1. HY 215 - Military History of the American Civil War Wayne E. Sirmon, M.A., M.A.Ed. Departments of Military Science & History University of South Alabama Blue Water The American Civil War on the High Seas

2. Primary Mission 1. Maintain the blockade of Confederate ports 2. Meet in combat the ships of the CSN 3. Carry the war to places inaccessible to the Army 4. Support the Army by gunfire, transport and communication on the rivers Primary Mission 1. protection of harbors and coastlines 2. attack merchant ships 3. break Union blockade

3. Blue Water The American Civil War on the High Seas Naval Readiness Bays and Harbors “Blue Water” battles Blockade and its Runners

4. Naval Readiness

5. Union Navy - 42 commissioned ships (29 steam powered) Stationed in Asia, the Pacific, South Atlantic, Mediterranean, Africa, on Lake Erie Only 3 in Northern ports (4 MAR 61) 6 months to recall all ships - 48 “laid up” and listed as available Confederate Navy - 14 commissioned ships - 16 additional listed as available

6. Naval Readiness Union Navy - 1,457 officers (24% resign) - 6,700 seamen US Naval Academy - est. 1845 (apprentice program) - organized as USNA in 1851 - first class graduated in 1854 - 3 upper classes ordered to sea Confederate Navy - 32 Captains - 54 commanders - 76 Lieutenants 2,011 regular / acting midshipmen By resignation from USN

7. 1859-1862 before Hampton Roads The Age of Iron

8. La GloireHMS WarriorUSS MonitorCSS Virginia Construction begins1858185918611861 Finished1860186118621862 Displacement5,630 tons9,358 tons987 tons3,200 tons Length240 ft418 ft172 ft275 ft Beam55 ft58 ft41 ft39 ft Draft27 ft27 ft10 ft22 ft Crew570 men705 men59 men320 men

9. Bays and Harbors

10. Battle of Hampton Roads March 8 – 9, 1862

11. Bays and Harbors Passage of Ft. Jackson & Ft. Philip April 16-24, 1862

12. Bays and Harbors Battle of Mobile Bay August 5, 1864

13. “Blue Water” Battles

14. CSS Alabama Sunk USS Hatteras Sunk by the USS Kearsarge Claimed 65 prizes Valued over $6,000,000

15. Confederate Commerce Raiders CSS Sumter18 ships CSS Alabama65 ships CSS Florida37 ships CSS Georgia 9 ships CSS Shenandoah38 ships

16. Blockade & Runners

17. Blockade

19. The KEY to Union Victory Naval Blockade KEY to lack of British/French recognition Naval Blockade KEY to depriving CSA of needed material/capital Navy control of rivers (part of Anaconda Plan) KEY to interior transportation network Land Battles were a virtual stalemate during 1861-62

20. Questions and Comments