Fought from 1861 to 1865, the American Civil War remains the deadliest in U.S. history. Some 600,000 soldiers perished; there were 75,000 civilian deaths; brother fought brother; neighbor fought neighbor; towns such as Gettysberg and Chancellorsville would forever become synonymous with bloodshed. Behind the politics, there were people: husbands, wives, and lovers, torn apart by four years of relentless fighting.

Civil War Love Stories explores the lives of lovers from both sides of the conflict: how they met, their reaction to the onset of war, and how they coped with being parted. Delving into their romantic, often heart-wrenching correspondence, these are profoundly moving tales told from the front line.