This book presents an overview of the combat leadership in the Civil War. The author examines the war through the eyes of six generals, three for each side. It is an interesting semi biography for the six men the author follows: Grant, Barlow, Thomas, Lee, Hood, and Gordon. It is fairly well written, however it seems apparent from the get go that the author has a soft spot for General Thomas. As such he is excessively critical of the other generals when they clash with Thomas. None the less it provides interesting insight into some of the less well known generals of the war.