Divided Waters: The Naval History of the Civil War [Hardcover]

Ivan Musicant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2000

A naval history of the Civil War uses the words of the men who were there--taken from primary sources such as diaries, letters, and memoirs--to the tell the story from an often forgotten point of view.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Musicant (Battleship at War) draws on the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion and a broad spectrum of published primary and secondary sources for this history of the Civil War's naval operations. He focuses on the responses of both combatants to unfamiliar challenges. New ship types?ironclads and submersibles?were merely the most visible characteristics of a general flexibility and originality. This account is an operational narrative, not a strategic analysis. Musicant is at his best when describing the duel between the Kearsarge and the Alabama, or Admiral David Farragut's forcing of Mobile Bay. He demonstrates as well the vital role of Union sea power in such combined-arms riverine operations as the siege of Vicksburg. His final conclusion, that the Union blockade ultimately deprived the Confederacy of the commercial and political contacts it needed to survive, is well supported in this highly readable volume. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Any number of books on the Civil War cover the major land campaigns in one volume, and many more detail certain aspects of naval actions of the war. Few, however, contain the entire nautical history of the Civil War between their covers, as does this work by Musicant (Banana Wars, Macmillan, 1990). Musicant here details the high seas operations, the blockade of the Confederacy, the futile Union attempt to take Fort Sumter by sea, the clash of the ironclads, and the many riverine operations of the war. Unfortunately, the Confederate navy receives scant credit for having made many innovations and having accomplished what it did despite shortages and overwhelming opposition. Otherwise, this is a welcome addition to any Civil War collection.?Robert A. Curtis, Taylor Memorial P.L., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 473 pages
• Publisher: Book Sales (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785812105
• ISBN-13: 978-0785812104
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,620,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Overview of the CSA-USA Naval Efforts, August 15, 2000

By 

T. C. Ross (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Divided Waters: The Naval History of the Civil War (Hardcover)

In Divided Waters, Ivan Musicant provides a solid, although at times basic, overview of Confederate and Union naval efforts, strategies, conflicts and technological developments during the Civil War. Organized by theater of operations instead of chronologically, there are some moments where the events of one chapter seem odd in the context of the previous chapter, but this is a minor flaw. Probably the most interesting chapter is the all-too-short discussion of CSA-USA conflicts on the high seas and around the world; it is interesting to read about the delicate dance naval officers played in ports as far away as Brazil and France. Musicant is obviously a fan of ironclads, and a great deal of the book is devoted to their use in various campaigns. He gives equal time to their successes and shortfalls.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid book on Civl War Naval History but..., January 2, 2001

By 

SmellsLikeScamSpirit (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Divided Waters: The Naval History of the Civil War (Hardcover)

Ivan Musicant's account is thouroughly researched and highly accurate but lacks the enjoyable qualities of Still's or Melton's books on the same subject. While the largest portion on Musicant's book focuses on the USN and CSN ironclads the book is trying to cover too many things at once.

Nevertheless it is a good starting point for interested students of Civil War naval history but if your interest lies primarily in ironclads there is better.

Divided Waters becomes more usable as a reference when compared with and offset with Maurice Melton and William Still. I also felt that Mr. Musicant's angle was slightly subjective, leaning towards the Union eyewitness accounts.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars indivisible waters, December 26, 2011

By 

Richard I. Pervo - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Divided Waters: The Naval History of the Civil War (Hardcover)

M. has written a readable and well-balanced account of the civil war at sea. he describes operations and equipment in useful detail. The author does not hide his judgment of various actors. He does not idolize Farragut, but recognizes his accomplishments. Two strongly criticized generals, Ambrose Burnside and Benjamin Butler receive some credit, the latter for his strategic vision and capable planning, the former for his contribution to amphibious warfare.
One flaw: M. makes reference to the U. S. Navy, etc. He seems unaware that the United States and its armed forces ceased to exist in April, evidently, 1861, and were not reconstituted until the seceded states elected to return to their former allegiance. Otherwise one would have to say that the Confederates waged war against the United States, and, trailing along, would come the falsehood that the C.S.A. fought to preserve slavery. Mr. M. does not watch enough fox news. Still and all, a good book, just right in length and depth.