Much of what I have to say was in my review for Vol. 2 finished earlier this year. Here is the review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2876793232?book_show_action=false&from...

Wow. Two of the volumes in one year. Can I finish my challenge of 60 books this year? I have no idea. I don't regret reading this volume. The series by Foote goes into my favorites list of books read for my life. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful a series it is. Was I overwhelmed by the length at times? Yes. I will definitely admit this was a major undertaking, but well worth it. Go t0 your local library, check out the book and read it. The library may have the audiobook on Overdrive (ours does). Each volume is around 50 hours long.

Enjoy reading about the five most important years in the history of the United States. This was the culmination of an issue that was at the foundation of the US, and it is still playing out in our modern lives 155 years later. ( )

Which American President created a system for slaves to be judged by a jury of all black jurors? Jefferson Davis

The U.S. Constitution provided for population counting to be 3/5ths of a person for slaves. How did the Confederate Constitution describe African-Americas, in contrast? Slaves.

Such a good book, but often spoiled by southern bias of a boring kind. Like I can't necessarily always even believe the narrative- can the south ALWAYS be smarter and braver than the north? also such hatred for the radical republicans- again... does not have the whiff of objectivity. ( )

There's not much to say about this volume that I didn't already say about the first two volumes. It's a classic work of narrative history written by a skilled novelist and a very thoughtful man. If you think you'd be interested, buy a copy now before Amazon forbids it.

What I thought I could do is list some miscellaneous things I've learned from the trilogy that I didn't previously know. Some of these will probably betray my singular ignorance, but there may be a few that would be news to others, as well.

1) Trench warfare wasn't just a thing in "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly"; it was a major part of most Civil War battles. In fact, Blue versus Gray were facing each other in trenches east of Richmond and Petersburg for almost a year near the end of the war.

2) I say "Gray", but lots of Confederate soldiers were dressed in butternut (a light brown).

3) A large segment of the Confederate army fought barefoot.

4) Through most of the war, the two sides had a system called "parole" in which armies would not retain their prisoners but would release them after they agreed that "for them the war was over" (as the Germans would say).

5) Generals did not lead a cushy life back then. About 1 in 8 were killed in action during the war.

6) Somehow during the time I lived in Atlanta I got the idea that, in the siege of that city, Union cannons lobbed shells from Kennesaw Mountain into the downtown area, almost 20 miles away. In actuality, cannons then had a range of about a mile--no more than 2 miles for the best--and the mountain's 800 feet of height couldn't have made that much difference.

7) This was the first war in which railroads were a major factor.

8) Tearing up railroad tracks was a major activity of the cavalry, but both sides became quite proficient at repairing them quickly.

9) Lee's surrender to Grant took place in a private home in a village called Appomattox Court House, *not* in a court house building. ( )

A very well-researched narrative-style telling of the end of the Civil War. Foote tried to turn a series of mechanical battles into a story. Few details were left out; it is very thorough. However, the narrative seemed to try and excuse the actions of the South and its leaders during the war so it was not to my taste. ( )