The War at Sea
The War at Sea is rarely the first image that comes to mind when one talks about combat during the American Civil War. The most common visions include row after row of perfectly lined rank and file of infantry soldiers marching to their fate; batteries of artillery rocking in place after firing deadly projectiles across fields of fire; catastrophic wounds being treated in the harshest of conditions; valiant cavalry charges led by swashbuckling officers. Perhaps one thinks of the ironclad battle between the Virginia and the Monitor. Perhaps one might think of the blockade. But usually such things are viewed as afterthoughts - not the main course of action.
But the truth is that the Civil War was also fought water. What the naval conflict might lack in numbers is often made up for in importance. The dominate of the Union naval forces helped secure vital victories in the conflict and bring the war to a victory.
But the truth is that the Civil War was also fought water. What the naval conflict might lack in numbers is often made up for in importance. The dominate of the Union naval forces helped secure vital victories in the conflict and bring the war to a victory.
"Father Neptune"Gideon Welles was a newspaper editor, lawyer, and state politician from Connecticut. Welles was a former Democrat who supported the Republican and candidacy of Abraham Lincoln before his selection as Secretary of the Navy.
As Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles was faced with the task of creating an American navy that was both large enough and modern enough to effectively blockade Southern ports and support the Union advances with river gunboats. Under his guidance the United Staes Navy underwent its greatest expansion and modernization transformation until World War II. The U.S. Navy consisted of only 76 ships and 7,600 sailors in 1861. By war's end it had become the largest Navy in the world boasting nearly 700 ships and capable of blockading 2,500 miles of Confederate coasts. For his roll in transforming the American navy into a naval force capable of executing the anaconda plan, Welles earned the nicknamed "Father Neptune". |
* * * Discussion Questions * * *
1. What were the major obstacles for the Union to overcome when implementing their Anaconda Plan?
2. What role did the United States Navy play besides the blockade?
3. Did technology change the way the naval Civil War was fought or did the naval Civil War change the way technology was used. Explain.
2. What role did the United States Navy play besides the blockade?
3. Did technology change the way the naval Civil War was fought or did the naval Civil War change the way technology was used. Explain.
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Often one of the most important aspects of any war is the race to develop technological improvements to gain an advantage over one's opponents. During the Civil War naval technology made great strides in harnessing the power of steam, armoring ship with iron, and increasing the range, power, and accuracy of artillery. Naval innovators developed new ways to defend and attack river and coastal fortifications.
Many occasions during the Civil War called for the use traditional land tactics combined with effective naval support. Whether it was bombarding river forts in Tennessee, capturing coastal forts like Fort Fisher, or eliminating closely guard ports such as Mobile, the Civil War providing new opportunities for advanced military tactics across different fields of fire. |
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