Civil War Stories

Explore the stories of those who fought in, protested against, and lived through the Civil War. There are countless accounts of slaves fleeing the South via the Underground Railroad, as well as those who aided them and those who pursued them. There are also plenty of biographies of soldiers and military officials who fought, including Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, and Benjamin Grierson; not to mention the many contributions of President Abraham Lincoln.

For that brief, but impactful moment in history, the United States was split in two. These books look at what led up to the war, how it happened, and what rebuilding looked like—and continues to look like.

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This Civil War Amputee Led the First Expedition Through the Grand Canyon

Learn about the eventful life of John Wesley Powell—professor, Civil War veteran, and explorer of the American West. 

Grant and Twain: How Two American Icons Relived the War in Literature

The Confederate deserter and the victorious Union general shared their reminisces with each other and the country.