The producers accomplished a great deal in this hour long production. The course of the Civil War in the vicinity of Washington, DC, is traced chronologically from the first battle at Manassas in 1861 to the final surrender at Appaomatox in 1865. Key battles are re-enacted and described in a very tight narrative that is accurate and informative. The extensive and well rehearsed re-enactments provide a dimension to these battles that goes far beyond the literal description one finds even in the best of written histories.
This is not intended as a brief history of the Civil War but does provide and excellent starting point for learning about the war. I would recommend it especially for anyone who intends to visit these remarkable battlefields and monuments. If you had no interest in these places before seeing this documentary, you will certainly feel differently after viewing this excellent film.
