CNN - Review: 'Smithsonian's Great Battles of the Civil War'

(CNN) -- Have you always meant to pause and read that Civil War historical marker that you pass every day? Have you been meaning to take the kids on a history trip to Antietam, or Bull Run? Maybe you've caught the end of one of those TNT miniseries about Civil War battles, like "Andersonville", or maybe Ken Burns' acclaimed PBS documentary, "The Civil War" and it piqued your interest. Well, wait no longer. Load up the station wagon, and don't leave home without "Smithsonian's Great Battles and Battlefield's of the Civil War".

Written by Jay Wertz, a writer and producer of the Mastervision video series, "Smithsonian's Great Battles of the Civil War", and Edward C. Bearss, the chief historian emeritus of the National Park Service, "Smithsonian's Great Battles and Battlefield's of the Civil War" clocks in at a whopping 800-plus pages. A 'pocket guide' it is not; it more closely resembles a textbook. The definitive volume includes both past and present photographs, maps, illustrations, and diagrams.

The book is broken down alphabetically by state, or when not enough action occurred in a state, by region, such as the Northwest. It also includes an international section. Within each state or region, a brief historical summary details what part the area played in the war. Following the historical summary is a paragraph devoted to the points of interest that exist today. At the end of most of the points of interest paragraphs are a variety of symbols, denoting the amenities that each area has to offer. Parking, restaurants, and handicap accessibility, for example. Admission prices range from one, two, or three dollar signs. In many cases, driving directions are also given.

The international section is of particular interest. While no Civil War land battles occurred outside of the continental United States, the chapter details the fascinating exploits of blockade runners, commerce raiders, warships, and the like. While the chapter touches on a number of different international ports, any substantial points of interest are scant. The Royal Victoria Hotel, where many blockade runners stayed, is not exciting enough for even the most die hard of Civil War buffs to send them running to their travel agent's office.

Because the book is broken down alphabetically the battles are not in chronological order. For example, the sixteen pages devoted to Gettysburg, which is traditionally considered to be the turning point of the war, comes well before Charleston, where the war began, at Fort Sumter.

But this is a minor flaw, in what is otherwise an engaging and comprehensive look at where the battles of America's bloodiest war took place.

Tom Faucett is a freelance writer who lives in Atlanta.