Review

The naval historian presents a “well-written, fast-paced” study of Civil War riverine combat based on the personal accounts of officers and sailors (Civil War News).

Introduction

As one of the most important transportation systems in the country, the Mississippi River became a strategically vital asset to both sides of the Civil War. The Confederacy relied on the river for cotton exportation as well as food and military supplies. The Union sought control of the river not only to disrupt Southern transport, but also to bisect the South as part of the Anaconda Plan.

Content and Perspective

Drawing heavily on the diaries and letters of officers and common sailors, Barbara Brooks Tomblin explores the Union navy’s fight to win control of the Mississippi. Her approach provides fresh insight into major battles such as Memphis and Vicksburg as well as the fascinating perspectives of ordinary sailors who engaged in brown-water warfare.

Men’s Experiences

These men speak of going ashore in foraging parties, assisting the surgeon in the amputation of a fellow crewman’s arm, and liberating supplies of whiskey from captured enemy vessels. They also offer candid assessments of their commanding officers, observations of the local people living along the river, and their views on the war.

Conclusion

The Civil War on the Mississippi provides a comprehensive account of the action on the western rivers as well as a synthesis of vivid first-person accounts from the front lines.