This informative account of the American Civil War provides details of key battles and events in the conflict, from the opening shots at Fort Sumter in April 1861 to the surrender of the Southern forces at Appomattox in 1865, covering land and sea campaigns, and economic and political events. The text also explores the wholesale application of new military technology and concepts in strategic warfare, including the repeating rifle, machine guns, ironclad vessels and telegraphy.