Ordeal by Fire; Power to Destroy

WTTW (Television station : Chicago, Ill.) · 1960

Lee attacks Grant at Wilderness across the Rapidan, but Grant is able to muster more troops than Lee, and the two forces fight to a bloody standstill at Spotsylvania, where over 29,000 casualties are reported. Young Philip Sheridan is appointed Cavalry commander for the Army of the Potomac ? summer of 1864. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) Episode 13, Power to destroy begins as Young Phil Sheridan is appointed Cavalry commander for the Army of the Potomac. Lee batters Grant in the Wilderness of Northern Virginia, but Grant is able to muster bigger battalions, while Lee has lost the power to destroy. The two armies fight to a bloody standoff in the most ferocious fighting of the war, at Spotsylvania"--accompanying episode description. "Acting on the belief that the origins, development and tragedy of the War Between the States are grossly misunderstood by most Americans, William Friedkin, WTTW producer-director, has sought to present an objective view of this conflict in dramatic, educational form. The series 'Ordeal by Fire,' based on the 'Short History of the Civil War' by Fletcher Pratt, was later released for distribution by NETRC."--1959 Peabody Digest. The program consists of actors reading excerpts from Pratt's book. This episode begins as young Phil Sheridan is appointed Cavalry commander for the Army of the Potomac. Lee battles Grant in the wilderness of Northern Virginia, but Grant is able to muster bigger battalions, while Lee has lost the power to destroy. The two armies fight to a bloody standoff in the most ferocious fighting of the war, at Spotsylvania. From Fletcher Pratt's outstanding history of the Civil War comes an adaptation of Ordeal by Fire which presents in the form of a dramatic reading a narrative of the War between the States. Staring with a prologue describing John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, the series proceeds through the firing on Fort Sumter with a seventeen episode series describing the military course of the war and the political and social effects of the four-year conflict. The Chicago Drama Quartet, which does most of the reading of the text, is assisted by the Art Logan Gospel Singers and the Fifth Army Band, performing music of Thomas A. Dorsey. The series was prepared by WTTW in Chicago. The Chicago Drama Quartet was founded by William Friedkin, who produced and directed Ordeal by Fire, for the purpose of doing local dramatic productions. Members include Francis Coughlin, Stanley Gordon, Charles Spoon, Win Stracke, Thomas Garvey and Gordon Gould. Among other things which the Quartet has done have been special programs on Oliver Wendell Holmes, Clarence Darrow, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This is the first large scale production for television, which the Quarter has done. The Art Logan Singers are a group which has previously made special television appearances on Channel 11 in Chicago, singing chiefly religious music. They also sing at special church meetings in the Chicago area. This series of 17 half-hour episodes was originally recorded on videotape. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) "Acting on the belief that the origins, development, and tragedy of the War Between the States was grossly misunderstood by most Americans, William Friedkin, WTTW-Channel 11 Producer-Director, has sought to present an objective view in dramatic educational form of this conflict. Working on his own interest, Mr. Friedkin obtained local and national television rights to adapt Mr. Fletcher Pratt's 'Short History of the Civil War' (sub-titled 'Ordeal By Fire') for television adaptation"--accompanying letter.