, BUT BOB LEE IS A LITTLE TOO SMART FOR US."

WASHINGTON ROEBLING.

Narrator: FROM THE WILDERNESS TO COLD HARBOR, IN A SINGLE MONTH, THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC HAD LOST 50,000 MEN, HALF AS MANY AS IT HAD LOST IN THREE YEARS OF STRUGGLE.

Man: "JUNE 5, 1864.

"OUR PEOPLE LOST VERY SEVERELY YESTERDAY.

"IN EVERY CALCULATION THAT WE MAKE, "WE MAKE OURSELVES OUT TO BE 20,000 MEN STRONGER, "YET IN EVERY FIGHT, THEY SHOW AS MANY MEN AS WE HAVE, "AND THEY ALWAYS SHOW AS LONG A LINE AS WE DO "NO MATTER HOW LONG WE MAKE OURS.

"JUNE 7, 1864.

"ANOTHER ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS IN THE ARMY "HAS BEEN KILLED.

ONE GOES AFTER THE OTHER WITH PERFECT REGULARITY."

Woman: "GRANT DOESN’T CARE A SNAP IF MEN FALL LIKE THE LEAVES FALL.

"HE FIGHTS TO WIN, THAT CHAP DOES.

"HE HAS THE DISAGREEABLE HABIT OF NOT RETREATING BEFORE IRRESISTIBLE VETERANS."

MARY CHESNUT.

Man: "HE KEEPS HIS OWN COUNSEL, PADLOCKS HIS MOUTH, "WHILE HIS COUNTENANCE INDICATES NOTHING-- "THAT IS, GIVES NO EXPRESSION OF HIS FEELINGS "AND NO EVIDENCE OF HIS INTENTIONS.

"HE SMOKES ALMOST CONSTANTLY "AND HAS A HABIT OF WHITTLING WITH A SMALL KNIFE, "CUTTING A SMALL STICK INTO SMALL CHIPS, MAKING NOTHING."

Woman: "GRANT IS A BUTCHER "AND NOT FIT TO BE AT THE HEAD OF AN ARMY.

"HE LOSES TWO MEN TO THE ENEMY’S ONE.

"HE HAS NO MANAGEMENT, NO REGARD FOR LIFE.

I COULD FIGHT AN ARMY AS WELL MYSELF."

MARY LINCOLN.

Narrator: WHEN SEVERAL OF LEE’S OFFICERS DENOUNCED GRANT AS A BUTCHER, LEE QUIETED THEM.

"I THINK GRANT HAS MANAGED HIS AFFAIRS REMARKABLY WELL UP TO THE PRESENT TIME," HE SAID.

GRANT KEPT MOVING.

HE SLIPPED HIS ARMY OUT OF HIS TRENCHES, CROSSED THE CHICKAHOMINY, FEINTED TOWARD RICHMOND, THEN SHIFTED LEFT AGAIN TO THE JAMES RIVER.

HIS TARGET NOW WAS PETERSBURG-- SOUTH OF THE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL-- WHERE HE HOPED TO CUT OFF LEE’S SUPPLIES AND DESTROY THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, LEE MISJUDGED GRANT’S INTENTIONS, RUSHING MUCH OF HIS ARMY TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF RICHMOND TO MEET AN ATTACK GRANT DID NOT PLAN TO MAKE.

INSTEAD, UNION ENGINEERS LAID A PONTOON BRIDGE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE JAMES IN JUST EIGHT HOURS.

ON JUNE 12th, THE MASSIVE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC BEGAN TO CROSS.

IT TOOK FOUR DAYS.

[HOOFBEATS] Man: "GENERAL GRANT, I BEGIN TO SEE IT.

"YOU WILL SUCCEED.

"GOD BLESS YOU.

A.

LINCOLN."

Narrator: 16,000 UNION TROOPS UNDER GENERAL WILLIAM SMITH WERE THE FIRST TO REACH PETERSBURG.

THE CITY WAS DEFENDED BY FEWER THAN 3,000 CONFEDERATES UNDER GENERAL BEAUREGARD.

[CANNON FIRE] SMITH MOVED SLOWLY TO THE ATTACK.

REINFORCEMENTS INTENDED TO AID HIM GOT LOST ON THE WAY.

STILL, HIS LATE-AFTERNOON ASSAULT MADE PROGRESS.

WHEN NIGHT FELL, PETERSBURG SEEMED WITHIN THE UNION’S GRASP.

GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK URGED A MOONLIGHT ASSAULT, BUT SMITH BEGGED OFF, REMEMBERING COLD HARBOR.

DURING THE NIGHT, CONFEDERATE REINFORCEMENTS WERE BROUGHT UP.

THE OPPORTUNITY WAS GONE.

Man: "THE RAGE OF THE ENLISTED MEN WAS DEVILISH.

"THE MOST BLOODCURDLING BLASPHEMY I EVER LISTENED TO I HEARD THAT NIGHT."

Narrator: IN JUST SIX WEEKS, GRANT AND LEE HAD ALL BUT CRIPPLED EACH OTHER, AND NOW BOTH ARMIES DUG IN FOR A SIEGE.

THE BURROWING WOULD GO ON FOR 10 MONTHS.

THE MEN LIVED IN A 20-MILE LABYRINTH OF TRENCHES, PLAGUED BY FLIES, OPEN TO RAIN AND THE FIERCE VIRGINIA SUN, AND EXPOSED TO SHELL AND MORTAR FIRE.

Man: "NOTHING FOR EXCITEMENT "EXCEPT THAT A FEW WERE PICKED OFF BY SHARPSHOOTERS.

"A FEELING PREVAILS THAT SOONER OR LATER, THIS EXPERIENCE WILL BEFALL US ALL."

PRIVATE JOHN W. HALEY.

Man: FIRE!

[GUNFIRE] Narrator: COLONEL JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN, ONE OF THE HEROES OF GETTYSBURG, LED HIS REGIMENT IN AN ASSAULT ON PETERSBURG.

AS HE TURNED TO RALLY HIS MEN, A BULLET SMASHED THROUGH HIS PELVIS, SEVERED ARTERIES, NICKED HIS BLADDER.

HE STAYED ON HIS FEET, LEANING ON HIS SWORD WITH ONE HAND AND WAVING HIS MEN ON WITH THE OTHER UNTIL THEY HAD ALL PASSED HIM BY.

THEN HE SANK TO THE GROUND.

DOCTORS DID NOT EXPECT HIM TO LIVE.

IN TRIBUTE TO HIS COURAGE, GRANT PROMOTED HIM ON THE FIELD TO BRIGADIER GENERAL.

CHAMBERLAIN’S OBITUARY APPEARED IN THE NEWSPAPERS THE NEXT DAY.

Foote: PETERSBURG IS A MAGNIFICENT SALUTE TO THE DURABILITY OF MEN ON BOTH SIDES.

UH, IT WAS JUST-- IT WAS A REHEARSAL FOR WORLD WAR I TRENCH WARFARE, AND THEY STOOD UP VERY WELL TO IT, BUT THE SOLDIERS ALWAYS DID IN THAT WAR.

THEY WERE--IT’S, TO US, AN ALMOST INCREDIBLE BRAVERY, CONSIDERING THE CASUALTIES.

Man: "JUNE 23, 1864.

"THE DEMAND DOWN HERE FOR KILLING PURPOSES "IS FAR AHEAD OF THE SUPPLY.

"THANK GOD, HOWEVER, FOR THE CONSOLATION "THAT WHEN THE LAST MAN IS KILLED, THE WAR WILL BE OVER.

"THIS WAR, YOU KNOW, DIFFERS FROM ALL PREVIOUS WARS "IN HAVING NO OBJECT TO FIGHT FOR.

"IT CAN’T BE FINISHED "UNTIL ALL THE MEN ON EITHER THE ONE SIDE "OR THE OTHER ARE KILLED.

"BOTH SIDES ARE TRYING TO DO THAT AS FAST AS THEY CAN "BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A PITY TO SPIN THIS AFFAIR OUT FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS LONGER."

WASHINGTON ROEBLING.

Woman: "DEAR HENRY, "I FEEL MORE LONELY AND SAD THAN I HAVE BEEN IN SOME TIME.

"OH, THAT I KNEW WHAT THE TERMINATION OF THIS AWFUL CONFLICT WOULD BE."

"HENRY, I WANT TO SEE YOU, BUT DON’T YOU COME.

"JOIN FOR THE WAR IF ’TIS 40 YEARS.

"IF YOU GET KILLED, ’TIS THE MOST HONORABLE DEATH.

"IF YOU ESCAPE, I WILL REJOICE.

I LOVE THEE STILL."

MOLLIE VANDERBERG.

Man: "OUR BLEEDING, BANKRUPT, ALMOST DYING COUNTRY "LONGS FOR PEACE, "SHUDDERS AT THE PROSPECT OF FURTHER WHOLESALE DEVASTATION, OF NEW RIVERS OF HUMAN BLOOD."

HORACE GREELEY.

Different man: "AT NIGHT, MY WARD BECAME "LIKE THE DIM CAVERNS OF THE CATACOMBS, "WHERE, INSTEAD OF THE DEAD IN THEIR FINAL REST, "THERE WERE WASTED FIGURES BURNING WITH FEVER "AND RAVING FROM THE AGONY OF SPLINTERED BONES, "TOSSING RESTLESSLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE "WITH EVERY ILL, IT SEEMED, WHICH HUMAN FLESH WAS HEIR TO.

"FROM THE RAFTERS, "THE FLICKERING OIL LAMP SWUNG MOURNFULLY, CASTING A GHASTLY LIGHT."

PRIVATE ALEXANDER HUNTER, 17th VIRGINIA.

Narrator: WHEN THE WAR BEGAN, THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL OF ARMY HOSPITALS IN THE NORTH.

WHEN IT ENDED, THE UNION WAS RUNNING MORE THAN 350, THE CONFEDERACY, 154.

THERE WERE 16 HOSPITALS IN WASHINGTON ALONE.

WHEN THESE PROVED INSUFFICIENT, MEN WERE CARED FOR IN THE PATENT OFFICE, EVEN IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE CHAMBERS.

HOSPITALS WERE GIANT WAREHOUSES FOR THE DYING.

THE BIGGEST AND BEST, NORTH OR SOUTH, WAS CHIMBORAZO AT RICHMOND, WITH 8,000 BEDS, FIVE SOUP KITCHENS, ICEHOUSES, DAIRY CATTLE, A HERD OF GOATS, A BAKERY THAT TURNED OUT 10,000 LOAVES OF BREAD A DAY, AND A 400-KEG BREWERY.

Man: "AROUS’D AND ANGRY, "I’D THOUGHT TO BEAT THE ALARUM, "AND URGE RELENTLESS WAR.

"BUT SOON MY FINGERS FAIL’D ME, "MY FACE DROOP’D AND I RESIGN’D MYSELF "TO SIT BY THE WOUNDED AND SOOTHE THEM, OR SILENTLY WATCH THE DEAD."

WALT WHITMAN.

Narrator: WALT WHITMAN WAS TOO OLD FOR THE RANKS, NOT QUALIFIED TO BE AN OFFICER, NOT ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT "FIRING A GUN OR DRAWING A SWORD ON ANOTHER MAN," BUT WHEN HIS YOUNGER BROTHER WAS WOUNDED AT ANTIETAM, AND WHITMAN WENT TO FIND HIM IN THE HOSPITAL, HE WAS APPALLED BY WHAT HE SAW.

HE MOVED TO WASHINGTON TO HELP WITH THE WOUNDED, GIVING OUT SMALL GIFTS, CHANGING DRESSINGS, AND RECITING HIS POETRY.

Man: "THE DOCTORS TELL ME "I SUPPLY THE PATIENTS WITH A MEDICINE "WHICH ALL THEIR DRUGS AND BOTTLES AND POWDERS "ARE HELPLESS TO YIELD.

"IT HAS SAVED MORE THAN ONE LIFE, "SO I GO AROUND.

SOME OF MY BOYS DIE.

SOME GET WELL."

Woman: "NO WOMAN UNDER 30 YEARS NEED APPLY TO SERVE "IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.

"ALL NURSES ARE REQUIRED TO BE VERY PLAIN-LOOKING WOMEN.

"THEIR DRESSES MUST BE BROWN OR BLACK, "WITH NO BOWS, NO CURLS, NO JEWELRY, AND NO HOOP SKIRTS."

DOROTHEA DIX.

Narrator: EARLY IN THE WAR, DOROTHEA DIX VOLUNTEERED HER SERVICES TO THE UNION.

THE 59-YEAR-OLD CRUSADER FOR THE MENTALLY ILL WAS PUT IN CHARGE OF ALL WOMEN NURSES EMPLOYED BY THE ARMIES.

TIRELESS, AND SO AUTOCRATIC ONE WOMAN CALLED HER "DRAGON DIX," SHE BARRED ANY APPLICANT SHE THOUGHT INTERESTED IN ROMANTIC ADVENTURE.

EVEN NUNS WERE SOMETIMES TURNED DOWN.

BY THE END OF THE WAR, THOUGH, THE ONLY QUESTION SHE ASKED POTENTIAL RECRUITS WAS "WHEN CAN YOU START?"

UNDER HER STRICT GUIDANCE, CARE FOR THE SICK AND WOUNDED WAS VASTLY IMPROVED.

DESPITE THE BITTER CRITICISM AND PETTY RIVALRY OF MALE COLLEAGUES, SHE STAYED AT HER POST FOR ALL FOUR YEARS-- THE ENTIRE WAR-- WITHOUT PAY.

Woman: "ARMY SQUARE HOSPITAL.

"I AM LEARNING NOT TO LET MYSELF FEEL "AS MUCH AS I DID AT FIRST, YET I NEVER CAN GET USED TO IT."

HARRIET FOOTE HAWLEY.

Foote: "THEY WOULD SEE THAT THE DOCTOR GAVE THEM UP "AND WOULD ASK ME ABOUT IT.

"I WOULD TELL THEM THE TRUTH.

"I TOLD ONE MAN THAT, AND HE ASKED, HOW LONG?

"I SAID, NOT OVER 20 MINUTES.

"HE DID NOT SHOW ANY FEAR.

THEY NEVER DO.

"HE PUT HIS HAND UP SLOW "AND CLOSED HIS EYES WITH HIS OWN FINGERS, "AND STRETCHED HIMSELF OUT "AND CROSSED HIS ARMS OVER HIS BREAST.

"NOW, FIX ME, HE SAID.

"I PINNED THE TOES OF HIS STOCKINGS TOGETHER.

"THAT WAS THE WAY WE LAID CORPSES OUT, "AND HE DIED IN A FEW MINUTES.

"HIS FACE LOOKED AS PLEASANT AS IF HE WAS ASLEEP, "AND MANY IS THE TIME THE BOYS WOULD FIX THEMSELVES THAT WAY BEFORE THEY DIED."

Man: "LORENZO STRONG, COMPANY A, 9th UNITED STATES CAVALRY.

"SHOT BY A SHELL LAST SUNDAY.

"RIGHT LEG AMPUTATED ON THE FIELD.

"TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE.

"I STAYED AND SAW ALL.

"THE DOCTOR COMES IN AND GIVES HIM A LITTLE CHLOROFORM.

"ONE OF THE NURSES CONSTANTLY FANS HIM, "FOR IT IS FEARFULLY HOT.

"HE ASKS TO BE RAISED UP, "AND THEY PUT HIM IN A HALF-SITTING POSTURE.

"HE CALLED FOR MARK REPEATEDLY, "HALF DELIRIOUSLY, ALL DAY.

"LIFE EBBS, RUNS NOW WITH THE SPEED OF A MILLRACE.

"HIS EYES TURNED BACK.

"A CROWD, INCLUDING TWO OR THREE DOCTORS, "SEVERAL STUDENTS, AND MANY SOLDIERS, "HAS SILENTLY GATHERED.

"THE STRUGGLE GOES ON AND DWINDLES "A LITTLE MORE AND A LITTLE MORE, "AND THEN WELCOME OBLIVION, "PAINLESSNESS, DEATH.

"A PAUSE.

THE CROWD DROPS AWAY."

"JUNE 17, 1864.

"DEAREST MOTHER, "THIS PLACE SEEMS TO HAVE GOT THE BETTER OF ME.

I THINK I SHALL COME HOME FOR A SHORT TIME."

Different man: "I THINK I UNDERSTAND "THE PURPOSE OF THE SOUTH PROPERLY "AND THAT THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THEM "IS TO MEET THEM FAIR AND SQUARE ON ANY ISSUE.

"WE MUST FIGHT THEM, CUT INTO THEM, "NOT TALK TO THEM, AND PURSUE TILL THEY CRY ENOUGH.

"WAR IS THE REMEDY OUR ENEMIES HAVE CHOSEN, AND I SAY LET US GIVE THEM ALL THEY WANT."

WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN.

Narrator: ON THE SAME DAY THAT GRANT STEPPED OFF INTO THE WILDERNESS, SHERMAN’S GRAND ARMY OF THE WEST MOVED SOUTH FROM CHATTANOOGA TOWARDS ATLANTA, 100 MILES AWAY.

WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN AND ULYSSES S. GRANT HAD SURVIVED HARD TIMES TOGETHER.

THEIR FRIENDSHIP HAD BEEN FORGED IN KENTUCKY WHEN SHERMAN HAD COME CLOSE TO BREAKING DOWN, PERSUADED THE WAR WOULD NEVER END.

Man: "GRANT STOOD BY ME WHEN I WAS CRAZY, "AND I STOOD BY HIM WHEN HE WAS DRUNK, AND NOW WE STAND BY EACH OTHER ALWAYS."

Narrator: SHERMAN WAS AN ORPHAN AND HAD GRADUATED SIXTH IN HIS CLASS AT WEST POINT WHEN HE WAS ONLY 20.

TALL AND RED-HAIRED, INTELLIGENT AND IRRITABLE, HE WORE SHOES RATHER THAN MILITARY BOOTS, SLEPT LITTLE, AND TALKED A LOT.

"BOILING OVER WITH IDEAS," A FRIEND SAID.

Man: "HE WAS ALWAYS TOO BUSY TO EAT MUCH.

"HE TALKED AND SMOKED CIGARS INCESSANTLY, "GIVING ORDERS, DICTATING TELEGRAMS, BRIGHT AND CHIPPER."

Narrator: HE HATED POLITICIANS, PROFITEERS, SENTIMENTALISTS.

ABOVE ALL, HE HATED REPORTERS, WHOM HE CONSIDERED WORSE THAN SPIES BECAUSE THEY PRINTED MILITARY SECRETS JUST TO SELL NEWSPAPERS.

Man: "THESE DIRTY NEWSPAPER SCRIBBLERS "HAVE THE IMPUDENCE OF SATAN.

"THEY COME INTO CAMP, POKE ABOUT AMONG THE LAZY SHIRKS, "AND PICK UP THEIR CAMP RUMORS AND PUBLISH THEM AS FACTS.

"THEY ARE A PEST, AND I TREAT THEM AS SPIES, WHICH, IN TRUTH, THEY ARE."

Narrator: HE WAS CONVINCED IF HE KILLED THEM ALL, THERE WOULD BE NEWS FROM HELL BEFORE BREAKFAST.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS CALLED HIM "CUMP."

HIS MEN CALLED HIM "UNCLE BILLY."

HE WAS RUTHLESS IN WAR.

NOW GRANT ENTRUSTED HIS FRIEND WITH THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT PART OF HIS GRAND STRATEGY-- TO SEIZE ATLANTA AND SMASH THE COMBINED CONFEDERATE ARMIES OF TENNESSEE AND MISSISSIPPI UNDER JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON.

IN WASHINGTON, LINCOLN’S CHANCES FOR REELECTION WERE SLIM.

"I’M GOING TO BE BEATEN," LINCOLN WROTE THAT SUMMER, "AND UNLESS SOME GREAT CHANGE TAKES PLACE, BADLY BEATEN."

WITH GRANT STALLED AT PETERSBURG, SHERMAN HAD TO WIN.

[DRUMS BEATING] SHERMAN HAD SURVEYED PARTS OF GEORGIA AS A YOUNG LIEUTENANT.

"I KNEW GEORGIA BETTER THAN THE REBELS DID," HE WROTE.

HE KNEW THE FIGHTING THERE WOULD BE SCATTERED AND SPORADIC, "A BIG INDIAN WAR," HE CALLED IT.

JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, THE CONFEDERATE COMMANDER WHO NOW FACED SHERMAN, WAS HEARTILY DISLIKED BY PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS, BUT HE WAS VERY NEARLY WORSHIPED BY HIS MEN.

Man: "I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS A SOLDIER IN HIS ARMY "BUT WOULD GLADLY HAVE DIED FOR HIM.

"WITH HIM, EVERYTHING WAS HIS SOLDIERS.

HE WOULD FEED HIS SOLDIERS IF THE COUNTRY STARVED."

SAM WATKINS.

Narrator: OUTGUNNED, OUTSUPPLIED, AND OUTNUMBERED ALMOST 2 TO 1, JOSEPH JOHNSTON COULD ONLY HOPE TO SLOW SHERMAN’S ADVANCE AND PERHAPS LURE HIM INTO MAKING THE KIND OF DOOMED FRONTAL ATTACK THAT WOULD HELP SWING THE ELECTION AGAINST LINCOLN.

[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS] BUT SHERMAN’S ADVANCE WAS A MASTERPIECE OF PLANNING.

IN A MATTER OF HOURS, HIS ENGINEERS REPLACED BURNED BRIDGES AND REPAIRED RIPPED UP RAIL LINES.

WHEN NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST’S RAIDERS COLLAPSED A TUNNEL IN SHERMAN’S REAR, ONE WEARY SOUTHERN PRIVATE WAS NOT IMPRESSED.

"SHERMAN," HE SAID, "PROBABLY CARRIED A SPARE TUNNEL WITH HIM."

[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS] [CANNON FIRES] SLOWLY, RELENTLESSLY, HE FORCED JOHNSTON OUT OF DALTON... [BOOM] RESACA... [BOOM] CASSVILLE... [BOOM] ALLATOONA... [BOOM] NEW HOPE CHURCH.

[BOOM] A SURRENDERING CONFEDERATE TOLD HIS CAPTORS, "SHERMAN WILL NEVER GO TO HELL.

HE’LL FLANK THE DEVIL AND MAKE HEAVEN IN SPITE OF THE GUARDS."

Man: "JUNE 14th.

"WE KILLED GENERAL POLK YESTERDAY AND MADE GOOD PROGRESS TODAY."

WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN.

Narrator: AT KENNESAW MOUNTAIN, NORTH OF ATLANTA, THE CONFEDERATES DUG IN.

ON JUNE 27th, 13,000 UNION MEN STORMED UP THE MOUNTAIN AND WERE HURLED BACK.

THE FEDERALS "SEEMED TO WALK UP AND TAKE DEATH," A SOUTHERNER REMEMBERED, "AS COOLLY AS IF THEY WERE AUTOMATIC OR WOODEN MEN."

Man: "I’VE HEARD MEN SAY THAT IF THEY EVER KILLED A YANKEE "DURING THE WAR, THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF IT.

"I AM SATISFIED THAT ON THIS MEMORABLE DAY "EVERY MAN IN OUR REGIMENT KILLED FROM 20 TO 100 EACH.

ALL THAT WAS NECESSARY WAS TO LOAD AND SHOOT."

Narrator: THE UNION LOST 3,000 MEN, THE CONFEDERATES, ONLY 750.

"ONE OR TWO MORE SUCH ASSAULTS," AN AIDE WARNED SHERMAN, "WOULD USE UP THIS ARMY."

SHERMAN NEVER ADMITTED HE HAD MADE A MISTAKE AT KENNESAW MOUNTAIN, BUT HE NEVER REPEATED IT EITHER.

RELUCTANTLY, HE RETURNED TO HIS SLOW FLANKING MANEUVERS, FORCING JOHNSTON BACK TO WITHIN SIGHT OF ATLANTA ITSELF, BUT THERE, HE STALLED, JUST LIKE GRANT.

TWO MONTHS OF RELENTLESS FIGHTING HAD RESULTED IN IDENTICAL STALEMATES.

SHERMAN WAS STOPPED NORTH OF ATLANTA.

GRANT AND LEE WERE DEADLOCKED OUTSIDE PETERSBURG.

WITHOUT A DECISIVE VICTORY SOMEWHERE, ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS SURE TO LOSE THE FALL ELECTION.

TIME WAS RUNNING OUT.

Man: "MISS KITTY DIGGS, "I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT MARY IS MY CHILD, "AND SHE IS A GOD-GIVEN RIGHT OF MY OWN, "AND YOU MAY HOLD ON TO HER AS LONG AS YOU CAN, "BUT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THIS ONE THING-- "THAT THE LONGER YOU KEEP MY CHILD FROM ME, "THE LONGER YOU WILL HAVE TO BURN IN HELL "AND THE QUICKER YOU WILL GET THERE.

"I HAVE NO FEARS ABOUT GETTING MARY OUT OF YOUR HANDS.

"THIS WHOLE GOVERNMENT GIVES CHEER TO ME, AND YOU CANNOT HELP YOURSELF."

SPOTSWOOD RICE.

[HOOFBEATS] MAN: "I REQUIRE ABLE-BODIED MEN WITH GOOD HORSE AND GUN.

"I WISH NONE BUT THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED.

"COME ON, BOYS, IF YOU WANT A HEAP OF FUN AND TO KILL SOME YANKEES."

NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST.

BEDFORD FORREST’S GRANDDAUGHTER LIVED HERE IN MEMPHIS.

SHE RECENTLY DIED, AND I GOT TO KNOW HER, AND SHE EVEN LET ME SWING THE GENERAL’S SABER AROUND MY HEAD ONCE, WHICH WAS A GREAT TREAT, AND I HAD THOUGHT A LONG TIME, AND I CALLED HER AND SAID, "I THINK THE WAR PRODUCED TWO AUTHENTIC GENIUSES.

"ONE OF THEM WAS YOUR GRANDFATHER, AND THE OTHER WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN."

AND THERE WAS A SILENCE AT THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE, AND SHE SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW, IN OUR FAMILY, WE NEVER THOUGHT MUCH OF MR.

LINCOLN."

SHE DIDN’T LIKE MY COUPLING HER GRANDFATHER WITH ABRAHAM LINCOLN ALL THESE YEARS LATER.

SOUTHERNERS ARE VERY STRANGE ABOUT THAT WAR.

NARRATOR: THERE WAS FIGHTING ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY-- AT THE SABINE CROSSROADS NEAR THE TEXAS-LOUISIANA BORDER AND DOWN THE RED RIVER, ON THE LITTLE BLUE IN MISSOURI, AT POISON SPRING AND JENKINS FERRY IN ARKANSAS, AND FAR OUT IN INDIAN TERRITORY.

BY THE SUMMER OF 1864, THE UNION INITIATIVE HAD GROUND TO A HALT.

DESPITE ITS POWERFUL INDUSTRIAL MACHINE, DESPITE INCREASING HARDSHIPS FOR THE SOUTH, THE NORTH WAS LOSING CONTROL OF THE WAR.

AS THE CASUALTY LISTS GREW LONGER, OPPOSITION TO THE WAR INCREASED.

WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN LOOMING, ABRAHAM LINCOLN NOW KNEW HE WOULD HAVE TO DO SOMETHING THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE-- SUBMIT TO A POPULAR ELECTION DURING CIVIL WAR AND WIN IT.

"THE STRUGGLE WITHIN AND WITHOUT," AN ADVISOR TOLD LINCOLN, "IS FOR OUR NATIONAL EXISTENCE."

AT PETERSBURG, ROBERT E. LEE’S ENTRENCHED ARMY CONTINUED TO RESIST ULYSSES S. GRANT’S TWO-MONTH-OLD SIEGE.

TO END THE STALEMATE, UNION TROOPS WERE DIGGING DEEP BENEATH THE CONFEDERATE LINES.

NORTH OF ATLANTA, WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN WOULD HAVE TO BLAST THROUGH AN IMPENETRABLE SYSTEM OF TRENCHES, BREASTWORKS, AND PARAPETS TO TAKE THE CITY, IF HE EVER GOT THERE.

THAT SUMMER, IN THE SWELTERING MISSISSIPPI HEAT, CONFEDERATE GENERAL NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST WOULD CEMENT HIS REPUTATION AS THE MOST TERRIFYING CAVALRY COMMANDER OF THE WAR.

MEANWHILE, IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, A DIMINUTIVE UNION GENERAL, PHIL SHERIDAN, WOULD GLEEFULLY WRECK EVERY FARM AND VILLAGE HE COULD LAY HIS HANDS ON, WHILE IN RICHMOND, JEFFERSON DAVIS STRUGGLED DESPERATELY TO KEEP THE IDEA OF THE CONFEDERACY ALIVE.

AT THE END OF THE YEAR, UNION QUARTERMASTER GENERAL MONTGOMERY MEIGS WOULD LOSE A SON AND BRING HIS GRIEF TO THE DOORSTEP OF ROBERT E. LEE.

BY THE SUMMER OF 1864, PEOPLE COULD HARDLY REMEMBER THAT THERE HAD EVER BEEN A TIME WITHOUT WAR, AND MANY DID NOT BELIEVE IT WOULD EVER END.

[CANNON FIRE] MAN: "DEAR MR. PRESIDENT, "THE TIDE IS SETTING STRONGLY AGAINST US.

"TWO SPECIAL CAUSES ARE ASSIGNED "TO THIS GREAT REACTION IN PUBLIC SENTIMENT-- "THE WANT OF MILITARY SUCCESS AT PETERSBURG AND ATLANTA "AND THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE FIGHTING, NOT FOR UNION, BUT FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY."

HENRY RAYMOND, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.

NARRATOR: THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG WENT ON.

MORALE HAD NEVER BEEN LOWER.

"WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE WARS LIKE THIS AGAIN," ONE UNION SOLDIER SAID.

IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS, FROM THE WILDERNESS TO SPOTSYLVANIA, COLD HARBOR TO PETERSBURG, GRANT HAD NEARLY DESTROYED HIS ARMY.

"THE PEOPLE ARE WILD FOR PEACE," A NEWSPAPER REPORTED.

"LINCOLN’S RE-ELECTION IS AN IMPOSSIBILITY."

[CANNON FIRES] NEVERTHELESS, 140,000 SOLDIERS RE-ENLISTED IN THE UNION ARMY.

PRIDE AND PATRIOTISM HAD MUCH TO DO WITH IT AND A DESIRE TO SEE THE THING THROUGH, BUT SO DID THE PROMISE OF A MONTH’S FURLOUGH.

"3 MORE YEARS OF HELL," WROTE ONE SOLDIER, "IN EXCHANGE FOR 30 DAYS OF HEAVEN--HOME."

MAN: HARPER’S WEEKLY.

"THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN "WHICH ENDS IN THE ELECTION OF THE 8th OF NOVEMBER "DECIDES THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION IN HISTORY.

"IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE FATE OF REPUBLICS "TO BE DESTROYED BY FACTION.

"THAT FEAR IS NOW ABOUT TO BE CONFIRMED OR DISSIPATED FOREVER."

NARRATOR: THE KEY, EVERYONE KNEW, WAS ATLANTA.

IF SHERMAN COULD REACH THE RAILROAD HUB OF THE SOUTH, THE WAR MIGHT END AT LAST, BUT IT WAS THE STALEMATE IN VIRGINIA THAT CONCERNED LINCOLN NOW.

[CANNON FIRE] MAN: "JULY 4, 1864, "THE GLORIOUS FOURTH HAS COME AGAIN, "AND WE HAVE HAD QUITE A CELEBRATION "WITH GUNS FIRING SHOT AND SHELL "INTO PETERSBURG TO REMIND THEM OF THE DAY.

"THIS DAY MAKES 4 FOURTH OF JULYs "THAT I HAVE PASSED IN THE ARMY, "THE FIRST AT CAMP CLARK, "THE SECOND AT HARRISON’S LANDING, "THE THIRD AT GETTYSBURG, AND TODAY AT PETERSBURG.

"I HAD A PARTY OF OFFICERS TO DINE WITH ME.

"THIS WAS OUR BILL OF FARE-- "STEWED OYSTERS, CANNED, ROAST TURKEY, CANNED, "BREAD PUDDING, TAPIOCA PUDDING, "APPLE PIE MADE IN CAMP, LEMONADE, CIGARS."

"TOMORROW, IF WE MARCH, HARDTACK AND SALT PORK WILL BE OUR FARE."

ELISHA HUNT RHODES.

MAN: "THE ENEMY THROW A NUMBER OF SHELLS DAILY INTO PETERSBURG, "BUT THEY DO LITTLE DAMAGE.

"THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN SEEM NOT TO MIND THEM AT ALL.

"ON ONE STREET YESTERDAY WHERE SUCH A NUMBER OF SHELLS BURST "THAT I WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED IT A WARM PLACE IN THE FIELD, "WOMEN WERE PASSING ABOUT WITH LITTLE CONCERN, "DODGING AROUND A CORNER WHEN THEY HEARD A SHELL COMING "OR PUTTING THEIR HEADS OUT OF THEIR WINDOWS "TO SEE WHAT DAMAGE THEY’D DONE.

"A LADY YESTERDAY SENT WARDLAW AND MYSELF SOME ICE CREAM AND CAKES."

HARRY HAMMOND.

[BUGLE SOUNDING] NARRATOR: TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON PETERSBURG, LEE SENT 10,000 MEN NORTH TO PUSH UNION TROOPS OUT OF THE SHENANDOAH AND HARASS WASHINGTON ITSELF.

IN CHARGE OF THE SOUTHERN FORCES WAS A RUTHLESS CONFEDERATE GENERAL NAMED JUBAL EARLY.

EARLY ATTACKED FORT STEVENS, ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF WASHINGTON, TERRIFYING THE CITY, DESPITE THE 74 FORTS THAT NOW MADE IT THE MOST HEAVILY FORTIFIED CITY ON EARTH.

[CANNON FIRE] FEDERAL TROOPS, INCLUDING ELISHA HUNT RHODES, WERE HASTILY BROUGHT UP FROM PETERSBURG TO PROTECT THE CAPITAL.

MAN: "JULY 12, 1864.

"WE MARCHED IN LINE OF BATTLE INTO A PEACH ORCHARD "IN FRONT OF FORT STEVENS, AND HERE THE FIGHT BEGAN.

"FOR A SHORT TIME IT WAS WARM WORK, "BUT AS THE PRESIDENT AND MANY LADIES WERE LOOKING AT US, "EVERY MAN TRIED TO DO HIS BEST.

"WITHOUT OUR HELP, THE SMALL FORCE IN THE FORTS "WOULD HAVE BEEN OVERPOWERED.

"JUBAL EARLY SHOULD HAVE ATTACKED EARLY IN THE MORNING, BUT EARLY WAS LATE!"

NARRATOR: MEANWHILE, TO STOP WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN’S ADVANCE ON ATLANTA, NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST WAS ALSO ON THE MOVE.

FOOTE: YOU’RE ASKING ABOUT, UH ...

THE MOST MAN IN THE WORLD, IN SOME WAYS.

FORREST WAS A NATURAL GENIUS.

SOMEONE SAID THAT HE WAS BORN TO BE A SOLDIER THE WAY JOHN KEATS WAS BORN TO BE A POET.

HE HAD SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES THAT, WHEN YOU TRANSLATE THEM, THEY FIT RIGHT INTO THE ARMY MANUAL.

WHEN HE SAID, "GET THERE FIRST WITH THE MOST MEN," HE’S SAYING, "TAKE THE INTERIOR LINES AND BRING SUPERIOR FORCE TO BEAR."

HE HAD SOME VERY SIMPLE THINGS.

HE USED TO SAY, "HIT THEM ON THE END" AND HE USED TO SAY, "KEEP UP THE SKEER."

AND THESE ARE ALL GOOD MILITARY PRINCIPLES EXPRESSED IN FORREST’S OWN WAY.

AND HE WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT A PIECE OF GROUND AND SEE HOW TO USE IT.

HE HAD A MARVELOUS SENSE OF TOPOGRAPHY.

HE COULD SEE THE KEY TO A POSITION AND KNOW WHERE TO HIT.

NARRATOR: "FORREST," WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN LATER SAID, "WAS THE MOST REMARKABLE MAN OUR CIVIL WAR PRODUCED ON EITHER SIDE."

HE WAS THE SON OF AN ILLITERATE BLACKSMITH.

HE MADE HIMSELF A MILLIONAIRE SELLING LAND, COTTON, AND SLAVES.

IN 1861, HE ENLISTED AS A PRIVATE, THEN QUIT TO RAISE AND EQUIP AN ENTIRE CAVALRY BATTALION OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET.

BY THE END OF THE WAR, HE HAD BECOME LIEUTENANT GENERAL, THE ONLY MAN ON EITHER SIDE TO RISE SO FAR.

HE WAS THE MOST FEARED CAVALRY COMMANDER OF THE WAR, THE "WIZARD OF THE SADDLE," WOUNDED 4 TIMES IN BATTLE AND FAMOUS FOR HAVING HORSES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER HIM.

MAN: OLD BEDFORD FORREST, HE’S THE MOST COLORFUL MAN IN THE WAR.

HE KILLED MORE MEN THAN ANY OTHER GENERAL OFFICER EVER HAS, HAD MORE HORSES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER HIM THAN ANY OTHER OFFICER EVER HAD.

HE HAD 30 HORSES SHOT FROM UNDER HIM IN THE COURSE OF THE WAR, AND HE KILLED 31 MEN IN HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT, AND HE SAID, "I WAS A HORSE AHEAD AT THE END."

NARRATOR: HE WAS A MASTER OF THE LIGHTNING RAID AND AN EXPERT AT WINNING AGAINST LONG ODDS.

HE FOUGHT HIS BATTLES, HE SAID, "BY EAR," AND HE COULD ANTICIPATE AN ENEMY’S MOVEMENTS WITH UNCANNY PRECISION.

FOOTE: HE WAS ONLY SURPRISED IN BATTLE ONCE.

IT WAS A PLACE CALLED PARKER’S CROSSROADS UP IN TENNESSEE.

HE WAS ON A RAID, AND HE WAS CLOSING IN ON AN OPPONENT AND FIXING TO FINISH HIM OFF WHEN HE WAS ATTACKED IN THE REAR BY A FORCE THAT HE DID NOT SUSPECT WAS WITHIN MANY MILES.

AND EVERYBODY WAS TERRIBLY UPSET, AND SAID, "GENERAL, WHAT SHALL WE DO?"

AND HE SAID, "SPLIT IN TWO AND CHARGE BOTH WAYS," AND DID AND GOT OUT.

NARRATOR: IN JUNE 1864, IN AN ATTEMPT TO CUT OFF SHERMAN’S SUPPLIES AT BRICE’S CROSSROADS NEAR TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI, FORREST OUTDID EVEN HIMSELF.

THE UNION ARMY COMING TO STOP HIM WAS NEARLY 3 TIMES AS STRONG AS HIS, BUT FORREST WAS UNIMPRESSED.

FACTORING IN THE MUD-CLOGGED ROADS AND THE BLAZING MID-JUNE SUN, HE PREDICTED THE UNION CAVALRY WOULD ARRIVE WELL AHEAD OF THE UNION INFANTRY, GIVING HIM TIME TO WHIP IT ON HIS OWN TERMS.

IT ALL HAPPENED EXACTLY AS HE SAID.

[CANNON FIRE] NO ARMY, IT SEEMED, COULD STOP HIM.

FORREST WAS FREE TO SLASH AT SHERMAN’S FORCES, SLOWING HIS APPROACH TO ATLANTA.

MAN: "FORREST MUST BE HUNTED DOWN AND KILLED "IF IT COSTS 10,000 LIVES AND BANKRUPTS THAT FEDERAL TREASURY."

WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN.

MAN: "WHO SHALL REVIVE THE WITHERED HOPES "THAT BLOOMED AT THE OPENING OF GRANT’S CAMPAIGN?

"ALL ARE TIRED OF THIS DAMNABLE TRAGEDY.

"EACH HOUR IS BUT SINKING US DEEPER INTO BANKRUPTCY AND DESOLATION."

NEW YORK WORLD.

NARRATOR: THE SUMMER OF 1864 WAS THE NORTH’S DARKEST HOUR.

GRANT’S LOSSES HAD BEEN APPALLING.

HIS ARMY WAS STALLED IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG, HIS GRAND STRATEGY APPARENTLY COME TO NOTHING.

FRANZ SIGEL’S ARMY HAD BEEN ROUTED IN THE SHENANDOAH.

BEN BUTLER WAS BOTTLED UP IN A LOOP OF THE JAMES RIVER CALLED THE BERMUDA HUNDRED.

EVEN WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN WAS STALLED OUTSIDE ATLANTA.

MAN: "MR. LINCOLN IS ALREADY BEATEN.

"HE CANNOT BE RE-ELECTED, AND WE MUST HAVE ANOTHER TICKET."

HORACE GREELEY.

NARRATOR: NO NATION HAD EVER HELD AN ELECTION IN THE MIDST OF A CIVIL WAR.

NO PRESIDENT SINCE ANDREW JACKSON HAD WON A SECOND TERM.

LONG AFTER LINCOLN WAS NOMINATED, POLITICIANS IN HIS OWN PARTY STILL HOPED TO RECONVENE AND PICK ANOTHER NOMINEE.

EVEN LINCOLN BELIEVED HIS RE-ELECTION UNLIKELY.

MAN: "WE CANNOT HAVE FREE GOVERNMENT WITHOUT ELECTIONS, "AND IF THE REBELLION COULD FORCE US "TO FOREGO OR POSTPONE A NATIONAL ELECTION, "IT MIGHT FAIRLY BE CLAIMED TO HAVE ALREADY CONQUERED AND RUINED US."

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

MAN: "AFTER 4 YEARS OF FAILURE TO RESTORE THE UNION "BY THE EXPERIMENT OF WAR, "WE DEMAND THAT IMMEDIATE EFFORT BE MADE "FOR A CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AT THE EARLIEST PRACTICABLE MOMENT."

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL PLATFORM.

NARRATOR: THE DEMOCRATS WANTED AN END TO THE WAR, WITH OR WITHOUT VICTORY.

THEIR NOMINEE WAS GENERAL GEORGE McCLELLAN, WHOSE AMBITION HAD NOT SHRUNK SINCE LINCOLN REMOVED HIM FROM COMMAND.

MAN: "McCLELLAN WAS OUR FIRST COMMANDER, "AND AS SUCH, HE WAS ALMOST WORSHIPPED BY HIS SOLDIERS.

"THE POLITICAL FRIENDS OF GENERAL McCLELLAN "WELL UNDERSTOOD THAT FACT, "AND IT WAS A VERY CRAFTY THING FOR THEM TO NOMINATE HIM AS THEIR CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY."

NARRATOR: THE SOUTH REJOICED AT McCLELLAN’S NOMINATION.

"THE FIRST RAY OF REAL LIGHT," VICE-PRESIDENT ALEXANDER STEPHENS SAID, "SINCE THE WAR BEGAN."

WHEREVER IT COULD, THE SOUTH EXPLOITED ANTIWAR FEELING IN THE NORTH.

THE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT SENT MONEY TO SUPPORT THE UNION PEACE MOVEMENT AND PAINTED LINCOLN AS THE CANDIDATE OF WAR.

THE CAMPAIGN WAS UGLY.

DEMOCRATS CHARGED THAT THE REAL GOAL OF OLD ABE’S WAR WAS MISCEGENATION, A NEW WORD FOR THE "BLENDING OF WHITE AND BLACK."

REPUBLICANS CHARGED DEMOCRATS WITH TREASON.

THE 1864 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HAD BECOME A REFERENDUM ON THE WAR ITSELF.

ALL THE WORD FROM ALL REPUBLICANS, EVEN ON A MOST LOCAL LEVEL, INDICATED THAT LINCOLN COULDN’T POSSIBLY WIN.

THE FORTUNES OF WAR HAD TURNED TOO BADLY, TOO SOUR FOR THE UNION.

AT ONE REALLY POIGNANT MOMENT, LINCOLN SAT IN THE PRIVACY OF HIS OFFICE CONTEMPLATING THE FACT THAT HE PROBABLY WASN’T GOING TO BE RE-ELECTED AND THAT McCLELLAN, OF ALL PEOPLE, WOULD REPLACE HIM AS PRESIDENT.

MAN: "THIS MORNING, AS FOR SOME DAYS PAST, "IT SEEMS EXCEEDINGLY PROBABLE THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION "WILL NOT BE RE-ELECTED.

"THEN IT WILL BE MY DUTY "TO SO COOPERATE WITH THE PRESIDENT-ELECT "AS TO SAVE THE UNION "BETWEEN THE ELECTION AND THE INAUGURATION "AS HE WILL HAVE SECURED HIS ELECTION ON SUCH GROUND THAT HE CANNOT POSSIBLY SAVE IT AFTERWARD."

NARRATOR: PRESSURED TO DROP EMANCIPATION AS A CONDITION OF PEACE WITH THE SOUTH, LINCOLN REFUSED.

"THE PROCLAMATION HAD PROMISED FREEDOM," LINCOLN SAID, "AND THE PROMISE BEING MADE, MUST BE KEPT."

MAN: "I SHOULD BE DAMNED IN TIME AND IN ETERNITY "IF I WERE TO RETURN TO SLAVERY THE BLACK WARRIORS WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR THE UNION."

MAN: ATTENTION!

FIRE!

[GUNSHOT] MAN: "SPY JOHNSON, SHOT NEAR COFFIN."

NARRATOR: EVEN BEFORE BULL RUN, STOLEN SECRETS AND INTRICATE CODES STREAMED BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND RICHMOND.

ALLAN PINKERTON RAN THE NORTHERN SECRET SERVICE, WHILE CONFEDERATE MAJOR WILLIAM NORRIS HAD A SPY NETWORK THAT EXTENDED AS FAR NORTH AS MONTREAL.

IN 1864, SEVERAL SOUTHERN AGENTS EVEN INVADED VERMONT.

SPIES WERE EVERYWHERE.

WOMAN: "WOMEN WHO COME BEFORE THE PUBLIC ARE IN A BAD BOX NOW.

"ALL MANNER OF THINGS, THEY SAY, COME OVER THE BORDER "UNDER THE HUGE HOOPS NOW WORN, "SO THEY ARE RUTHLESSLY TORN OFF.

"NOT LEGS BUT ARMS ARE LOOKED FOR UNDER HOOPS AND, SAD TO SAY, FOUND."

MARY CHESNUT.

NARRATOR: ROSE O’NEAL GREENHOW, A WASHINGTON WIDOW, RAN A CONFEDERATE SPY RING JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

MUCH OF HER INFORMATION CAME FROM AN INFATUATED SUITOR, SENATOR HENRY WILSON, CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

IMPRISONMENT FAILED TO STOP BELLE BOYD FROM COAXING SECRETS OUT OF UNION OFFICERS IN WASHINGTON AND PASSING THEM ON IN CODE TO RICHMOND INSIDE RUBBER BALLS THAT SHE TOSSED FROM HER CELL WINDOW TO A SHADOWY AGENT SHE KNEW ONLY AS "C.H."

HER ADMIRERS CALLED HER "LA BELLE REBELLE."

SLAVES AND FORMER SLAVES MADE ESPECIALLY GOOD UNION OPERATIVES, GUIDING NORTHERN TROOPS THROUGH SWAMPS AND FORESTS AND REPORTING ON THEIR MASTERS.

"AFTER ALL," ONE UNION OFFICER SAID, "THEY HAD BEEN SPIES ALL THEIR LIVES."

ONE NORTHERN AGENT, A BLACK SERVANT NAMED MARY ELIZABETH BOWSER, EVEN WORKED INSIDE THE CONFEDERATE WHITE HOUSE.

[DRUM BEATING SLOWLY] IN NOVEMBER OF 1863, A SOUTHERN COURIER, SAM DAVIS, WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH AT PULASKI, TENNESSEE, FOR SPYING.

ON THE SCAFFOLD, DAVIS’ BRAVERY PROVED SO MOVING THAT THE COMMANDING GENERAL WAS UNABLE TO GIVE THE ORDER OF EXECUTION.

DAVIS FINALLY GAVE IT HIMSELF.

[GALLOWS TRAP DOOR OPENS] [CANNON FIRE] MAN: "JULY 21st, THURSDAY, IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG.

"THE MINE WHICH GENERAL BURNSIDE IS MAKING "CAUSES A GOOD DEAL OF TALK "AND IS GENERALLY MUCH LAUGHED AT.

"IT IS AN AFFAIR OF HIS OWN ENTIRELY AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REGULAR SIEGE."

NARRATOR: FOR A MONTH, A REGIMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA COAL MINERS WORKED TO DIG A 500-FOOT TUNNEL BENEATH THE CONFEDERATE LINES AND PACK IT WITH 4 TONS OF GUNPOWDER.

BURNSIDE’S IDEA WAS TO BLOW A HOLE IN THE PETERSBURG DEFENSES, THEN RUSH THROUGH TO TAKE THE TOWN.

ABOVE GROUND, NOT FAR FROM THE TUNNEL, THE UNSUSPECTING CONFEDERATE COMMANDER WAS GENERAL WILLIAM MAHONE, A VETERAN OF ALMOST EVERY MAJOR BATTLE FOUGHT BY THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

AT DAWN ON JULY 30, UNION SAPPERS LIT THE FUSE.

[EXPLOSION] A GREAT CRATER WAS TORN IN THE EARTH 30 FEET DEEP, 70 FEET WIDE, 250 FEET LONG.

[EXPLOSION] THE STUNNED CONFEDERATES FELL BACK.

THEN THE PLAN BEGAN TO FALL APART.

A PRECIOUS HOUR WENT BY BEFORE THE UNION ASSAULT FORCE GOT STARTED, AND WHEN IT DID, 3 DIVISIONS STORMED DOWN INTO THE GREAT HOLE, RATHER THAN AROUND IT.

THEIR COMMANDER, GENERAL JAMES H. LEDLIE, DID NOT EVEN WATCH THE BATTLE, HUDDLING INSTEAD IN A BOMBPROOF SHELTER WITH A BOTTLE OF RUM.

ONCE INSIDE THE CRATER, THE UNION SOLDIERS FOUND THERE WAS NO WAY UP THE SHEER 30-FOOT WALL OF THE PIT, AND NO ONE HAD THOUGHT TO PROVIDE LADDERS.

GENERAL MAHONE ORDERED HIS MEN BACK TO THE RIM TO POUR FIRE DOWN UPON THEM.

SCORES OF BLACK TROOPS WERE KILLED WHEN THEY TRIED TO SURRENDER AT THE CRATER, BAYONETED OR CLUBBED BY CONFEDERATES SHOUTING, "TAKE THE WHITE MAN!

KILL THE NIGGER!"

[BUGLE SOUNDING] MAN: "IT WAS THE SADDEST AFFAIR "I HAVE EVER WITNESSED IN THE WAR.

"SUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR CARRYING FORTIFICATIONS I HAVE NEVER SEEN AND DO NOT EXPECT AGAIN TO HAVE."

ULYSSES S. GRANT.

NARRATOR: GENERAL LEDLIE WAS DISMISSED FROM THE SERVICE.

BURNSIDE WAS GRANTED EXTENDED LEAVE AND NEVER RECALLED TO DUTY.

MAN: "JULY 30, 1864.

"THE WORK AND EXPECTATIONS OF ALMOST TWO MONTHS "HAVE BEEN BLASTED.

"THE FIRST TEMPORARY SUCCESS HAD ELATED EVERYONE SO MUCH "THAT WE ALREADY HAD IMAGINED OURSELVES IN PETERSBURG, "BUT 15 MINUTES CHANGED IT ALL "AND PLUNGED EVERYONE INTO A FEELING OF DESPAIR "ALMOST OF EVER ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING.

"FEW OFFICERS CAN BE FOUND THIS EVENING "WHO HAVE NOT DROWNED THEIR SORROWS IN THE FLOWING BOWL."

WASHINGTON ROEBLING.

MAN: "THE DAY HAS BEEN SO EXCESSIVELY HOT "THAT I AM ALMOST MELTED.

"THE THERMOMETER IN THE WARDROOM "STANDS AT 90 DEGREES, "WHILE ON DECK THE WEATHER IS VERY PLEASANT, "A FAIR BREEZE BLOWING FROM THE EAST.

"EVERYTHING IS DIRTY, EVERYTHING SMELLS BAD, "EVERYBODY IS DEMORALIZED.

"HOW ARE YOU, IRONCLAD?

"A MAN WHO WOULD STAY IN AN IRONCLAD FROM CHOICE "IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE INSANE ASYLUM, "AND HE WHO STAYS FROM COMPULSION IS AN OBJECT OF PITY.

FRESH LEAKS ARE BREAKING OUT EVERY DAY."

ROBERT B. ELY.

NARRATOR: FOR TWO FULL YEARS NOW, UNION TROOPS HAD OCCUPIED FORT PULASKI AT THE ENTRANCE TO SAVANNAH HARBOR, BLOCKING CONFEDERATE SUPPLIES AND WAITING PATIENTLY FOR A UNION ARMY TO COME AND SEIZE THE CITY ITSELF.

TO FILL THE TIME, THE MEN PLAYED BASEBALL, FAST BECOMING THE NATIONAL PASTIME, SOUTH AS WELL AS NORTH.

[BAT HITS BALL] BUT 300 MILES AWAY, SHERMAN WAS STUCK IN THE HILLS OF NORTH GEORGIA.

"THE ENEMY MUST HAVE AT LEAST 50 MILES OF CONNECTED TRENCHES," HE WROTE.

"THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS ONE VAST FORT."

MAN: "WELL, I THINK THE DAMNED OLD CUSS OF A PREACHER "LIED LIKE DIXIE, "FOR HE SAID THAT GOD HAS FOUGHT ALL OUR BATTLES "AND WON OUR VICTORIES.

"NOW, IF HE HAD DONE ALL THAT, WHY IS IT NOT IN THE PAPERS AND WHY HAS HE NOT BEEN PROMOTED?"

SERGEANT ALBINUS FELL.

MAN: "IS IT POSSIBLE THAT GOD WILL BLESS A PEOPLE "AS WICKED AS OUR SOLDIER?

"I FEAR NOT.

"ONE UNCEASING TIDE OF BLASPHEMY AND WICKEDNESS, COARSENESS AND OBSCENITY."

ORVILLE C. BUMPASS.

NARRATOR: MEN BET ON ANYTHING-- BOXING MATCHES, HORSE RACES, BASEBALL GAMES, AND COCKFIGHTS.

IN UNION CAMPS, VICTORIOUS BIRDS NAMED "GRANT" AND "BILL SHERMAN" FOUGHT LOSERS CALLED "BEAUREGARD," "JEFF DAVIS," AND "BOB LEE."

MAN: "THE BOYS WOULD FREQUENTLY HAVE A LOUSE RACE.

"THE LICE WERE PLACED IN PLATES.

"AND THE FIRST THAT CRAWLED OFF WAS THE WINNER.

"THERE WAS ONE FELLOW NAMED DORNIN, "WHO WAS WINNING ALL THE MONEY.

"WE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND IT.

"IF A FELLOW HAPPENED TO CATCH A FIERCE-LOOKING LOUSE, "HE WOULD CALL ON DORNIN FOR A RACE.

"DORNIN WOULD COME AND ALWAYS WIN THE STAKE.

"AT LAST WE FOUND OUT DORNIN’S TRICK-- HE ALWAYS HEATED THE PLATE."

SAM WATKINS.

WOMAN: "RUTLAND, VERMONT.

DEAR EDWARD, "IT WILL BE HARD TO HAVE ALL MY SONS GO, "BUT IF IT IS RIGHT, I’VE NOTHING TO SAY.

"AS YOU VALUE YOUR GOOD NAME, "YOUR PEACE OF MIND, "AND HAPPINESS HERE AND HEREAFTER, "DO KEEP ALOOF FROM CARD PLAYING, "FOR IMPERCEPTIBLY YOU WILL BE LED, I FEAR, TO GAMBLING.

YOUR DEVOTED MOTHER."

NARRATOR: THERE WERE, IN ALL, 450 BROTHELS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., KNOWN TO STEADY CUSTOMERS AS "FORT SUMTER," "MADAME RUSSELL’S BAKE OVEN," AND "HEADQUARTERS, U.S.A." MEN CALLED A TRIP THERE "GOING DOWN THE LINE."

MAN: "I HAD A GOOD TIME IN WASHINGTON-- "LAGER BEER AND A HORSE AND BUGGY, "AND IN THE EVENING, HORIZONTAL REFRESHMENTS, "OR IN PLAINER WORDS, RIDING A DUTCH GAL.

HAD A GOOD TIME GENERALLY, I TELL YOU."

PRIVATE ELI VEAZIE.

MAN: "IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, "WE COULD SEE SIGNS OF SMOTHERED HATE AND PREJUDICE "TO BOTH OUR COLOR AND PRESENT CHARACTER AS UNION SOLDIERS, "BUT FOR ONCE IN HIS LIFE, "YOUR HUMBLE CORRESPONDENT WALKED FEARLESSLY AND BOLDLY "THROUGH THE STREETS OF A SOUTHERN CITY, "AND HE DID THIS "WITHOUT BEING REQUIRED TO TAKE OFF HIS CAP AT EVERY STEP "OR TO GIVE ALL THE SIDEWALKS "TO THOSE LORDLY PRINCES OF THE SUNNY SOUTH, "THE PLANTERS’ SONS.

"OH, CHIVALRY!

"HOW HAST THOU LOST THY POTENT POWER AND CHARMS?

"BY WHAT MEANS, PRAY TELL ME, HAST THOU SO DEGENERATED "AS TO LOSE THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION EVEN OF THE SABLE SONS OF AFRICA?"

NARRATOR: THAT SUMMER, CONGRESS FINALLY PASSED LEGISLATION GIVING BLACK SOLDIERS EQUAL PAY WITH WHITES.

[CANNON FIRE] ON AUGUST 5, 1864, UNION ADMIRAL DAVID FARRAGUT LED 18 SHIPS STORMING PAST 3 FORTS TO ENGAGE THE CONFEDERATE FLEET GUARDING MOBILE BAY.

FARRAGUT SUFFERED FROM VERTIGO SO INTENSE HE ORDERED HIMSELF LASHED TO THE RIGGING OF HIS FLAGSHIP.

WHEN A MINE SANK THE LEAD VESSEL AND THE CAPTAINS OF THE OTHER SHIPS HESITATED, FARRAGUT SHOUTED, "DAMN THE TORPEDOES, FULL SPEED AHEAD!"

AND RAMMED AND SHELLED THE REBEL FLEET INTO SUBMISSION.

IT WAS THE FIRST GOOD NEWS FOR THE UNION, AND LINCOLN, ALL YEAR.

MAN: "IN CAMP.

NEAR ATLANTA.

"DEAR COMPANION, "I SEAT MYSELF ONE TIME MORE IN LIFE "TO DROP YOU A FEW LINES.

"I AM WORE OUT MARCHING.

"WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER "FOR 5 DAYS.

I MUST CLOSE, FOR IT IS A VERY BAD PLACE TO WRITE."

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN JACKSON.

NARRATOR: BACK IN ALABAMA, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN JACKSON’S WIFE MARTHA AWOKE WITH A START.

A MOURNING DOVE WAS SITTING ON HER WINDOWSILL.

SHE TOOK IT AS A SIGN HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN KILLED AND BEGAN TO WEEP SILENTLY SO THAT HER FAMILY WOULD NOT HEAR HER GRIEF AND THINK HER SUPERSTITIOUS.

HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN FATALLY WOUNDED THAT MORNING IN BATTLE WITH SHERMAN’S MEN.

[CANNON FIRE] MAN: "MINE EYES HAVE BEHELD THE PROMISED LAND.

"THE DOMES AND SPIRES OF ATLANTA ARE GLITTERING "IN THE SUNLIGHT BEFORE US AND ONLY 8 MILES DISTANT."

NARRATOR: FINALLY, SHERMAN WAS AT ATLANTA.

FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS, CONFEDERATE GENERAL JOSEPH JOHNSTON HAD KEPT HIS ARMY INTACT, DODGING SHERMAN’S SUPERIOR FORCE AND LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT TO ATTACK.

THE OPPORTUNITY NEVER CAME.

AN INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED JEFFERSON DAVIS NOW REMOVED THE POPULAR JOHNSTON.

HIS TROOPS WERE STUNNED.

MAN: "THE NEWS CAME LIKE A FLASH OF LIGHTNING, "STAGGERING AND BLINDING EVERYONE.

"FAREWELL, OLD FELLOW!

WE PRIVATES LOVED YOU BECAUSE YOU MADE US LOVE OURSELVES."

SAM WATKINS.

NARRATOR: JOSEPH JOHNSTON’S REPLACEMENT WAS 33-YEAR-OLD JOHN BELL HOOD OF TEXAS.

HIS ARM HAD BEEN MANGLED AT GETTYSBURG, AND HE’D LOST A LEG AT CHICKAMAUGA, BUT HIS RECKLESSNESS REMAINED INTACT.

HIS MEN CALLED HIM "OLD WOODEN HEAD."

MAN: "HOOD IS A BOLD FIGHTER.

I AM DOUBTFUL AS TO OTHER QUALITIES NECESSARY."

ROBERT E. LEE.

NARRATOR: SHERMAN WAS DELIGHTED WITH HOOD, SURE HE WOULD BE ATTACKED AT LAST.

MANY OF HIS UNITS WERE NOW ARMED WITH HENRY REPEATING RIFLES, CAPABLE OF FIRING 15 SHOTS WITHOUT BEING RELOADED.

OUTGUNNED REBELS COMPLAINED THE YANKEES COULD NOW LOAD ON A SUNDAY AND KEEP SHOOTING ALL WEEK.

TO CUT OFF ATLANTA’S RAIL LINKS WITH RICHMOND, SHERMAN SENT 35-YEAR-OLD GENERAL JAMES McPHERSON’S ARMY EAST OF THE CITY.

McPHERSON WAS A SPECIAL FAVORITE OF SHERMAN’S-- HANDSOME, WARM-HEARTED, INTELLIGENT.

"IF HE LIVES," SHERMAN PREDICTED, "HE’LL OUTDISTANCE GRANT AND MYSELF."

NORTHERN PAPERS CHEERED THE UNION ADVANCE AND DAILY PREDICTED ATLANTA’S FALL.

[GUNFIRE] BUT ON JULY 22nd, HOOD RUSHED TO COUNTER THE NEW UNION THREAT.

THE BATTLE OF ATLANTA HAD BEGUN.

[HORSE NEIGHS] [BUGLE SOUNDS] IT RAGED ALL AFTERNOON, THE LINES FORMING, FALLING BACK, REFORMING, ATTACKING AGAIN.

AT 2:00, GENERAL McPHERSON HIMSELF WENT TO INSPECT THE IMPERILED UNION POSITION AND RODE RIGHT INTO A BAND OF REBEL SKIRMISHERS.

ORDERED TO SURRENDER, McPHERSON RAISED HIS HAT POLITELY, TURNED HIS HORSE ABOUT, AND RACED FOR THE UNION LINES.

[GUNSHOTS] THE REBELS SHOT HIM IN THE BACK.

SHERMAN COVERED THE BODY OF HIS YOUNG FRIEND WITH AN AMERICAN FLAG AND WEPT.

MAN: "SHERMAN HAD THE RARE FACULTY "OF REMAINING CALM UNDER GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES "AND SCENES OF GREAT EXCITEMENT.

"AT SUCH TIMES, HIS ECCENTRICITIES DISAPPEARED.

"HIS MIND SEEMED NEVER SO CLEAR, HIS CONFIDENCE NEVER SO STRONG, "HIS SPIRIT NEVER SO INSPIRING "IN THE CRISIS OF SOME FIERCE STRUGGLE, "LIKE THAT OF THE DAY WHEN McPHERSON FELL IN FRONT OF ATLANTA."

GENERAL JACOB D. COX.

[CANNON FIRE] NARRATOR: CRYING "McPHERSON AND REVENGE, BOYS, McPHERSON AND REVENGE," THE UNION ARMY SMASHED DOWN ON THE REBELS.

IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES, HOOD WAS FORCED TO WITHDRAW.

AT EZRA CHURCH, WEST OF THE CITY, HOOD AGAIN TRIED TO ROUT SHERMAN’S ARMY.

AGAIN HE FAILED.

1/3 OF HIS ARMY WAS GONE-- 20,000 MEN, AND HOOD FELL BACK INTO ATLANTA.

MAN: "I CANNOT DESCRIBE IT.

"I REMEMBER I WENT IN THE REAR OF THE BUILDING, "AND THERE I SAW A PILE OF ARMS AND LEGS "ROTTING AND DECOMPOSING.

"I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION IN MY WHOLE LIFE OF EVER SEEING ANYTHING THAT I REMEMBER WITH MORE HORROR."

SAM WATKINS.

NARRATOR: BEHIND THEIR RAMPARTS, THE CONFEDERATES WAITED FOR SHERMAN TO ATTACK.

"THE YANKEE GENTS CAN’T GET THEIR MEN TO CHARGE OUR WORKS," A TEXAN SAID, BUT SHERMAN SAW NO NEED TO BE SO RASH.

HE SEALED OFF THE CITY’S SUPPLIES AND WAITED.

[CANNON FIRE] FEDERAL GUNS BEGAN SHELLING THE HEAVILY FORTIFIED CONFEDERATE TRENCHES AND THE CITY BEYOND.

WOMAN: "SATURDAY, AUGUST 21st.

"ANOTHER WEEK OF ANXIETY AND SUSPENSE HAS PASSED, "AND THE FATE OF ATLANTA IS STILL UNDECIDED.

"IT IS SAID THAT ABOUT 20 LIVES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED "BY THESE TERRIBLE MISSILES "SINCE THE ENEMY BEGAN TO THROW THEM INTO THE CITY.

"IT IS LIKE LIVING IN THE MIDST OF A PESTILENCE.

NO ONE CAN TELL, BUT HE MAY BE THE NEXT VICTIM."

NARRATOR: OUTSIDE ATLANTA, THINGS WERE NO BETTER.

"THE ENEMY HOLD US BY AN INFERIOR FORCE," SHERMAN ADMITTED AS THE SIEGE DRAGGED ON.

"WE ARE MORE BESIEGED THAN THEY."

"BOTH GRANT AND SHERMAN," GEORGE TEMPLETON STRONG PREDICTED FROM NEW YORK, "ARE ON THE EVE OF DISASTER."

[CORNET PLAYING] EVERY EVENING FOR A MONTH DURING THE SIEGE, A GEORGIA SHARPSHOOTER PLAYED HIS CORNET SO BEAUTIFULLY THAT MEN ON BOTH SIDES STOPPED TO LISTEN.

FINALLY, ON AUGUST 31st, THE SAME DAY THAT GEORGE McCLELLAN WAS NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT, SHERMAN HURLED MOST OF HIS ARMY AGAINST THE MACON & WESTERN RAILROAD SOUTH OF THE CITY IN ONE MORE ATTEMPT TO BREAK HOOD’S GRIP.

IT WORKED.

ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1864, HOOD ABANDONED ATLANTA.

SHERMAN’S TROOPS MARCHED IN THE NEXT DAY.

MAN: "ATLANTA IS OURS AND FAIRLY WON."

MAN: "SEPTEMBER 3, 1864.

"GLORIOUS NEWS THIS MORNING-- ATLANTA TAKEN AT LAST.

"IT IS, COMING AT THIS POLITICAL CRISIS, THE GREATEST EVENT OF THE WAR."

GEORGE TEMPLETON STRONG.

MAN: "DEAR GENERAL SHERMAN, "I FEEL YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THE MOST GIGANTIC UNDERTAKING "GIVEN TO ANY GENERAL IN THIS WAR "AND WITH A SKILL AND ABILITY "THAT WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED IN HISTORY AS UNSURPASSED, IF NOT UNEQUALLED."

U.S. GRANT.

NARRATOR: IN SHERMAN’S HONOR, GRANT ORDERED A 100-GUN SALUTE FIRED INTO THE CONFEDERATE WORKS AT PETERSBURG.

[GUNFIRE] WOMAN: "ATLANTA IS GONE.

"THAT AGONY IS OVER.

THERE IS NO HOPE, BUT WE WILL TRY TO HAVE NO FEAR."

MARY CHESNUT.

NARRATOR: TO AVENGE SHERMAN’S VICTORIES IN GEORGIA, 6 CONFEDERATE AGENTS SLIPPED INTO NEW YORK CITY ARMED WITH PHOSPHOROUS, INTENT UPON BURNING DOWN THE CITY’S MOST FASHIONABLE HOTELS.

THEY MANAGED TO LIGHT 10 FIRES AND SET P.T.

BARNUM’S MUSEUM ABLAZE.

FIREMEN PUT EVERYTHING OUT.

ALL BUT ONE OF THE CONFEDERATES GOT AWAY.

"THE PEOPLE OF THE NORTH CAN’T BE ROLLING IN WEALTH AND COMFORT," THE CAPTURED MAN SAID BEFORE HE WAS HANGED, "WHILE WE AT THE SOUTH ARE BEARING ALL THE HARDSHIP AND PRIVATIONS."

FROM THE FRONT, ON HIS WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, ROBERT E. LEE WROTE HOME TO HIS WIFE IN RICHMOND.

MAN AS LEE: "DEAR MARY, "DO YOU RECOLLECT WHAT A HAPPY DAY "33 YEARS AGO THIS WAS?

"HOW MANY HOPES AND PLEASURES IT GAVE BIRTH TO?

"GOD HAS BEEN VERY MERCIFUL AND KIND TO US, "AND HOW THANKLESS AND SINFUL I HAVE BEEN.

"I PRAY THAT HE MAY CONTINUE HIS MERCIES AND BLESSINGS TO US "AND GIVE US A LITTLE PEACE AND REST TOGETHER IN THIS WORLD."

MAN: "THAT MAN HAUPT "HAS BUILT A BRIDGE ACROSS THE POTOMAC CREEK "ABOUT 400 FEET LONG AND NEARLY 100 FEET TALL "OVER WHICH LOADED TRAINS ARE RUNNING EVERY HOUR, AND THERE IS NOTHING IN IT BUT BEANPOLES AND CORNSTALKS."

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

NARRATOR: NEAR PETERSBURG, THE UNION CAMP AT CITY POINT ON THE JAMES RIVER SUDDENLY FOUND ITSELF ONE OF THE WORLD’S BUSIEST SEAPORTS, WITH BAKERIES, BARRACKS, WAREHOUSES, A 200-ACRE TENT HOSPITAL, MORE THAN A MILE OF WHARVES, AND A NEW 70-MILE RAILROAD BUILT BY HERMAN HAUPT IN RECORD TIME TO BRING SUPPLIES AND FRESH TROOPS RIGHT UP TO THE UNION TRENCHES.

"NOT MERELY PROFUSION BUT EXTRAVAGANCE," A VISITOR WROTE, "SOLDIERS PROVIDED WITH EVERYTHING."

AN INDUSTRIAL MACHINE OF UNPARALLELED POWER NOW KEPT THE WAR SUPPLIES STREAMING TO THE FRONT.

IN CLEVELAND, OHIO, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN, THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE FORGE OR FOUNDRY.

WHEN THE WAR ENDED, THERE WERE 21, EMPLOYING 3,000 MEN AND TURNING OUT 60,000 TONS OF STEEL A YEAR.

BY THEN, THE COLD SPRING FOUNDRY OPPOSITE WEST POINT ON THE HUDSON WAS PRODUCING 7,000 ARTILLERY PROJECTILES A WEEK AND THE MILITARY TELEGRAPH SYSTEM WAS CARRYING OVER 3,300 MESSAGES A DAY ALONG 15,000 MILES OF WIRE.

MAN: "THE WORLD HAS SEEN ITS IRON AGE, "ITS SILVER AGE, ITS GOLDEN AGE, "AND ITS BRONZE AGE.

THIS IS THE AGE OF SHODDY."

NARRATOR: FOR SHREWD NORTHERN BUSINESSMEN, THERE WERE QUICK PROFITS IN ARMY CONTRACTS.

PHILIP ARMOUR GAVE UP GOLD MINING TO STRIKE IT RICH PACKING PORK FOR THE ARMY.

SAMUEL COLT OF HARTFORD TOLD HIS MEN TO "RUN THE ARMORY NIGHT AND DAY WITH DOUBLE SETS OF HANDS."

JAY COOKE SOLD WAR BONDS, RAISED MORE THAN $400 MILLION FOR THE UNION, AND GOT RICH ON THE COMMISSIONS.

UNSCRUPULOUS CONTRACTORS SOLD THE WAR DEPARTMENT RUSTY RIFLES, BOATS THAT LEAKED, CAPS THAT MELTED IN THE RAIN.

WHEN ONE MANUFACTURER WAS ASKED WHY THE SOLES OF THE SHOES HE SUPPLIED FELL OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES’ MARCHING, HE EXPLAINED THEY HAD BEEN MEANT FOR THE CAVALRY.

MAN: "YOU CAN SELL ALMOST ANYTHING TO THE GOVERNMENT AT ALMOST ANY PRICE YOU’VE GOT THE GUTS TO ASK."

FOOTE: I THINK THAT THE NORTH FOUGHT THAT WAR WITH ONE HAND BEHIND ITS BACK.

AT THE SAME TIME THE WAR WAS GOING ON, THE HOMESTEAD ACT WAS BEING PASSED.

ALL THESE MARVELOUS INVENTIONS WERE GOING ON.

IN THE SPRING OF ’64, THE HARVARD-YALE BOAT RACES WERE GOING ON, AND NOT A MAN IN EITHER CREW EVER VOLUNTEERED FOR THE ARMY OR THE NAVY.

THEY DIDN’T NEED THEM.

I THINK THAT IF IT HAD BEEN MORE SOUTHERN SUCCESSES AND A LOT MORE, THE NORTH SIMPLY WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THAT OTHER ARM OUT FROM BEHIND ITS BACK.

I DON’T THINK THE SOUTH EVER HAD A CHANCE TO WIN THAT WAR.

NARRATOR: OUT WEST, BLOODY BILL ANDERSON, A CONFEDERATE GUERRILLA WHO RODE WITH UNION SCALPS TIED TO HIS BRIDLE, LED 30 MEN INTO CENTRALIA, MISSOURI, KILLED 24 UNARMED FEDERAL SOLDIERS, THEN AMBUSHED 116 MORE.

ON OCTOBER 26th, ANDERSON HIMSELF WAS AMBUSHED AND KILLED, BUT ONE OF HIS CLOSE LIEUTENANTS, JESSE JAMES, GOT AWAY.

IN TENNESSEE, NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST’S MEN SURROUNDED FORT PILLOW, HELD BY A UNIT OF TENNESSEE UNIONISTS AND BLACK TROOPS, AND DEMANDED ITS SURRENDER.

WHEN THE UNION COMMANDER REFUSED, THE FORT WAS OVERRUN.

AS MANY AS 300 SOLDIERS, MOST OF THEM BLACK, WERE KILLED, MANY AFTER THEY SURRENDERED.

MAN: "IT IS HOPED THAT THESE FACTS WILL DEMONSTRATE "TO THE NORTHERN PEOPLE THAT NEGRO SOLDIERS CANNOT COPE WITH SOUTHERNERS."

NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST.

MAN: "I SAID, DON’T SHOOT ME, "AND ONE OF THEM SAID, GO OUT AND HOLD MY HORSE.

"I MADE A STEP OR TWO, AND HE SAID, "TURN AROUND.

I WILL HOLD MY HORSE AND SHOOT YOU, TOO.

I NO SOONER TURNED AROUND THAN HE SHOT ME IN THE FACE."

[GUNSHOT] "I FELL DOWN AS IF I WAS DEAD.

HE SHOT ME AGAIN AND HIT MY ARM, NOT MY HEAD."

[GUNSHOT] "I LAID THERE UNTIL I COULD HEAR HIM NO MORE, "AND THEN I STARTED BACK.

"I GOT BACK ABOUT SUNUP "AND WANDERED ABOUT UNTIL A GUNBOAT CAME ALONG, AND I CAME UP ON THAT WITH ABOUT 10 OTHERS."

PRIVATE GEORGE SHAW, COMPANY B, 6th U.S.

HEAVY ARTILLERY.

NARRATOR: IN RETALIATION FOR FORT PILLOW, GRANT ENDED THE SYSTEM UNDER WHICH PRISONERS HAD ALWAYS BEEN EXCHANGED UNTIL THE SOUTH AGREED TO RECOGNIZE "NO DISTINCTION WHATEVER BETWEEN WHITE AND COLORED PRISONERS."

DAVIS AND LEE REFUSED.

NORTH AND SOUTH, PRISONS SOON BULGED WITH UNEXCHANGED PRISONERS.

ALREADY INADEQUATE PRISON CAMPS BECAME NIGHTMARES.

THE WORST WAS THE CONFEDERATE PRISON NEAR ANDERSONVILLE, GEORGIA.

MEANT TO HOLD A MAXIMUM OF 10,000 NORTHERN PRISONERS, BY AUGUST 1864, IT HAD 33,000-- THE FIFTH-LARGEST CITY IN THE CONFEDERACY.

ITS COMMANDANT, A GERMAN-SWISS IMMIGRANT NAMED HENRY WIRZ, FORBADE PRISONERS TO BUILD SHELTERS.

MOST LIVED IN HOLES SCRATCHED IN THE GROUND COVERED BY A BLANKET.

THE DAILY RATION WAS A TEASPOON OF SALT, 3 TABLESPOONS OF BEANS, AND HALF-PINT OF CORNMEAL.

A FOUL CREEK CALLED SWEET WATER BRANCH SERVED AS BOTH DRINKING WATER AND SEWER.

MAN: "1/3 OF THE ORIGINAL ENCLOSURE WAS SWAMPY, "A MUD OF LIQUID FILTH, VOIDINGS FROM THE THOUSANDS, "SEETHING WITH MAGGOTS IN FULL ACTIVITY.

"DEATH AT THE HANDS OF THE GUARDS, "THOUGH MURDER IN COLD BLOOD, WAS MERCIFUL "BESIDE THE SYSTEMATIC, STUDIED, ABSOLUTE MURDER INSIDE BY SLOW DEATH."

NARRATOR: IN ONE YEAR, 13,000 MEN DIED AT ANDERSONVILLE AND WERE BURIED IN MASS GRAVES.

MAN: "CAN THOSE BE MEN?

"ARE THEY NOT REALLY CORPSES?

"THEY LAY THERE, MOST OF THEM, QUITE STILL, "BUT WITH A HORRIBLE LOOK IN THEIR EYES.

"THE DEAD THERE ARE NOT TO BE PITIED "AS MUCH AS SOME OF THE LIVING THAT HAVE COME FROM THERE-- IF THEY CAN BE CALLED LIVING."

WALT WHITMAN.

MAN: "WHEN I WAS TAKEN PRISONER, I WEIGHED 165 POUNDS, "AND WHEN I CAME OUT, I WEIGHED 96 POUNDS AND WAS CONSIDERED STOUT COMPARED WITH SOME I SAW."

WOMAN: "MY HEART ACHES FOR THESE POOR WRETCHES, "YANKEES THOUGH THEY ARE, "AND I AM AFRAID GOD WILL SUFFER SOME TERRIBLE RETRIBUTION "TO FALL UPON US FOR LETTING SUCH THINGS HAPPEN.

"IF THE YANKEES SHOULD EVER COME TO SOUTHWEST GEORGIA "AND GO TO ANDERSON AND SEE THE GRAVES THERE, GOD HAVE MERCY ON THE LAND!"

NARRATOR: WITH SHERMAN’S VICTORY AT ATLANTA, LINCOLN’S CHANCES OF RE-ELECTION WERE IMPROVING.

AND NOW CAME MORE BAD NEWS FOR THE CONFEDERACY.

PHIL SHERIDAN AND 45,000 MEN WERE ON THE LOOSE IN THE SHENANDOAH.

MAN: "THE WHOLE COUNTRY "FROM THE BLUE RIDGE TO THE NORTH MOUNTAINS "HAS BEEN MADE UNTENABLE FOR A REBEL ARMY.

"I HAVE DESTROYED OVER 2,000 BARNS "FILLED WITH WHEAT, HAY, AND FARMING IMPLEMENTS "AND OVER 70 MILLS.

"TOMORROW I WILL CONTINUE THE DESTRUCTION.

"WHEN THIS IS COMPLETED, "THE VALLEY WILL HAVE BUT LITTLE IN IT FOR MAN OR BEAST."

GENERAL PHIL SHERIDAN.

FOOTE: HE WAS SENT THERE TO CLEAR IT OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL.

HIS INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO STRIP IT SO CLEAN THAT A CROW FLYING ACROSS IT WOULD HAVE TO CARRY HIS OWN PROVENDER, AND HE CAME CLOSE TO DOING IT.

NARRATOR: NO UNION OFFICER WAS FONDER OF FIGHTING THAN SHERIDAN.

NONE, SAVE SHERMAN, WAS SO RELENTLESS.

HIS ORDERS WERE TO FOLLOW JUBAL EARLY "TO THE DEATH."

BEFORE DAWN ON OCTOBER 18th, JUBAL EARLY TRIED ONE LAST TIME TO DESTROY SHERIDAN’S ARMY BY ATTACKING AT CEDAR CREEK, WHILE SHERIDAN HIMSELF WAS ASLEEP AT WINCHESTER 20 MILES AWAY.

AT FIRST IT SEEMED EARLY HAD SUCCEEDED.

UNION FORCES WERE DRIVEN FROM THEIR CAMPS.

SHERIDAN MOUNTED HIS GREAT BLACK HORSE RIENZI AND GALLOPED THROUGH HIS RETREATING MEN, URGING THEM TO TURN BACK.

THEY STOPPED AND BEGAN TO CHANT HIS NAME.

"GOD DAMN YOU!"

SHERIDAN SHOUTED.

"DON’T CHEER ME.

FIGHT!"

THE UNION LINES RE-FORMED AND WON BACK THE FIELD.

[CANNON FIRE] EARLY FLED, AND THE SHENANDOAH WAS CLOSED FOREVER TO THE CONFEDERACY.

MAN, AS LINCOLN: "GENERAL SHERIDAN, WHEN THIS PARTICULAR WAR BEGAN, "I THOUGHT A CAVALRYMAN SHOULD BE AT LEAST 6’4" HIGH, "BUT I HAVE CHANGED MY MIND.

5’4" WILL DO IN A PINCH."

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

NARRATOR: AT PETERSBURG, GRANT FIRED A SECOND 100-GUN VOLLEY INTO THE ENEMY WORKS.

[GUNFIRE] MAN: "DEAR NAT, I THINK WELL OF THE PRESIDENT.

"HE HAS A FACE LIKE A HOOSIER MICHELANGELO, "SO AWFUL UGLY IT BECOMES BEAUTIFUL, "WITH ITS STRANGE MOUTH, ITS DEEP-CUT, CRISSCROSS LINES, "AND ITS DOUGHNUT COMPLEXION.

"I DO NOT DWELL ON THE SUPPOSED FAILURES "OF HIS GOVERNMENT.

"HE HAS SHOWN AN ALMOST SUPERNATURAL TACT "IN KEEPING THE SHIP AFLOAT AT ALL.

I MORE AND MORE RELY UPON HIS IDIOMATIC WESTERN GENIUS."

WALT WHITMAN.

[STAR SPANGLED BANNER PLAYS] MAN: HARPER’S WEEKLY.

"ABRAHAM LINCOLN "AND ANDREW JOHNSON "HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY ENORMOUS "AND UNIVERSAL MAJORITIES "IN ALMOST ALL THE STATES.

"THIS RESULT IS THE PROCLAMATION OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE "THAT THEY ARE NOT CONQUERED.

"THIS IS WHAT THEY CONFIRM "BY THE RE-ELECTION OF MR. LINCOLN.

"IN HIMSELF, HE IS UNIMPORTANT, "BUT AS THE REPRESENTATIVE "OF THE FEELING AND PURPOSE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, HE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT IN THE WORLD."

MAN: "I GIVE THANKS TO THE ALMIGHTY "FOR THIS EVIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE’S RESOLUTION.

"THIS CONTEST HAS DEMONSTRATED TO THE WORLD "THAT A PEOPLE’S GOVERNMENT CAN SUSTAIN A NATIONAL ELECTION IN THE MIDST OF A GREAT CIVIL WAR."

NARRATOR: SHERMAN’S AND SHERIDAN’S VICTORIES HAD CHANGED THE ODDS.

LINCOLN CARRIED 55% OF THE POPULAR VOTE.

ONLY 3 STATES--KENTUCKY, DELAWARE, AND NEW JERSEY-- WENT TO GEORGE McCLELLAN.

VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE GENERAL’S OLD COMMAND, THE UNION ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, VOTED FOR ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

MAN: "THAT GRAND OLD ARMY PERFORMED MANY HEROIC ACTS, "BUT NEVER IN ITS HISTORY DID IT DO A MORE DEVOTED SERVICE THAN VOTE FOR ABRAHAM LINCOLN."

MAN: "NOT THE FALL OF RICHMOND, NOR WILMINGTON, "NOR CHARLESTON, NOR SAVANNAH, NOR MOBILE, "NOR ALL COMBINED CAN SAVE THE ENEMY "FROM THE CONSTANT AND EXHAUSTIVE DRAIN "OF BLOOD AND TREASURE WHICH MUST CONTINUE "UNTIL HE SHALL DISCOVER THAT NO PEACE IS ATTAINABLE UNLESS BASED ON THE RECOGNITION OF OUR INDEFEASIBLE RIGHTS."

PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS.

NARRATOR: IF IT HADN’T BEGUN BEFORE, THE LOST CAUSE WAS BORN WITH HIS WORDS.

AS DAVIS SPOKE AT RICHMOND, HIS AUDIENCE COULD HEAR GRANT’S GUNS AT PETERSBURG, JUST 20 MILES AWAY.

MORE AND MORE, IT WAS BECOMING A CONFEDERACY OF THE MIND.

FOOTE: IT WAS A REALIZATION THAT DEFEAT WAS FOREORDAINED.

MISS CHESNUT, FOR INSTANCE, SAID, "IT’S LIKE IN A GREEK TRAGEDY, "WHERE YOU KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME IS BOUND TO BE, AND WE’RE LIVING A GREEK TRAGEDY."

AND THINGS BEGAN TO CLOSE IN ON THEM MORE AND MORE.

THERE WAS SCARCELY A FAMILY THAT HADN’T LOST SOMEONE.

THERE WERE-- DISRUPTION OF SOCIETY.

THE BLOCKADE WAS WORKING.

THEY COULDN’T GET VERY SIMPLE THINGS LIKE NEEDLES TO SEW WITH-- VERY SIMPLE THINGS.

AND THE DISCOURAGEMENT BEGAN TO SETTLE IN MORE AND MORE WITH THE REALIZATION THAT THEY WERE NOT GONNA WIN THAT WAR.

THEIR POLITICAL LEADERS DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD, ESPECIALLY JEFFERSON DAVIS, TO ASSURE THEM THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND AMERICAN REVOLUTION, AND IF THEY WOULD STAND FAST, THEY WAY THEIR FOREFATHERS HAD, VICTORY WAS UNQUESTIONABLY GONNA COME, BUT THE REALIZATION CAME MORE AND MORE THAT IT WAS NOT GONNA COME, ESPECIALLY THAT THEY WERE NOT GONNA GET FOREIGN RECOGNITION, WITHOUT WHICH WE WOULDN’T HAVE WON THE FIRST REVOLUTION, AND ALL THOSE THINGS CLOSED IN ON THEM.

NARRATOR: IN THE NORTH, THE RESERVOIR OF MEN SEEMED BOTTOMLESS.

WHOLE UNITS, LIKE THE 3rd MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS, HAD STILL NEVER HEARD A SHOT FIRED IN ANGER.

LINCOLN NOW ISSUED A PROCLAMATION MAKING THE LAST THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER A NATIONAL DAY OF THANKSGIVING.

IN THE TRENCHES AT PETERSBURG, 120,000 TURKEY AND CHICKEN DINNERS WERE SERVED TO GRANT’S HUGE ARMY.

ONLY YARDS AWAY, THE CONFEDERATES HAD NO FEAST, BUT HELD THEIR FIRE ALL DAY OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE UNION HOLIDAY.

LINCOLN CALLED FOR MORE MEN TO FINISH THE WAR.

THE SOUTH HAD NO MORE MEN TO SPARE.

AND WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN HAD BEGUN HIS MARCH TO THE SEA.

MAN: "WE LAY IN GRIM REPOSE "AND EXPECTED THE RENEWAL OF THE MORTAL CONFLICT.

"THE CONVICTION EVERYWHERE PREVAILED THAT WE COULD SUSTAIN BUT ONE MORE CAMPAIGN."

CAPTAIN JAMES F.J. CALDWELL.

NARRATOR: ON THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 25th AT THE WINTER GARDEN THEATER ON BROADWAY, SHAKESPEARE’S JULIUS CAESAR OPENED.

3 BROTHERS HAD THE STARRING ROLES-- EDWIN, JUNIUS, AND JOHN WILKES BOOTH.

AT ONE POINT IN SHAKESPEARE’S PLAY, CASSIUS SPEAKS OF THE ASSASSINATION OF CAESAR.

"HOW MANY AGES HENCE "SHALL THIS OUR LOFTY SCENE BE ACTED OVER, IN STATES UNBORN AND ACCENTS YET UNKNOWN?"

MAN: "CAPTAIN CLAPP, 77th NEW YORK.

WOUNDED AT PETERSBURG."

"CAPTAIN SMITH, 77th NEW YORK.

WOUNDED AT WILDERNESS."

"CAPTAIN TAYLOR, 61st PENNSYLVANIA.

WOUNDED AT SPOTSYLVANIA."

"CAPTAIN ORR, 77th NEW YORK.

LOST ARM AT CEDAR CREEK."

"CAPTAIN DEFOE.

EYE SHOT OUT AT SPOTSYLVANIA."

"MAJOR ELLIS, 49th NEW YORK.

DIED OF WOUND AT SPOTSYLVANIA."

"CAPTAIN HICKMOTT, 49th NEW YORK.

KILLED AT WILDERNESS."

"LIEUTENANT LYON, 77th NEW YORK.

KILLED AT SPOTSYLVANIA."

"LIEUTENANT BELDING, 77th NEW YORK.

KILLED AT CEDAR CREEK."

"UNION OFFICERS.

ALL KILLED IN BATTLE."

MAN: "IT REALLY LOOKS AS IF IT WOULD NEVER END."

"THE MOST INSPIRING SIGHT "IS THE FLOCK OF BUZZARDS CONSTANTLY HOVERING OVER US "AND WAITING FOR THEIR FEAST.

"THOSE BIRDS ARE AT LEAST IMPARTIAL BECAUSE THEY EAT BOTH SIDES ALIKE."

"THE SAME, I SUPPOSE, IS TRUE OF WORMS."

WASHINGTON ROEBLING.

NARRATOR: BY THE SPRING OF 1864, UNION DEAD COMPLETELY FILLED THE MILITARY CEMETERIES OF WASHINGTON AND ALEXANDRIA.

SECRETARY OF WAR STANTON ORDERED THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL, MONTGOMERY MEIGS, TO CHOOSE A NEW SITE.

MEIGS WAS A GEORGIAN WHO HAD SERVED UNDER LEE IN THE PEACETIME ARMY, BUT HE HAD DEVELOPED AN INTENSE HATRED FOR ALL HIS FELLOW SOUTHERNERS WHO FOUGHT AGAINST THE UNION HE STILL SERVED.

WITHOUT HESITATION, HE PICKED THE GROUNDS OF ROBERT E. LEE’S HOME AT ARLINGTON FOR THE NEW ARMY CEMETERY, AND ORDERED THAT THE UNION DEAD BE LAID TO REST WITHIN A FEW FEET OF THE FRONT DOOR OF THE MAN HE BLAMED FOR THEIR DEATHS SO THAT NO ONE COULD EVER AGAIN LIVE IN THE HOUSE.

IN OCTOBER, MEIGS’ OWN SON JOHN WAS KILLED BY CONFEDERATE GUERRILLAS IN THE SHENANDOAH AND BURIED IN MRS. LEE’S ROSE GARDEN.

AT ONE POINT THAT YEAR, THE UNION ARMY WAS SENDING BACK 2,000 WOUNDED, MAIMED, AND DYING MEN A WEEK TO WASHINGTON.

NOW THE MEN GRANT WAS SENDING TO FIGHT ROBERT E. LEE WERE BEING BURIED IN LEE’S OWN FRONT YARD.

AND THAT YARD BECAME ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, THE UNION’S MOST HALLOWED GROUND.

NARRATOR: TO LEARN MO RE ABOUT THE FILM AND SEE EXCLUSIVE WEB CONTENT, VISIT PBS.ORG/CIVIL WAR.

AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK WITH THE #CIVILWARPBS.

NARRATOR: THE CIVIL WAR 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION IS AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY AND DVD.

THE COMPANION BOOK IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

TO ORDER, VISIT SHOPPBS.ORG OR CALL 1-800-PLAY-PBS.

ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM ITUNES.

NARRATOR: CORPORATE FUNDING FOR THIS SPECIAL 25TH ANNIVERSARY PRESENTATION OF THE CIVIL WAR WAS PROVIDED BY.

MAN: BEFORE THOUSANDS FELL ON THE BATTLEFIELD, BEFORE MILLIONS WERE FREED AND BEFORE A COUNTRY FORGED ITS IDENTITY... A NATION DECLARED A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM, REDEDICATING ITSELF TO THE PROPOSITION THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.

BANK OF AMERICA IS PROUD TO SPONSOR "THE CIVIL WAR," A FILM BY KEN BURNS, NEWLY RESTORED FOR IT'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY.

NARRATOR: ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF "THE CIVIL WAR" WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THESE FUNDERS.

AND BY THE CORPORATION FO R PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.