It began on the morning of 12 April 1861 — when Southern artillery batteries opened fire on Fort Sumter, off the coast of South Carolina – though few observers at the time believed they were witnessing the start of a conflict that would end up tearing the country apart.

Four years on, as we discover in our cover story for this issue, things would look very different — as Robert E Lee’s surrender at Appomattox on 9 April 1865 formally concluded what had become a long and bitter struggle that claimed more than 750,000 soldiers’ lives, along with those of countless more civilians.

In the first part of a new series to mark the 160th anniversary of the end of the American Civil War, historian Fred Chiaventone begins his analysis of this unparalleled cataclysm — which would come to be regarded as perhaps the single most important event in US history.

Elsewhere, Stephen Roberts looks at another period of violent unrest – this time at the end of the 14th century – as he pieces together the extraordinary sequence of events by which Henry Bolingbroke (later Henry IV) seized the throne of England.

Also in this issue, Clive Webb traces the life of William Robinson Clarke, the young airman who during World War I became Britain’s first Black combat pilot; Taylor Downing explains why the Allies found it easier than they feared to cross the mighty Rhine in 1945; and Graham Goodlad concludes his survey of Napoleon’s career by examining the great commander’s decline and fall.

And finally, it’s that time of the year again, as we unveil the titles shortlisted for the Military History Matters Book Awards 2025. As always, we have selected the 12 books that we think have had the most impact over the past year – but with gold, silver, and bronze prizes all still up for grabs, we now need your help to choose the winners.

We hope you enjoy the issue

LAURENCE EARLE