Most Hallowed Ground (1864)

The Civil War: On Hallowed Ground (1990)

**** (out of 4)

The seventh episode in Ken Burns' terrific documentary continues with stories about the following topics: Nathan Bedford Forrest, the role of former slaves, The Battle of the Crater, lice races, the 450 plus brothels in Washington, D.C., equal pay for black soldiers, the Fort Pillow Massacre, prison camps, Thanksgiving becoming an official holiday, Lincoln's re-election and the start of the Arlington National Cemetery. Once again Burns has done a terrific job at really making the viewer understand everything that was going on in the country during this period. As usual, Burns' uses his great storytelling techniques like the narration and countless photographs from the actual events. Some of the most haunting stuff comes from stories about the prison camps and especially the ones in the South where they didn't have enough food to feed their own men let alone all the Union soldiers being held captive. There are several disturbing photos shown of the men pretty much skin and bones just like we'd see decades later during the Holocaust. Film buffs as well as history buffs should really enjoy this documentary as it's certainly one of the best of its kind.