Naval Action During the Civil War

Naval actions were important throughout the civil war on both sides.

For example included amongst Lincoln’s initial actions against the states in secession was the blockading of their ports by the Union Navy as well as an increase of 18,000 in the navy. At the height of the war, the number of navy seamen soared to approximately 52,000. The Confederate Navy began with 42 vessels and 6,700 sailors. At the height of the war this number increased to 569 steam vessels and 58 ironclads, as well as 51,000 sailors.

To left is Admiral Farragut of the Union Navy. he is one of the most beloved heros of the Civil War on the side of the Union.

Throughout the war various ships were used by both the confederate and union armies. The Union used their blockade ships starting on April 27, 1861 when Lincoln declared an unprecedented blockade of the 3,500 mile long Southern Coast which ahd nearly 200 inlets. This was done in order to stop much needed supplies from reaching southern ports, while the south in response, used blockade runners in order to get their goods through. Initially this blockade was more psychological than practical, due to the lack of Northern ships, but it did serve to deter European acceptance of the South as a separate nation ue to the fact that they could not trade with them. As the Union navy grew stronger and in number it was able to successfully block many of the Confederacy’s foreign commerce.

The coastline and the internal waterways of the confederacy formed decisive battlegrounds of the war. While the navies of both countries were small, they helped determined the fates of the soldiers fighting in the fields and the civilians that were supporting the war at home. The advantages of Northern maritime background helped them in many ways to overcome the Confederacy’s navy in the end, as well as their increased industrial capacity as opposed to the South’s largely agrarian society. These two factor’s combined meant that the North could better blockade southern ports who, in turn, could not survive without importing goods since they had little industry of their own. The Confederacy's one naval asset was a few bold and imaginative leaders such as Secretary of Navy Stephen R. Mallory. Matthew Fontaine Maury, another confederate naval officer added the innovative technique of using mines in the sea. Over 40 Union Vessels were sunk or heavily damaged in this manner. The Confederate Navy also used several other techniques to try and gain an advantage over the Union.

Above is a Confederate blockade Runner. These ships were quick and sleek in order to outsail the Union blockade ships.

There were many battles between union and confederate ship. Perhaps the most well-known, due to its effect on the nature of naval vessels and warfare, was that between the C.S.S Merrimack and the U.S.S. Monitor. This battle, between the two ironclads, marked the end of maritime warfare between wooden sailing vessels, and the beginning of modern naval warfare between iron or steel ships powered by sources other than the wind.

top left picture shows a converted wheelboat, covered in iron sheets of metal to protect it from attack. Right picture shows the deck of a union Navy ship. Bottom left shows a ship convereted to a full ironclad.

The naval war was also interwoven with relations between the confederacy, the union and Great Britain. For example there were naval battles such as that between the C.S.S. Nashville and the U.S.S. Harvey Birch, fought as far away as the English channel between the union and confederacy, because of Great Britain's initial insistence to remain neutral.

Picture at left depicts the battle between the Harvey Birch and Nashville.

The Union used the navy as a part of its normal campaign in order to overtake the Confederacy. For example, The navy under Flag Officer Andrew Foote, was used in order to bombard Fort Henry from the water as part of the Union’s initial thrust at the Mississippi valley.

(PICTURE HERE) The Mississippi campaign was one fought largely in this manner, with many clashes between naval vessels on both the Union and Confederate side. These ships main function was support of the land campaigns on both sides. (INSERT MORE MISSISSIPPI PICS HERE)

Many of these ships that both navies used to bombard forts fell under the classification of ironclads , and were ships that resembled floating gun turrets in their basic function.

Many of the ships on both sides had poor conditions for the men on board. This included overcrowding, little recreation, and even less time on shore. The battles themselves were noisy and confused, with ships close to point blank rage or trying to maneuver around each other in waters that were laced with mines. The gun decks themselves were hot, smoky, slippery, and smelly. Most battles, whether long or short, left the ships bad damaged and many of the men wounded as well. Sailors did have some advantages over the men on shore. This included the fact that they did not have to walk into combat as well as having a permanent indoor home.

Picture to Left shows the crew of a typical Civil War maritime war vessel. (Source: The Best Pictures of the Civil War)

Picture at Right depicts the officers of a Union Naval Warship after a victory over a confederate ship.

Picture on Left is of a powder monkey. These were young boys who's main job on warships was to bring the gunpower to the seamen to use while engaged in battle. Picture on Right is of the crew of an ironclad.

Works Cited....