The Civil War Naval Encyclopedia

There is no doubt that a bevy of scholarship on the Civil War navies will arise during the sesquicentennial year. Dr. Craig Symonds' 2010 monograph Lincoln and His Admirals is an excellent example of the level of scholarship that will be presented. Perhaps the most famous living Civil War historian, James McPherson, is currently writing a book about African Americans and the Union Navy. This became a fact well known to many at the September 2010 Virginia Civil War Sesquicentennial Signature Conference in Norfolk, VA.

A recently published work that will no doubt serve as a valued resource is the Civil War Naval Encyclopedia. The encyclopedia, the first ever to focus solely on the battles on the rivers and oceans, is edited by historian Spencer C. Tucker.

According to the publishers description of the Encyclopedia:

"The entries in this sweeping text provide comprehensive treatment of overall strategies on each side, the role of diplomacy, leading naval officers and other personalities, battles and important engagements, ship types, well-known individual warships, naval ordnance and weapons systems, and new developments such as mines and submarines. Topics such as shipboard life, major waterways, prominent seaports, and the role of logistics in determining the outcome of the war are also covered."