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two volume The History of the Navy During the Rebellion. While providing something of a pro-union interpretation, the au-
thor can somewhat be excused in his bias when one remembers that he was Chaplin of the United States House of Representatives and an Assistant Professor at the
U.S. Naval Academy. If the reader takes these facts into consideration, they should find this a worthwhile and informative read. Along the same lines is C L. Symonds’ study, Lincoln a his Admirals. This book covers the entire sphere of naval operations, both blue water and inland river activity, and the author pro vides interesting insight into how President Lincoln dealt with the various senior naval officers over the course of the war. While the turnover and internal controversies within the Navy nowhere reached the levels experienced by the Army, this does not mean all was harmonious and peaceful within the sea service. The reader will enjoy reading of some rather interesting senior commanders and the unique controversies that occurred both within the service itself and the president’s administration. Moving on to a more operational level, we first look at Loyall Farragut’s study The Life of David Glasgow Farragut, First Admiral of the United States Navy: Embodying his Journal and Letters. This work has often been quoted in other publications and while not a critical analysis of t admiral it provides fascinating observations related to his dealing with operational and administrative elements of naval operations. Another book along these lines is H.A. DuPont’s, Rear-
United States Navy, a Biography. Similar to the Farragut book, this offering allows readers to experi-
feeling about orders from Welles to take Fort Sumter as a strictly naval operation using iron clad monitors. While DuPont sees the future value of these vessels, he
is also aware of their operational shortfalls which he clearly expresses up the chain of command to no avail. The reader is provid-
ed with an understanding of some of the political forces being exerted upon the field commanders that resulted in less than satisfa tory military outcomes and the associated professional fall-out, in his case being relieved of command. One final offering in this arena is Robert J. Schneller, Jr.’ work, Under the Blue Pennant which deals with the unpublished
John W. Grattan and his service on the staffs of Rear Admirals Samuel Phillips Lee and David
Dixon Porter. It also provides on of the few eye-witness accounts of Lincoln’s visit to Richmond the day after the Confederate cap ital fell.
On the Confederate Navy side, we find that they were starting basically with nothing and as a result there is a lack of th high-level strategic writin details found on the Federa We begin with a rather interesting book by Tom H. Wells, The Confederate Navy; A study in Organization, which covers the many challenges experienced by the South in its efforts to both tablish a viable naval force and all necessary operational elements needed to field a viable re sponse to Federal efforts to limit Confederate access to the sea. The Confederacy developed a three-prong approach to address their problems through the use of coastal and harbor defenses, the deployment of commerce raiders to disrupt the Union’s shipping, and the use of blockade runners to bring needed goods and materials into the Confederacy. Raimondo Luraghi’s 1996, A History of the Confederate Navy is an excellent, comprehensive accounting of the various efforts by which the Confederate government attempted to establish itself at sea. The author provide detailed analyses of the Southern strengths and weakness in conjunction with its overall strategic objectives and leadership in a very rewarding and worthwhile read.
Of the three-pronge Confederate naval strategy, that
running, and coast and inland water defense, the first two are considered blue water naval op-
Confederate Blockade Running through Bermuda 1861–1865; Letters and Cargo Manifests
provides a rewarding look at how a neutral island was used
Confederacy and Great Britain to provide material to the south. You also get a wonderful understanding of the nature of the items bei transferred through the island depot and how the many speculators were willing to attempt to run the blockade for sizable profits. The
stakes were very high indeed. A counterpoint to the Confederate experience is the book edited by Glen N. Wiche, Dispatches from Bermuda; The Civil War Lette . of Charles Maxell Allen, Uni States Consul to Bermuda 1861– 1888. Consul Allen was definitely not a person viewed very highly by both the locals and the blockade running speculators because his efforts focused on trying to enforce British neutrality laws while keeping the United States Government informed of the various activities taking plac on the island which, if successful would negatively impact the local economy. Having established a base of operations, let us now look at a few of the blockade runners themselves, beginning with Augustus Charles Hobart-Hampden’s, Sketches from My Life by the late Admiral Hobart Pasha. Starting as a British naval officer on half pay due to downsizing the Royal Navy, Hobart decided to try his hand in running the Federal blockade, and after some research, selected a rather interesting cargo about which even he questioned its profitability. Afte making a first successful run, and quickly selling all his inventory, he realized a profit that not only covered all his costs but allowed for paying off all debts associat-
ed with the vessel’s acquisition and still left enough funds to pur
successful voyages, he was ready to retire and sold the vessel to his first mate, who was captured
continue a very exciting naval career and life. The next recommendation is