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Rating: 
Summary: Kraus makes his stand in Dixie! Excellent sources!
Review: Continuing his great series of bringing the Civil War closer to home, Michael Kraus is back with this very informative 2-disc set featuring three hours of material. This set doesn't waste time with boring introduction or biographies on key leaders such as Lee or Jackson which I found very refreshing. Instead, Kraus gets straight to the point on featuring interesting everyday subjects such as fighting knives, musket tools, letters and ammunition. Though these subjects common to the everyday soldier are just a piece of this fine production. Kraus digs deep with rare and often overlooked subject matter such as clothing details, grave markers, Morgan's Raiders, French Leave, housewifes and warhorses. In appreciation and awe, Kraus is always careful in not having his actors in his production wearing 'farb' clothing which definately adds a true flavor to this segment. I enjoyed viewing the fine close-up views on a track featuring information regarding a Confederate General's coat. Kraus features an actual coat worn by an officer and allows the camera to zoom in on the coat itself to see the fine stitching and elaborate details which could be very helpful for reenactors looking for detail often not seen in books. Kraus brings actual period items to life in this production and the camera views are very crisp which helps define the character of the item and also the individual that may have used them during the war. I have all of Michael Kraus' material on DVD and was not disappointed in this Confederate based presentation. For those looking for information regarding a battle or popular figures this DVD set is not for you. I found this production completely informative and probably wouldn't recommend it for someone who doesn't have a general knowledge of the war or it's concepts. It may not have the quality of production that would be seen on a history channel but far exceeds anything done on television as it's not vague or bland. I can't wait for the next Kraus production and highly recommend this set! 5 STARS!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Kraus makes his stand in Dixie! Excellent sources!
Review: Continuing his great series of bringing the Civil War closer to home, Michael Kraus is back with this very informative 2-disc set featuring three hours of material. This set doesn't waste time with boring introduction or biographies on key leaders such as Lee or Jackson which I found very refreshing. Instead, Kraus gets straight to the point on featuring interesting everyday subjects such as fighting knives, musket tools, letters and ammunition. Though these subjects common to the everyday soldier are just a piece of this fine production. Kraus digs deep with rare and often overlooked subject matter such as clothing details, grave markers, Morgan's Raiders, French Leave, housewifes and warhorses. In appreciation and awe, Kraus is always careful in not having his actors in his production wearing 'farb' clothing which definately adds a true flavor to this segment. I enjoyed viewing the fine close-up views on a track featuring information regarding a Confederate General's coat. Kraus features an actual coat worn by an officer and allows the camera to zoom in on the coat itself to see the fine stitching and elaborate details which could be very helpful for reenactors looking for detail often not seen in books. Kraus brings actual period items to life in this production and the camera views are very crisp which helps define the character of the item and also the individual that may have used them during the war. I have all of Michael Kraus' material on DVD and was not disappointed in this Confederate based presentation. For those looking for information regarding a battle or popular figures this DVD set is not for you. I found this production completely informative and probably wouldn't recommend it for someone who doesn't have a general knowledge of the war or it's concepts. It may not have the quality of production that would be seen on a history channel but far exceeds anything done on television as it's not vague or bland. I can't wait for the next Kraus production and highly recommend this set! 5 STARS!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: It's about time!
Review: Finally, in this day of PC pablum, someone tells the REAL history of the Confederate soldier! You'll learn little-known facts about the major players, including General Lee of course, but more importantly, this set focuses heavily on the average man in the ranks and why he chose to fight. Daily camp life gets attention as well as what the soldier wore and what equipment he used. The real reasons and motivations for fighting are explored and what life was like after the war when men had to go home in defeat to often-devastated homes. Highly recommend! It's a must for serious students of the war and anyone who wants an authentic look at the period.
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