The American Civil War was a turning point in the evolution of the world's most successful nation and, as such, is profusely studied beyond the US as well as within it. The war accounted for 650,000 lives and this is just one of a myriad of statistics that accompany such major events: this excellent reference work provides all the data required for a complete study of the action and does so in a logical, compact and convenient style. The author's carefully devised information is presented in a manner and style that aids widespread use by students, historians and researchers at all levels and may well become the most valuable reference source on their library shelves. In sequence with future volumes in this series the contents are set out as: Introduction, Reasons for War, Chronology, The Participants, The Combatant Forces, Weapons and Equipment, and Aids to Further Study. In addition, tables of statistics feature throughout the book that also includes illustrations and maps.