This book just covers 6 months or so of the beginning of the Civil War, focused on Fort Sumter. It portrays characters largely unportrayed in any historical accounts of the time that I've read (I've read several.) I think between these two strategies, this is one of the more compelling accounts of this period of time. The author also spends a lot of time describing the environment and culture of Charleston and South Carolina at this time. I would highly recommend this if you are at all a fan of 19th century US history.