Civil War Combat

While titles such as Ken Burns' The Civil War (VL-5/90) examine the War Between the States as a whole, including many aspects of life on the homefront, Civil War Combat focuses exclusively on the battles. Hosted by Roger Mudd, this series presents re-enactments of four major battles--Shiloh, Antietam, Gettysburg, and Cold Harbor--with historians offering an impartial look as they discuss military strategy and how the battle ultimately impacted the outcome of the Civil War. Each episode includes still photographs and dramatizations, accompanied by narration, letters and diary excerpts from soldiers and civilian family members. The combination of convincing re-enactments, intelligent commentary, and solid scripting makes this a welcome addition to any Civil War collection. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (L. Stevens)