We specialize in hard to find items
All Categories
Mr. Lincoln's Brown Water Navy: The Mississippi Squadron (The American Crisis Series: Books on the Civil War Era)
Share Tweet
*Price and Stocks may change without prior notice
*Packaging of actual item may differ from photo shown
- Electrical items MAY be 110 volts.
- 7 Day Return Policy
- All products are genuine and original
About Mr. Lincoln's Brown Water Navy: The Mississippi
Product Description The Union inland navy that became the Mississippi Squadron is one of the greatest, yet least studied aspects of the Civil War. Without it, however, the war in the West may not have been won, and the war in the East might have lasted much longer and perhaps ended differently. The men who formed and commanded this large fighting force have, with few exceptions, not been as thoroughly studied as their army counterparts. The vessels they created were highly specialized craft which operated in the narrow confines of the Western rivers in places that could not otherwise receive fire support. Ironclads and gunboats protected army forces and convoyed much needed supplies to far-flung Federal forces. They patrolled thousands of miles of rivers and fought battles that were every bit as harrowing as land engagements yet inside iron monsters that created stifling heat with little ventilation. This book is about the intrepid men who fought under these conditions and the highly improvised boats in which they fought. The tactics their commanders developed were the basis for many later naval operations. Of equal importance were lessons learned about what not to do. The flag officers and admirals of the Mississippi Squadron wrote the rules for modern riverine warfare. From Booklist The riverine warfare on the Mississippi during the Civil War was an essential component of ultimate Union victory but frequently gets lost in general histories and even broader naval histories. The Mississippi system was vital for Southern commerce and also for penetrating into the Southern heartland. The Union began with two important advantages, for it possessed most of the shipbuilding and metallurgical industries, and its military leadership had keener eyes for strategy (Joiner gives Grant much well-deserved credit). Fighting on the heartland rivers continued after the capture of Vicksburg, but the Red River campaign was a sideshow, and Confederate guerrillas were no more than an annoyance. Clearly written and well researched, Joiner's sound study also offers a superior selection of photographs of the weird and wonderful craft that won the rivers for the Union. Green, Roland Review Gary Joiner has greatly added to the historiography of Civil War naval history and has hopefully shed enough light on the subject to motivate other scholars to research the subject further. This book is worth reading by many audiences, including professional historians, Civil War buffs, naval history enthusiasts, and those interested in early examples of joint force operations. This book is also recommended for use by educators for classes dealing with the Civil War. -- Daniel Sauerwein ― Civil War History Historian Gary D. Joiner has crafted a clear, concise, and masterful narrative history of the decisive role played by the Mississippi Squadron in winning the Civil War in the West. One of the least studied aspects of the conflict, this illuminating story of the improvised Brown Water Navy and the intrepid Union sailors who experienced the war from the deck of a western river gunboat will enthrall the reader. -- Stacy D. Allen, chief historian, Shiloh National Military Park A growing number of historians claim that it was not Lincoln's generals who won the Civil War. Rather it was his admirals. The role of the United States Navy was the decisive factor in securing Union victory and nowhere was that more evident than on the inland waters where the ironclads, tinclads, and cottonclads of the 'Brown Water Navy' battled for control of the Mississippi River and its major tributaries. In stirring fashion Gary Joiner provides an overview of these heroic sailors and their unique vessels as they steamed and struggled their way into history at Fts. Henry and Donelson, Island No. 10, Memphis, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Grand Gulf, and in the Red River campaign. Their actions provided Lincoln with what he termed the 'key' to victory for their triumphs severed majo
