Ace-In-The-Hole: Federal Naval Operations During the American Civil War

Civil War history is usually concerned with the opposing field armies, their leaders, and their victories. Less has been written and discussed about the two navies roles during the War Between the States. The Federal Navy was heavily tasked by and critically important to the Lincoln administrations' war strategy. That strategy, General Winfield Scott's "Anaconda Plan," was energetically executed by the Union Navy and proved to be a significant factor for ultimate Union victory. The Confederate Navy attempted to counter Union strategy by developing two new types of ships (ironclads and blockade runners), as well as producing two new underwater weapons (submarines and mines). Though the new Confederate technologies were no match for the numerical advantage enjoyed by the Union Navy, their role in the Civil War was noteworthy, and they will be seen again in two upcoming world wars. The federal maritime strategy of blockading the southern coastline and seizing control of the Mississippi caused severe military, psychological and economic challenges for the South. Regarding combined Army-Navy operations employed by the North, Vicksburg proved to be a superb example of federal "joint operations strategy . The Union Navy, which became Mr. Lincoln's "ace-in-the hole," was instrumental in many Union Army victories. It was the superior Civil War naval force and force multiplier which Mr. Lincoln and his strategists came to depend upon and which significantly contributed to preserving the Union.

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