Complemented by maps and period photographs, a narrative history of the Civil War focuses on some of the war's most significant battles, including Fort Sumter, through the war's turning point at Gettysburg, to Appomattox.

Smithsonian's' Great Battles & Battlefields of the Civil War is an authoritative history and practical guide to the places the war waswaged. Here are the stories of the stunning dramas that unfolded on the battlefields, with illustrations that bring the scenes to life. Organized by state and cross-referenced chronologically, each entry explains the relevant battle and details the strategies behind troop movements with reference to preserved landmarks....