The doc is back on PBS this week for the 25th Anniversary. It first aired September 23-27, 1990...

I just stumbled on it.

If you've never seen it then you should. It's outstanding.

I believe the entire thing is on Netflix for those unwilling to fill the DVR.

When it came out my uncle refused to let my aunt watch it. I think it's the best ever done so I hope she saw it before she died.

When it came out my uncle refused to let my aunt watch it. I think it's the best ever done so I hope she saw it before she died.

In heavens name .Why ?

Outstanding TV and I have watched it a couple of times. I fell asleep Monday night watching and caught a few minutes last night. This is one of my favorites of all time.

 

The images are haunting and meshed with the music, stories, commentary and history lesson they tell the sad and complicated story of a dark time in our history.

Shelby Foote was a great commentator (I think I have his name right) on Civil War history.

Try listening to the Sullivan Ballou letter with "Ashokan Farewell" playing in the background and not cry. You can't. It is so sad and so perfect all in one.

Shelby Foote was a great commentator (I think I have his name right) on Civil War history.

 

 

He tells a story, in his awesomely slow Mississippi accent, where a rabbit runs away from a battle and a soldier says "if i's an old hare I'd run away, too"...(chuckles)...then Foote follows by saying "it wasn't all valor."

 

I think about that quote all the time.

In heavens name .Why ?

 

He was born in 1895-96 Alabama and while he was one of the most interesting people I ever met he was quite the bigot. His father had fought for the south and I suppose he was raised with a lot of resentment towards the north. We were always reminded not to discus the civil war with him when we visited each other.

Outstanding TV and I have watched it a couple of times. I fell asleep Monday night watching and caught a few minutes last night. This is one of my favorites of all time.

 

The images are haunting and meshed with the music, stories, commentary and history lesson they tell the sad and complicated story of a dark time in our history.

 

I can't watch it at night, fall asleep to that music and narrative every time.

I have watched this and Ken Burns baseball multiple times

Try listening to the Sullivan Ballou letter with "Ashokan Farewell" playing in the background and not cry. You can't. It is so sad and so perfect all in one.

I agree. I showed this documentary to my history classes and several of the students got teary-eyed during that scene.

Shelby Foote was a great commentator (I think I have his name right) on Civil War history.

Passed away in 2005 .Great author . Read his works .