Ep 6. Valley of the Shadow of Death, 1864

Valley of the Shadow of Death, 1864 is the sixth episode of season one of The Civil War: A Film By Ken Burns.

This episode focuses on the continued fighting in Virginia during 1864, with Union General Ulysses S. Grant attempting to break through Confederate General Robert E. Lee's defenses and reach Richmond, the Confederate capital. The episode takes its title from a particularly brutal battle, in which Union photographer Timothy O'Sullivan captured one of the most famous images of the war - a haunting photograph of a field littered with the bodies of dead soldiers.

The battle is just one of many that are covered in the episode, which uses photographs, letters, and diary entries from both Union and Confederate soldiers to tell the story of how the war affected those on the front lines. One of the most moving moments comes when viewers are introduced to Sergeant Amos Humiston, a Union soldier whose body was found after the battle, clutching a photograph of his three young children. The episode tells the story of how his photo was circulated throughout the Union, eventually leading to his identification and the heart-wrenching reunion with his family.

Valley of the Shadow of Death, 1864 also delves into the personal side of the war, with letters between soldiers and their loved ones providing insight into the toll that the conflict took on families. The episode features readings of letters from a wife asking her husband to come home, to a mother writing to her son with advice on how to live a good life, knowing that he may not survive the war.

Throughout the episode, viewers are also introduced to the changing nature of warfare during the Civil War. From the invention of the Gatling gun (one of the first machine guns) to the development of trench warfare, this episode showcases the ways in which technology and tactics were rapidly evolving on both sides of the conflict. One of the most intriguing segments comes when the episode explores the use of hot-air balloons by the Union army for reconnaissance - a tactic that was both innovative and somewhat comical, as soldiers were not sure how to react to the sight of a giant balloon hovering overhead.

Overall, Valley of the Shadow of Death, 1864 is a poignant and powerful episode that provides a fascinating look at the horrors of the Civil War from the points of view of the soldiers and their families. With its mix of historical footage and personal accounts, this episode (and the series as a whole) stands as a testament to the enduring impact of the conflict on American society and culture.