For more than a century, the conventional wisdom has been that the South lost because of overwhelming Union strength and bad luck but this study shows how governments can self-destruct during wartime.

Birth of a nation -- Portrait of a president -- The war department -- A curious cabinet -- The military high command -- State rightisms -- Richmond, the capital -- The rise of Lee and Bragg -- An uneasy brotherhood -- Jockeying for position -- Politics spinning out of control -- Can't we all get along? -- Soiled reputations -- The president versus the congress -- Military highs and lows -- Slaves as soldiers? -- Peace proposals -- Epilogue : despair.