I fell in love with this book in 1965 - when the Civil War was on everybody's mind because of the centennial. The writing is superb - of course, it's Bruce Catton - and the photos are outstanding. But what lights up my eyes and engages my imagination are the battle maps. Not sterile lines and arrows, but topographical drawings that show every rock and ravine, every house and barn, and little tiny men advancing, retreating, shooting, dieing. You have to see the maps to understand how wonderful they are. ( )