Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Raiders and Blockaders: The American Civil War Afloat

Raiders and Blockaders: The American Civil War Afloat
hardtack avatar reviewed on + 2701 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


This is a very interesting book about some naval aspects of the Civil War. However, by no means is it a complete history. Nineteen articles allow readers to briefly encounter separate stories of the War, and perhaps give them a desire to read an entire book on the subject of that article.

Plus, the authors provide some facts regarding the development of ships and other aspects of the War I haven't encountered elsewhere. This greatly improved my enjoyment of the articles.

However, one interesting bit in the article "The Yankee Blue Jacket" which I found interesting is its opening sentence, "On August 26, 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln gave a speech in his hometown, Springfield, Illinois."

This is only the second book on the Civil War in which I've read that Lincoln supposedly traveled to the Western theater. I say "supposedly," as after Lincoln left Springfield to go to Washington as President-elect, he never went west again until his funeral train arrived there so he could be buried in his hometown. I'm surprised any Civil War historian would make this mistake.