The Civil War at Sea

This work provides an assessment of the crucial roles played by the Union and Confederate navies in the Civil War. From Craig Symonds, author of the 2009 Lincoln Prize award-winner Lincoln and His Admirals, comes a fascinating look at the era when American naval power came of age. Thoroughly researched and excitingly written, it brings to light a wealth of new information on a pivotal aspect of the Civil War. The Civil War at Sea covers navies on both sides of the conflict, examining key issues such as the impact of emergent technologies, the effectiveness of the Union's ambitious strategy of blockading, the odyssey of Confederate commerce raiders, the role of naval forces on the western rivers, and the difficulty of conducting combined sea and ground operations against the major Southern port cities. For Civil War buffs, fans of military and technological history, and other interested readers, it is insightful, essential reading.

Craig L. Symonds is professor emeritus at the U.S. Naval Academy, and the author of 11 previous books on the Civil War and naval history, including the Lincoln-Prize-winning Lincoln and His Admirals.

Series Foreword Preface Chapter One: The Ships and the Guns: Civil War Navies and the Technological Revolution Chapter Two: The Blockade and Blockade Runners Chapter Three: The War on Commerce: The Hunters and the Hunted Chapter Four: "Unvexed to the Sea": The River War Chapter Five: Civil War Navies and the Siege of Charleston Chapter Six: The End Game: Mobile, Wilmington, and the Cruise of the Shenandoah Notes Bibliographical Essay Index