Spencer C. Tucker holds the John Biggs Chair of Military History at the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington. He is the author or editor of sixteen books on naval and military history.

The Civil War was the bloodiest conflict in our country's history and Americans still debate every dimension of it. Yet only a few have explored the naval side, where it can be argued that the war was won. Spencer Tucker's much-needed Short History broadens our view of the conflict by illustrating exactly how naval operations decided the outcome of the war. Tucker describes how technology revolutionized naval warfare; he explains how Union blockades prevented much-needed supplies from reaching the Confederacy, ultimately permitting the Union war of attrition to succeed; and he tells how Confederate commerce raiders, while very active, did not alter the balance of the conflict. Finally, he shows how naval as well as joint army-navy operations reduced important Confederate strongholds, further demoralizing the Southern war effort.

• Chapter 1 The Sea War BeginsChapter 2 The First Clash of IroncladsChapter 3 The Capture of New Orleans, April 1862Chapter 4 The Siege of CharlestonChapter 5 Confederate Commerce RaidingChapter 6 Union Coastal OperationsChapter 7 The Sea War Ends

Spencer C. Tucker holds the John Biggs Chair of Military History at the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington. He is the author or editor of sixteen books on naval and military history.

The Civil War was the bloodiest conflict in our country's history and Americans still debate every dimension of it. Yet only a few have explored the naval side, where it can be argued that the war was won. Spencer Tucker's much-needed Short History broadens our view of the conflict by illustrating exactly how naval operations decided the outcome of the war. Tucker describes how technology revolutionized naval warfare; he explains how Union blockades prevented much-needed supplies from reaching the Confederacy, ultimately permitting the Union war of attrition to succeed; and he tells how Confederate commerce raiders, while very active, did not alter the balance of the conflict. Finally, he shows how naval as well as joint army-navy operations reduced important Confederate strongholds, further demoralizing the Southern war effort.

• Chapter 1 The Sea War BeginsChapter 2 The First Clash of IroncladsChapter 3 The Capture of New Orleans, April 1862Chapter 4 The Siege of CharlestonChapter 5 Confederate Commerce RaidingChapter 6 Union Coastal OperationsChapter 7 The Sea War Ends