The bloodiest conflict in U.S. history—claiming over 600,000 lives—was also one of the most complex. This handy chronology of the Civil War allows readers to follow the conflict from opening salvo to Appomattox and to grasp at a glance the order and intricacies of all the key developments, from battles on land and sea to political maneuvers North and South. Principal commanders and political figures, key technology, transportation, and weaponry, all receive due treatment. The Civil War Day by Day goes beyond the major engagements of the war to cover lesser episodes and partisan activities (like Mosbys and Quantrills), providing a reference that is at once fingertip-quick and comprehensive—and an incomparable resource on this critical chapter in American history.