Part 1. Between today and Friday, PBS is rebroadcasting this landmark Ken Burns documentary series – a newly remastered version, with both sound and images, in honor of this massive and superb historical miniseries’ silver anniversary. Tonight, we get the lead-up to the war, lots of the endearing commentary of Shelby Foote, the first Battle of Bull Run – and, as a capper, the Sullivan Ballou letter, one of the best moments of television in the past 25 years. For an in-depth interview with Ken Burns, see Noel Holston’s The Grassy Noel – and for my own remarks on The Civil War, and a few more comments from Ken Burns, see my own Bianculli’s Blog. Check local listings.

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