The Legacies (Civil War Journal)

"In many arenas, the Civil War changed things both in military and civilian life," William C. Davis observes. "The roles in society of women and minorities were altered drastically. Advancements in medicine and technology exerted a profound impact on the future. Industry burgeoned. The reporting of news entered the modern era with the photograph. Culture changed as the complexion of Americans evolved and as war's wounds imposed lasting divisions upon our society. It ensured at once that future wars would be more terrible, and yet we would be equipped to cope with that terror to come. These are the legacies of the war covered in this volume."

Civil War Journal: The Legacies is the third volume of a three-volume treatment of the Civil War developed from the popular History Channel seriesCivil War Journal. Drawing on personal letters, diaries, and newspaper reports, these volumes focus on seldom-told stories of people, places, and events that bring to life the heroic intensity of the Civil War. They portray the human side of the conflict that is frequently overlooked in recounting troop movements and engagements.

Rather than look at the leaders or battles, as previous volumes of Civil War Journal have done, this third and final volume considers the impact of the war on American culture and society. It is a wide-ranging survey, encompassing considerations of everything from the end of slavery to the creation of Arlington National Cemetery, from Matthew Brady's photojournalism to innovations in combat medicine. The book is richly illustrated with photographs and drawings, and quotations from various commentators in the History Channel's Civil War Journal series are incorporated seamlessly into the text.