Several individuals followed the footsteps of their ancestors learning more about what happened to them as the stories unfolded. It was a fascinating trip through history to the present and I was impressed with virtually everything I witnessed.

In one compelling case a member of the 54th Mass had written his wife to be some of the most beautiful letters about why he was fighting and what he had hoped to accomplish. He made it to 1st Sergeant and was in the attacks on Ft. Wagner. His descriptions of the slaughter, the siege and the eventually abandonment of the Fort by the Confederates and there were a few pic's of his and his bride to be when he returned to MA. He was discharged after being wounded and "maintained gangrene of the groin". He returned to MA, married his sweetheart and although they were childless, (probably because of the wound/gangrene), lived a loving life. The GGGrandnephew was truly touched when he found a DR in that had original letters from the soldier, and an apology that he did not take his future wife's picture with him, (there was a pic of a stunning woman, dignified and intelligent.

There were stories of heroism and fear, it laid naked what the men and women of that era had done, no holds barred. The terror a confederate private felt as he was about to be ordered to move with his TX Regiment up Little Round Top, (the order was rescinded to his great relief). To see the relatives of these people seeking out their roots, trying to understand what had happened and living a small portion of their lives helped me to understand the CW a little better. As with all war, the most compelling stories are the one's from those that do the fighting on the lines, seldom heard from, overshadowed by generals and blunderers.

We all want to know a little more about our families, our roots in this nation, this series helped a few tie it all together...and I highly recommend it it for both history buffs and people who just like to see the stories all come together.