NPR captures the battlefield action, the personal struggles, and the moral dilemmas of the war that pitted brother against brother (and sometimes sister) and friend against friend. This revealing collection of Civil War stories features gripping history, expert commentary, and unforgettable voices:

- Shelby Foote reflects on the southern perspective
- E.L. Doctorow discusses Sherman and The March
- Sam Waterston performs the Gettysburg Address
- Hal Holbrook honors Iowa in the Civil War
- Susan Stamberg reports from Lincoln’s summer retreat
- James McPherson tours Gettysburg’s hallowed ground
- Tony Horwitz explores the world of Civil War reenactors
Plus visits to battlefields at Manassas, Antietam, Gettysburg, and much more.

The NPR American Chronicles series explores the historical events that continue to resonate in our lives. Expert commentary and unforgettable stories create vivid sound portraits of history’s greatest people and events, examined in multi-faceted and moving detail.