Civil War Combat was a series hosted by The History Channel in 1999 to 2003. It described battles of the American Civil War in a graphic, realistic level. Veteran voice actor Tony Jay served as narrator. The series included such battles as the Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Cold Harbor, Battle of Shiloh, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Antietam and Battle of Petersburg. One of the objectives of the series was to associate people with lesser known regiments and commands. Another one was to provide little known facts of the fields of conflict and to also give an accurate portrayal of the bloodiness of the fighting of the day.
DirectorDavid de Vries
The Wheatfield at Gettysburg
Feb 22, 2000
When the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia engaged the Union Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg in July 1863, an area known as "the Wheatfield", initially of little value, suddenly became the focus of intense conflict. We bring to life the bloody battle, one of few during the Civil War when men literally fought hand-to-hand
The Bloody Lane at Antietam
Feb 23, 2000
In September 1862, Robert E. Lee invaded the North for the first time and met the Union army along the banks of Maryland's Antietam Creek, which became the sight of the bloodiest single day in U.S. military history. Visit the scene of the most concentrated fury of that day, on a narrow country road forever after called "Bloody Lane".
The Hornets Nest at Shiloh
Feb 24, 2000
On April 6, 1862, Confederate forces under General Albert Johnston caught Union forces by surprise near Shiloh Church. The battle culminated in an area along an abandoned wagon road later dubbed 'The Hornet's Nest' due to the ferocity of the fighting.
The Tragedy at Cold Harbor
Feb 25, 2000
In 1864, General Grant doggedly pursued Lee's forces. On June 3, the two sides met at Cold Harbor, a crossroads near Richmond, where Grant hurled his men against entrenched breastworks, losing 7,000 in 20 minutes. Fighting on, he won victory 10 months later. Hastening the South's end, Cold Harbor ushered in an era of trench warfare.
