The Civil War, sometimes called "The American Iliad," is an epic of violence, rage, bravery, and love, whose echoes still can be heard. America's bloodiest day was September 17, 1862--the Battle of Antietam, or Sharpsburg, which enabled President Lincoln to issue a proclamation freeing all slaves in the rebellious states. The battle's story is told here by two soldiers: a Yankee, who fights for union, justice, and equality; and a Rebel, for whom the war is a battle for freedom. Both voices still haunt today's struggles over race, rights, and the flag.
