In a rare conjunction in history, the sectional crisis dividing North from South in the United States, and the evolution of the photographic process, came of age together in 1861. The result was that the American Civil War which followed would be the most thoroughly documented human experience in history until the advent of the moving picture.
More than 2000 photographers plied their varying processes from 1861 to 1865, covering almost every aspect of the war and in every theatre. Many have never appeared in print before and are here published for the first time. They have been selected by noted historian William C Davis, who also provides the text.
