From Baird Maritime:
The American Civil War was the first large scale "modern" war. It was also the first significant war in which steam power was extensively utilised by both sides.
Nowhere was this more so than in the war at sea and on the rivers. Against this technological background the author describes the people and personalities who ran the war from the US Navy's point of view.
As in most intensive wars, the winners tended to be the fastest learners. They also were those who more quickly took up modern marine and weapons technology.
As in the land war, it took time for Lincoln and his Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, to determine which of their commanders were effective. Eventually, however, they very carefully and ruthlessly did so.
The lessons learned in the 1860s were, fortunately, remembered by the US Navy, at least until Korea.
Ordering information:
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