The four long years of Civil War saw fighting across America on an unprecedented scale, incurring losses to both sides to an extent never previously imagined. As the battles raged from east to west, from the First Battle of Bull run to Sherman's march to the Sea, no part of America remained untouched by the war, with families finding themselves torn and fighting on opposing sides. More than 150 years on, the war continues to fascinate us, and the key commanders, both presidents, and battle sites are forever enshrined in America's history. With a foreword by James McPherson, this volume brings together the work of four leading US historians to provide a thoroughly comprehensive and insightful study of the war, packed with first-hand accounts from soldiers and civilians alike. Superbly illustrated with more than 150 contemporary black-and white and color images, and with 40 specially commissioned full-color maps, this edition provides an analysis of the causes, events, and effects of the Civil War.