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    Naval Strategy During The American Civil War
    Naval Strategy During The American Civil War
    Naval Strategy During The American Civil War
    Ebook66 pages36 minutes

    Naval Strategy During The American Civil War

    By Col. David J. Murphy USAF

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    The objective of the research project is to examine how the Union and Confederate naval strategies and new naval technologies affected the conduct of the American Civil War. With regard to the Union Navy’s strategy, the effectiveness of the blockade, Western River Campaign, and amphibious operations were examined. Discussions on the Union blockade also touch on the effectiveness on Confederate blockade runners. The Confederate strategies of using privateers and commerce raiders are examined. Confederate coastal and river defenses are examined within the context of new technology, specifically with respect to ironclad ships and the use of mines, torpedoes, and submarines.

    The paper shows how naval strategy did play a major role in the outcome of the Civil War. Although it cannot be said that naval strategies were singularly decisive, they certainly were vitally important and often overlooked in history books.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGolden Springs Publishing
    Release dateNov 6, 2015
    ISBN9781786253811
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      Book preview

      Naval Strategy During The American Civil War - Col. David J. Murphy USAF

      This edition is published by PICKLE PARTNERS PUBLISHING—www.picklepartnerspublishing.com

      To join our mailing list for new titles or for issues with our books – picklepublishing@gmail.com

      Or on Facebook

      Text originally published in 1999 under the same title.

      © Pickle Partners Publishing 2015, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

      Publisher’s Note

      Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

      We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

      NAVAL STRATEGY DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

      by

      David J. Murphy, Colonel, USAF

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Contents

      TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

      PREFACE 5

      ABSTRACT 6

      CHAPTER 1—UNION NAVAL STRATEGY 7

      Union Naval Blockade 7

      Joint Army and Navy Operations in the East 10

      Naval Strategy in the Western Theater 13

      Conclusion 16

      CHAPTER 2—CONFEDERATE NAVAL STRATEGY 18

      Privateering 18

      Commerce Raiding 20

      Conclusion 24

      CHAPTER 3—NAVAL TECHNOLOGY 25

      Background 25

      Merrimac and Monitor 26

      Strategic Implications 27

      Mines and Submarine Warfare 29

      Conclusion 33

      REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 33

      BIBLIOGRAPHY 35

      PREFACE

      This paper examines effectiveness of naval strategies of both the Union and Confederacy during the American Civil War. In addition, some of the technological innovations are examined, paying particular attention to their impact to the war and to the future of military affairs. I chose the topic for three primary reasons. First, I had a personal interest in the Civil War. Second I wanted to expand my knowledge of other services within the defense establishment. And finally, I sought to increase my personal understanding of military strategy.

      I would like to express my gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Howard M. Hensel, for the advice and assistance he has provided me during this project.

      ABSTRACT

      The objective of the research project is to examine how the Union and Confederate naval strategies and new naval technologies affected the conduct of the American Civil War. With regard to the Union Navy’s strategy, the effectiveness of the blockade, Western River Campaign, and amphibious operations were examined. Discussions on the Union blockade also touch on the effectiveness on Confederate blockade runners. The Confederate strategies of using privateers and commerce raiders are examined. Confederate coastal and river defenses are examined within the context of new technology, specifically with respect to ironclad ships and the use of mines, torpedoes, and submarines.

      The paper shows how naval strategy did play a major role in the outcome of the Civil War. Although it cannot be said that naval strategies were singularly decisive, they certainly were vitally important and often overlooked in history books.

      CHAPTER 1—UNION NAVAL STRATEGY

      The conduct of the American Civil War, and the strategies involved, have been studied extensively. Volumes have been written on the subject. And although a considerable amount has been written on the Navy’s role in the war, analysis has revolved primarily around the Army’s ground campaigns and the Navy’s role is often overlooked. In fact, a major strategic problem for the Union was to determine how to employ its naval superiority against a continental army. Naval experiences during the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, consisting of defensive tasks of commerce raiding and coastal protection, did not prepare the Union Navy for a role as an invader.

      This paper will examine the contribution of the navy to the Union victory in the Civil War. Specifically, it will examine three major areas of strategy: Union Naval strategy, Confederate Naval strategy, and naval technological developments during the Civil War.

      This chapter will examine three major areas of Union Naval strategy: the effectiveness of the Union naval blockade from the Chesapeake Bay to the Rio Grande River; the effectiveness and lessons

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