AllMovie

The Civil War is a subject that has captivated history buffs since the last fire was shot all the way back in 1865, and though many films and documentaries have explored the human aspect of the war, few have explored the vital bond between man and beast on the battlefield. Now director Mark Bussler offers a unique and compelling look at the key role that an estimated 72,000 horses played in the war with a documentary that shows just how dependent the fighting soldiers were to the animals that guided them into battle. Without the contributions of these fearless beasts, the United States of America simply would not have developed as it ultimately did, and as narrator Ronald F. Maxwell offers an involving account of the soldier and the horse, images of charging horses and stunning battlefield panoramas offer a refreshing change of pace from the typical "talking head" documentary format employed by so many filmmakers who have chosen to explore the topic of the Civil War.