Ep 7. Most Hallowed Ground, 1864

In season 1 episode 7 of The Civil War: A Film By Ken Burns titled Most Hallowed Ground, 1864, the focus shifts towards the significance of the year 1864 in the United States' Civil War history. This episode is filled with powerful imagery, vivid description, and emotional storytelling that captures the essence of this deadly time in American history.

The episode begins with a discussion of the political situation in the North and South during 1864. The Union was struggling with the re-election of President Lincoln, while the Confederacy was faced with the daunting reality of shrinking resources, leadership vacancies, and weakening troop morale. The seemingly never-ending war has drained both sides in every possible way and has cost over 600,000 lives thus far.

The episode delves into the perspective of General William Tecumseh Sherman's Union Army, as they begin their infamous March to the Sea campaign. The episode expertly depicts the destruction and devastation wrought upon civilian cities and towns in the South in a series of haunting photographs and personal accounts. The Union forces were ruthless in their conquest, pillaging and burning homes and property, often leaving Southerners homeless and destitute.

In response to the brutal campaign by Sherman, Confederate forces rallied behind the leadership of General John Bell Hood in a last-ditch effort to crush the Union forces from the rear. The two sides met in one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, in a horrific struggle known as the Battle of Franklin. This episode gives a detailed, sobering account of the battle. The Union forces lose nearly 3,000 men, and the Confederacy suffers a crushing loss with nearly 7,000 dead or wounded. The episode highlights the deadly, inhumane tactics used by the opposing sides in this brutal conflict, including hand-to-hand combat that often left soldiers bayoneted or bludgeoned to death.

The show shifts gears to detail the conditions of prisoners of war at Andersonville Prison, one of the most infamous POW camps during the Civil War. The episode features detailed accounts of the deplorable conditions in which Union soldiers were kept, starvation, torture, and disease that ran rampant within the camp. The images of this section are sobering, with photographs of emaciated, sickly individuals, and emotional accounts from POWs who managed to make it out alive.

The episode ends with a reflection of the profound impact of the Civil War on the American nation as a whole, as well as the lingering tensions that still exist between the North and the South to this day. Viewers can expect to be left with a somber feeling, realizing the magnitude of the war and the events that took place during the year 1864.

In conclusion, the seventh episode of The Civil War: A Film By Ken Burns is a powerful, gut-wrenching account of the year 1864. The expertly crafted narrative, the poignant imagery, and the emotionally charged storytelling make for an episode that is both engaging and sobering. It highlights the true cost of war, not only in terms of the loss of life but also in the long-lasting impact on society as a whole.