The Civil War on the Mississippi: Union Sailors, Gunboat Captains, and the Campaign to Control the River

by Barbara Brooks Tomblin

Flowing from its source in northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River borders or passes through ten different states and serves as one of the most important transportation systems in the country. During the Civil War, both sides believed that whoever controlled the river would ultimately be victorious. Cotton exports generated much-needed revenue for the Confederacy, and the Mississippi was also the main conduit for the delivery of materials and food. Similarly, the Union sought to maintain safe passage from St. Louis, Missouri, to Cairo, Illinois, but also worked to bisect the South by seizing the river as part of the Anaconda Plan.

Drawing heavily on the diaries and letters of officers and common sailors, Barbara Brooks Tomblin explores the years during which the Union navy fought to win control of the Mississippi. Her approach provides fresh insight into major battles such as Memphis and Vicksburg, but also offers fascinating perspectives on lesser-known aspects of the conflict from ordinary sailors engaged in brown-water warfare. 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.

The Civil War on the Mississippi not only provides readers with a comprehensive and vivid account of the action on the western rivers; it also offers an incredible synthesis of first-person accounts from the front lines.

Genres: History, Civil War

388 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2016

Reviews

[George F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

simply the best

I don’ t think it would be too much of an exaggeration if I claim to have read almost every available book on the operations of the Union’s brown water navy in the Civil War. This one is, quite simply, one of the best. Ms. Tomblin, ( I apologize in advance if she should be addressed as doctor, she certainly writes a great deal better than most of those I have known,) in addition to being a consummate researcher, is an extremely enjoyable author. Although I could probably recite the facts of each naval action from memory, she was able, through the outstanding use of primary source material in the form of journals and memoirs, to show me a view I haven’t seen before.
If you have any interest in this aspect of the Civil War you must read this book. You will not be sorry!

[Randall L. Strunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naval civil war battles in the west

As with most accounts of Civil War battles this is often confusing about which side are we talking about now. But it does a pretty good job of avoiding that as much as possible. This is a unique account of the war in the west from the perspective of the navy in the Mississippi River.

[Piotr Borowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows how important the Mississippi River was during the American Civil War.
The book clearly explains how gunboats changed, from early wooden boats to strong iron ones that took over the rivers. The story starts in Cairo, Illinois, a key spot for the Union, and ends with the big surrender at Vicksburg. This event was a major turning point, giving the Union control of the river.

[Shrike58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I have not, in the past, read any of the author's other work, in this case she has turned out a very competent narrative history of naval combat on the Mississippi that can be recommended with no reservations.