Command Under Sail: Makers of the American Naval Tradition 1775-1850

This entertaining collection of essays takes a biographical approach to early American naval history. The period from 1775 to 1850 was a trying time for the infant navy, a time when much was demanded of individual officers. New in paperback, this book focuses not only on battles and ships but on the colorful men, such as Oliver Hazard Perry and Stephen Decatur, who helped shape the U.S. Navy in the age of sail. By viewing the era through the lives of the participants, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of America's new navy and the roots of its traditions.

James C. Bradford is a professor of history at Texas A&M and a respected specialist in American maritime, naval, and military history in the early national period of American history. He is the editor of many books on military history, including Quarterdeck and Bridge. He lives in College Station, TX.