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Blue Water The American Civil War on the High Seas. 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. Primary Mission 1. protection of harbors and coastlines 2. attack merchant ships
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Blue Water The American Civil War on the High Seas 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
Primary Mission 1. protection of harbors and coastlines 2. attack merchant ships 3. break Union blockade 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
Blue Water The American Civil War on the High Seas Naval Readiness Bays and Harbors “Blue Water” battles Blockade and its Runners
Naval Readiness 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
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
The Age of Iron 1859-1862 before Hampton Roads
The Age of Iron La Gloire HMS Warrior USS Monitor CSS Virginia Construction begins 1858 1859 1861 1861 Finished 1860 1861 1862 1862 Displacement 5,630 tons 9,358 tons 987 tons 3,200 tons Length 240 ft 418 ft 172 ft 275 ft Beam 55 ft 58 ft 41 ft 39 ft Draft 27 ft 27 ft 10 ft 22 ft Crew 570 men 705 men 59 men 320 men
Bays and Harbors Battle of Hampton Roads March 8 – 9, 1862
Bays and Harbors Passage of Ft. Jackson & Ft. Philip April 16-24, 1862
Bays and Harbors Battle of Mobile Bay August 5, 1864
CSS Alabama Sunk USS Hatteras Sunk by the USS Kearsarge Claimed 65 prizes Valued over $6,000,000
Confederate Commerce Raiders CSS Sumter 18 ships CSS Alabama 65 ships CSS Florida 37 ships CSS Georgia 9 ships CSS Shenandoah 38 ships
Blockade TheKEYto Union Victory Land Battles were a virtual stalemate during 1861-62 Naval Blockade KEYto lack of British/French recognition Naval Blockade KEYto depriving CSA of needed material/capital Navy control of rivers(part of Anaconda Plan) KEYto interior transportation network