Bruce Catton's trilogy about the Army of the Potomac (Mr. Lincoln's Army, Glory Road, This Hallowed Ground) was a magnificent undertaking. The third volume won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, but the awards were for the series. Catton's research was impressive, his writing was superb, and his ability to blend individual stories within a coherent general account is unsurpassed. The last year of the Civil War turned hard and ugly even compared to the first three years. The Battle of the Wilderness, stunningly portrayed, followed a doomed cavalry raid on Richmond, and set the tone for the year to come. It wouldn't be until Appomattox that a touch of grace appeared. Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan propelled the Union effort, and their characters are well described.