Customer Reviews

Chesapeake Bay in the Civil War

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Miles does a decent job of exploring how the Civil War affected those who lived along both shores of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Actually, the region covered includes a wide number of encounters and battles, as well as the capitals of both the Union (on the shore of the Potomac) and the Confederacy (on the shore of the James).

The book opens with the early skirmishes in Maryland, notably the Pratt Street Riot in Baltimore and the occupation of Annapolis by Ben Butler, before moving on to cover the Delmarva Peninsula and a variety of naval encounters in the bay, including the clash between the Monitor and the Virginia. Adding to the interest of the book is the detailing of smuggling and secret mail routes throughout the region. The book is richly illustrated with period photos and drawings, although there could have been a few more maps.

This excellent book fills a gap for those of us who are interested in the story of the Civil War. It is the first time the fascinating tale of the role of the Chesapeake Bay during those years has been documented. Eric Mills uses primary sources to relate the lively activities that took place in and around the estuaries, creeks, and rivers of the Bay. I highly recommend it both for the information it provides and for its sheer readibility. This book is a treasure, sure to delight Civil War buffs.

May 5, 1997. Received a copy of this splendid book Xmas 1996. Have already read it cover-to-cover three times. Have not met its superior for information and entertainment in more than 50 years of reading Civil War material. To those of us with "second homes" on Virginia's Eastern Shore (Chincoteague in this instance), it is a real eye-opener--and long overdue. Highest possible recommendation