Product Details

• Directors: Mark Bussler
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Inecom Entertainment, Inc.
• DVD Release Date: September 6, 2001
• Run Time: 180 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005Q5K3
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,075 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'CIVIL WAR MINUTES® - Union' is a treasure trove of interesting information not to be found elsewhere on video. --Don Troiani, Civil War Historian and Artist, "America's Civil War Magazine"

Product Description

EXPLORING THE LIFE OF THE UNION SOLDIER Personal belongings open a window into the lives of those who battle in America's Civil War. The stories behind never-before-seen photographs, letters, artifacts and hundreds of rare paintings and engravings complete the picture of the Civil War in "CIVIL WAR MINUTES® - Union" 2 DVD Box Set. Small and unique objects, such as a drum from the Battle of Gettysburg with a hidden note inside, are pieced together to reveal the human element of war. This film also discloses the perspective of the average foot soldier through handwritten letters to family members. The real lives of ordinary people who leave their homes and families behind to answer duty's call for this new and inexperienced nation are featured. This documentary explores soldiers' everyday lives through the personal effects they carry into war.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kraus makes his stand in Dixie! Excellent sources!, October 25, 2002

By 

Todd E. Newman (Valparaiso, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Civil War Minutes - Confederate DVD Box Set (DVD)

Continuing his great series of bringing the Civil War closer to home, Michael Kraus is back with this very informative 2-disc set featuring three hours of material. This set doesn't waste time with boring introduction or biographies on key leaders such as Lee or Jackson which I found very refreshing. Instead, Kraus gets straight to the point on featuring interesting everyday subjects such as fighting knives, musket tools, letters and ammunition. Though these subjects common to the everyday soldier are just a piece of this fine production. Kraus digs deep with rare and often overlooked subject matter such as clothing details, grave markers, Morgan's Raiders, French Leave, housewifes and warhorses. In appreciation and awe, Kraus is always careful in not having his actors in his production wearing 'farb' clothing which definately adds a true flavor to this segment.

I enjoyed viewing the fine close-up views on a track featuring information regarding a Confederate General's coat. Kraus features an actual coat worn by an officer and allows the camera to zoom in on the coat itself to see the fine stitching and elaborate details which could be very helpful for reenactors looking for detail often not seen in books. Kraus brings actual period items to life in this production and the camera views are very crisp which helps define the character of the item and also the individual that may have used them during the war.

I have all of Michael Kraus' material on DVD and was not disappointed in this Confederate based presentation. For those looking for information regarding a battle or popular figures this DVD set is not for you. I found this production completely informative and probably wouldn't recommend it for someone who doesn't have a general knowledge of the war or it's concepts. It may not have the quality of production that would be seen on a history channel but far exceeds anything done on television as it's not vague or bland. I can't wait for the next Kraus production and highly recommend this set! 5 STARS!!!!!

43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I guess I will disagree, April 16, 2005

By 

S. R. Standkey "ripper" (south) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Civil War Minutes - Confederate DVD Box Set (DVD)

I bought this version as I am a part time lover of Confederate history. I thought that this set being supposedly focused on the Confederate side would be nice since usually the Confederate side gets slighted.

I was annoyed that the commentator for the Confederate DVD set chose a union uniform to wear while presenting this. Ok not that big a deal but unexpected. While this dvd does cover alot of non-mainstream items it always seemed to keep bringing up the union side. Examples... A great deal of time was spent on union soldiers experiences and letters, the "drums of war" centered almost exclusively on union drummers, almost always the Confederate discussion was countered with union betterment. (One exception that comes to mind was the knife discussio)etc .etc..

It also seemed that most Confederate viewpoints and discussions were centered on the low points or lost battles.

So.. I will leave it at that and move on. Lets simply say it was not what I expected (whether that was my fault for expecting to much or not). There are good

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Civil War Minutes, February 7, 2002

By 

Todd E. Newman (Valparaiso, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Civil War Minutes - Union DVD Box Set (DVD)

This DVD is a perfect addition for anyone that is learning about the Civil War in general. Michael Kraus is very informative and his forward approach to presenting the details of soldier life, personal letters and lifestyle is a welcomed sight. His concise details are backed by many true stories. Important items to the everyday soldier such as a canteens, muskets and clothing are presented with historical facts and are often linked to an individual that actually used them.

This DVD set is perfect for those new at learning or trying to get a rounded view of soldier life and general information regarding the war. For the experienced reenactor or historian it may be too general. Though I would have to admit that even a historian can learn about a particular soldier from a letter or get new insight from the material.

The presentation or filming is sometimes lacking in quality as lighting and sound quality isn't the best at times. The sounds effects are interesting though sometimes overdone. Sometimes the effects overshadow the narration and make it harder to hear. I do have to give credit to the music used as it captured the era and was presented well.