Customer Reviews

The Last Days of the Civil War (History Channel)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before purchasing this DVD set, I had hoped that I was purchasing material I never saw before. I was sort of disappointed to see that the History Channel had put together a compilation of previously aired shows featuring rather old material. There are three biographies that cover Lincoln, Lee and Davis. The Lee and Davis episodes are entirely taken from the Civil War Journal series. On disc #2, a look at the Cold Harbor Battle is brought in but that came from the Civil War Combat Series. Again, these are not new productions and can be found or represented in other series availabe from the History Channel. Most welcome was the copy of the documentary called April 1865 that recently aired earlier this year (2003). April 1865 takes a look at the end of the Confederacy and how the nation dealt with the ending of the war and the loss of President Lincoln.

Had I known that this DVD set contained old material I already have, I probably would have settled to buy only the copy of April 1865. Together, all of the programs are very informative and contain a lot of great insight although I would have prefered new material. Quality wise, this is a great set, though I give it a 4 because a lot of the material is older and not new.

I bought this DVD in 2003 and decided to view it again the other night, finding it just as entrancing now as then.

The 2-disc set is divided into two parts, with the first disc being largely based on Jay Winik's spectacular bestselling book, APRIL, 1865; the program includes several notable writers and educators, such as William Davis, James Robertson, and Brian Pohanka among others of the Civil War on hand to give comments. Further, this first disc is broken down into April 1865: The Month That Saved America, and Civil War Combat: The Tragedy At Cold Harbor.

The second disc comes from A&E network prior to the History Channel going on the air; the disc has a biography of Abraham Lincoln, and General Robert E. Lee, with a Civil War Journal biography of Jefferson Davis. A final added feature is a copy on two screens of the Gettysburg Address.

My wife and I bought this at one of the Virginia battlefield sites in 2003 prior to returning home after visiting the old and new Cold Harbor battlefields near Richmond, and Appomattox Court House. We both enjoyed viewing these discs again and again; enjoying all of Virginia so much, that we moved from Ohio in 2006, and are now living in Virginia!

If you are interested in the 1864-1865 Lee-Grant Overland Campaigns in Virginia, or the end of the war from Richmond to Amelia Court House to Sayler's Creek and finally Appomattox Court House, these discs will bring you untold enjoyment.

Semper Fi

"The Last Days of the Civil War" gives the viewer a fascinating look at the end of the American Civil War, our greatest test as a nation! The Five Impressive Documentaries include:

-"April 1865: The Month That Saved America." A detailed account of the last month of the Civil War. It shows how the outcome of the war was in question even after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox.

-"Civil War Combat: The Tragedy of Cold Harbor." An intense and moving look at the battle that brought about the end of Napoleonic tactics, and ushered in the era of trench warfare.

-"A&E Biography: Abraham Lincoln." A closeup look at the man who led America through it's darkest hour.

-2 "Civil War Journal" Documentaries that look at the lives of CSA President Jefferson Davis and CSA General Robert E. Lee.

This set gives an accurate look at the end of America's greatest conflict! Historians and non-historians alike will not be disappointed! Grade: A+

This exceptional History Channel documentary looks at the last month of the Civil War. Lincoln is ready to sue for peace; Booth awaits his chance to eliminate the enemy of his country; Despite the fall of Richmond, Davis is determined to fight on; Sherman continues to burn his way through the heart of the Confederacy; Lee rallies his army time and again to continue the fight; Grant fearing a guerrilla war offers to parley with a reluctant Lee. So much was in the balance in the last month of the Civil War that this documentary spends 6 entertaining and interesting hours investigating what happened, why it happened, and the men who made it happen!

I WAS ESPECIALLY GRATIFIED IN VIEWING THE 3 PERSONALITIES AND EVENTS OF THIS DVD.THERE ARE REVELATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM THAT EVEN THE MOST DIEHARD OF CIVIL WAR BUFFS WILL APPRECIATE LEARNING ABOUT.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PROGRAM.

Excellent source of information on the last days of the civil war. This DVD is an interesting & well done piece of work. One can almost feel the atmosphere the fear, & expectations of the soldiers. Definitely worth having in your collection

As a high-school teacher for history and English foundations, I must utilize movies as a visual aide supplement to help them connect with the characters, setting, dialogue... I strongly recommend using this dvd to support your curriculum to teach on all levels of student learning (auditory, kinesthetic, visual).

My son is stationed in Qatar currently. He doesn't get much American TV, so he watches DVDs. He is a Civil War buff, so he loved this set! I loved the shipping to APOs! Some sites don't offer it or charge ridiculous fees (Walmart) to ship to APOs. I am very pleased with this purchase!

Arrived in a timely fashion. Was in excellent condition. enjoyed by the whole family