The World Around Us #26

In the thick of the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant pushes forward through fierce battles at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and Shiloh, proving his resolve on the field. When pressure mounts to remove him due to heavy casualties, Abraham Lincoln stands firm—choosing a general unafraid to fight, no matter the cost.

Raphael Semmes leads the Confederate raider Alabama on a daring campaign across the seas, preying on Union shipping with relentless precision. But off the coast of Cherbourg, his run ends in a fierce clash with the USS Kearsage, commanded by John Winslow.

In the heart of the Civil War, young Harry M. Kieffer and his friend Andy answer the call, becoming drummer boys and stretcher bearers with the 150th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Through the smoke and thunder of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, they carry the rhythm of battle and the weight of duty, their lives shaped by the relentless march of war.

In the aftermath of war, a fractured South struggles under Northern occupation, its people caught between the failed promises of Reconstruction and the deep scars of division. This quiet, reflective piece captures the lingering tension and unresolved hopes of a nation still grappling with its broken unity.