Love/Hate Relationship With The Book

My reading of McPherson's book has been a roller coaster ride! I loved the historical background, the Antebellum period, was enthralled by the ending, but was completely lost during the four years of specific battle sequences. This is probably sexist, but I hate war, death and dying. I want to find out why we killed each other, not how. I loved reading the why chapters, hated reading the how chapters.