Success Is All That Was Expected : The South Atlantic Blockading Squadron During the Civil War

by Browning, Robert M., Jr.

• ISBN13: 9781574885149
• ISBN10: 1574885146
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-12-01
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc

Summary

Success Is All That Was Expectedis a comprehensive operational history of the Union naval blockade that monitored the southern Atlantic coast from South Carolina to Florida during the American Civil War. Created in 1861 by the order of President Abraham Lincoln and charged with halting Confederate maritime commerce and closing Southern ports, the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron was the largest of the four Union coastal blockading squadrons for much of the conflict. This story covers the harrowing engagements between ships and forts, daring amphibious assaults, the battles between ironclad vessels, the harassment of Confederate blockade runners, and the incredible evolution of underwater warfare in the form of the CSS Hunley. The world's leading scholar of Union naval blockades during the Civil War, historian Robert Browning, reveals the squadron's numerous tactical accomplishments. He also illustrates how its success was constantly hampered by indecisive leaders in Washington who failed to express their strategic vision as well as by reputation-conscious naval commanders who were reluctant to press the fight when the specter of failure loomed. Despite lost opportunities, unfulfilled expectations, and failures along the way, the bravery, sacrifice, and vigilance of these fighting men played a crucial role in the Union's ultimate victory.

Author Biography

Robert M. Browning Jr. is the chief historian of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	1	(6)
``The Blockade Is a Farce''	7	(16)
``The Success Is All That Was Expected''	23	(20)
``Flying about Like Moths around a Lamp''	43	(44)
``Our Troops Will Not Fight If Gunboats Are within Their Reach''	87	(40)
``The Ironclads Are Not Formidable Monsters''	127	(26)
``You Have Not Turrets Enough . . . You Have Not Guns Enough''	153	(32)
``To the Perpetual Disgrace of Public Justice''	185	(30)
``I Do Not Think the Game Is Worth the Candle''	215	(36)
``Tell Admiral Dahlgren to Come and Take It''	251	(32)
``He Could Only Expect Me to Hold On''	283	(34)
``The Rebellion Is Shut Out from the Ocean''	317	(32)
Conclusion ``The Fall of Satan's Kingdom''	349	(12)
Notes	361	(88)
Bibliography	449	(26)
Index	475	(22)
About the Author	497