A Short History of the Civil War Author:Fletcher Pratt The Civil War was one of the most terrible of human conflicts. It was a time of violent hatreds, dishonest profiteering, huge sacrifices and almost inhuman bravery.It was a time of destruction, of hope, of bitterness and love. It was our country's greatest ordeal-when as a young and powerful nation, the United States flared into violence over i... more »ssues of slavery and secession!« less