Civil War, a to Z : The Complete Handbook of America’s Bloodiest Conflict Paperback / softback

With hundreds of entries, as well as photographs, drawings, and a handy time line of events, the Civil War, A to Z is an invaluable reference work on the United States' most historic internecine conflict.

The book is a mine of information and covers all aspects of the war, from 'Appomattox', the site in Virginia of an 1865 battle, to 'Zouaves', volunteer regiments from both the North and South.

This comprehensive encyclopedia of the war between the states features facts both familiar and new in an easy-to-follow alphabetical format.

Near an informative entry on'Robert E. Lee' you will find startling revelations about 'Lincoln's in-laws', four of whom actually fought for the Confederacy.

Not far from the famous battle site of 'Shiloh' are 'Sutlers', profiteers who trailed along with armies, hawking all kinds of often shoddy wares. And in close proximity to 'weapons' sits 'General Stand Watie', the only American-Indian to achieve the rank of General within the Confederacy.

In short, this wonderful one-volume resource ranges from the basic to the bizarre, from 'secession' to 'spies' and all kinds of 'swords', creating a complete picture of the war from the first shot to final surrender.

No Civil War enthusiast or student of history will want to be without this indispensable and entertaining guide to one of modern America's most formative and bloody events.

Clifford L. Linedecker is a former investigative journalist with eighteen years'experience on the Philadelphia Inquirer, Rochester Times-Union, Fort Wayne News-Sentinel and several other Indiana newspapers, and was also articles editor for the National Features Syndicate in Chicago, and for County Rambler magazine.

He is also the author of numerous true-crime titles, including The Man Who Killed Boys, Night Stalker, Killer Kids, Blood in the Sand and Deadly White Female.