Emphasizing the military aspects of Civil War history, and focusing on Lee's army in particular, this volume recounts the major battles and campaigns, and also examines the nature of the army and the changing nature of warfare. Photographs, maps, and artist's renditions are featured throughout, providing visual representations of the events described.

Part I.Creating the Machine. Background to War -- Recruitment and Training -- Nature of the War -- Logistics -- Part II. The Years of Attack. The First Manassas Campaign -- Jackson's Valley Campaign -- The Peninsula Campaign -- The Second Manassas Campaign -- The 1862 Maryland Campaign -- Fredericksburg -- Chancellorsville -- Gettysburg -- Part III. The Nature of the Army. Robert E. Lee -- The Senior Command Structure -- The Rank and File -- The Army and the State Authorities -- Part IV. The Years of Defense. The Winter of 1863-64 -- The Wilderness to Cold Harbor -- Cold Harbor to Petersburg -- The Final Campaign -- Appendix. Order of Battle, Petersburg April 2, 1865 -- The Final Orders.