Success is all that was expected : the South Atlantic blockading squadron during the Civil War / Robert M. Browning, Jr.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Browning, Robert M., 1955-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Blockades.

United States.

History.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Naval operations.

Sea control.

United States. Navy. South Atlantic Blockading Squadron (1861-1865).

Atlantic Coast (U.S.)--History, Naval--19th century.

Atlantic Coast (U.S.).

United States. Navy--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

United States. Navy.

United States. Army--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

United States. Army.

Confederate States of America. Navy--History.

Confederate States of America.

Confederate States of America. Navy.

United States--Politics and government--1861-1865.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

xii, 497 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : Brassey's, Inc., [2002]

Summary:

In Success Is All That Was Expected, historian Robert Browning, the world's leading scholar of Union naval blockades during the American Civil War, gives a blow-by-blow account of the naval operations that helped to strangle the Confederacy. Created in 1861 and charged with halting Confederate maritime commerce and closing ports on the Southern Atlantic coast from South Carolina to Florida, the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron was one of four Union coastal blockading squadrons. The squadron's numerous actions included harrowing engagements between ships and forts, daring amphibious assaults, battles between ironclad vessels, the harassment of Confederate blockade runners, and combating the incredible evolution of underwater warfare in the form of the CSS Hunley. But the blockade's 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 an important role in the Union's ultimate victory. Success Is All That Was Expected joins Robert Browning's previous award-winning volume on the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron to create the benchmark for Civil War naval history. Together they tell the definitive story of Union naval operations off the Atlantic coast.

Contents:

"The blockade is a farce"

"The success is all that was expected"

"Flying about like moths around a lamp"

"Our troops will not fight if gunboats are within their reach"

"The ironclads are not formidable monsters"

"You have not turrets enough ... you have not guns enough"

"To the perpetual disgrace of public justice"

"I do not think the game is worth the candle"

"Tell Admiral Dahlgren to come and take it"

"He could only expect me to hold on"

"The rebellion is shut out from the ocean"

"The fall of Satan's kingdom."

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 449-473) and index.

ISBN:

1574885146

OCLC:

50035328