Download or read book The Civil War Begins written by Jane H. Gould and published by Understanding the Civil War. This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the Civil War began in April of 1861, both the Union and Confederacy entered the conflict with excitement. Each side expected to quickly defeat the other side in a short, glorious batter. Sixteen months later, the realities of war had shocked both sides. By the fall of 1862, both sides were badly battered.