Overview

This book looks at moments and decisions in the Civil War which either radically changed the course of the War, or had the possibility of radically changing the course of the War. In some cases, it was because of something that happened (Lee given command of the Army of Northern Virginia; the Union victory at Vicksburg) that impacted the course of the War. In other cases, it was because of something that didn't happen that changed the course of the War (the failure of McClellan to pursue Lee's army after the Battle of Antietam; the Confederate failure to maintain and expand its territorial gains in the Southwest). We'll also take a look at some of the "key players" in these events, including Northern Generals Chamberlain, Thomas, Grant and Sherman, and Southern generals Pickett, Jackson, and Lee.