Lifeline of the Confederacy: Blockade Running during the Civil War (Studies in Maritime History Series) [Paperback]

Stephen R. Wise (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

From the profusion of books about Confederate blockade running, this one will stand out for a long time as the most complete and exhaustively researched. Though not unaware of the romantic aspects of his subject, Wise sets out to provide a detailed study, giving particular attention to the blockade runners' effects on the Confederate war effort. It was, he finds, tapping hitherto unused sources, absolutely essential, affording the South a virtual lifeline of military necessities until the war's last days. This book covers it all: from cargoes to ship outfitting, from individuals and companies to financing at both ends. An indispensable addition to Civil War literature. Thomas E. Schott, Office of History, Engineering Installation Div., Tinker AFB, Okla.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 403 pages
• Publisher: University of South Carolina Press (August 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872497992
• ISBN-13: 978-0872497993
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #567,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Book to have about blockade running!, March 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lifeline of the Confederacy: Blockade Running during the Civil War (Studies in Maritime History Series) (Paperback)

Stephen R. Wise's opus on the blockade runners is not to be missed! He ably describes the blockade itself, the ships and men that challenged it, and backs it all up with valuable charts and tables. Truly definitive.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive History of Civil War Blockade Running, February 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Lifeline of the Confederacy: Blockade Running during the Civil War (Studies in Maritime History Series) (Paperback)

Stephen Wise has managed to both write a comprehensive history packed with information which is also very readable. Truly a remarkable feat. The book succeeds at both imparting the general course of the blockade running and the many fascinating incidents which make up the history of blockade running.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, well-researched, and objective examination of Confederate blockade running., October 4, 2005

By 

Red Harvest (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Lifeline of the Confederacy: Blockade Running during the Civil War (Studies in Maritime History Series) (Paperback)

Stephen Wise, the author of Gate of Hell: Campaign for Charleston Harbor, 1863, has written another excellent book. This objective treatise about Confederate steam powered blockade running is thorough, without being exhausting to the reader. It covers the subject with ample maps, sketches/photos, tables and text. Summarizing from the book: nearly 300 steamers made 1300 attempts, of which 1,000 were successful. 221 vessels were captured or destroyed. The South imported 400,000 rifles (60%), 1/3rd of its lead, 2/3rd of its salt peter for gunpowder, as well as a great number of blankets, clothing, shoes, and leather goods.

This is not a romanticized, detailed retelling of many blockade running stories. A reader in search of such a tactically oriented story telling work would likely be disappointed. However, neither is the book simply a dry collection of statistics and organizational descriptions, for it also has concise retellings of many pertinent blockade running attempts. These accounts provide the reader with a feel for the trade, the skill and resourcefulness of the captains, and how methods evolved over time as both the blockade runners, and the blockaders improved in quality and numbers.

The book focuses almost exclusively on steam powered blockade runners, dismissing the numerous sailing ship attempts as having a negligible impact on the war effort. One of the few omissions from the book is adequate statistics and detailed explanation of why this was so (size, vulnerability, etc.)

There is a treasure trove of information in this work for anyone seeking a better understanding of the strategic aspect of arming and supplying the South. The strengths and weaknesses of the Union blockade are exposed from the vantage point of the blockade runners. Wise illustrates the failings of "King Cotton" diplomacy early in the war. He demonstrates how Southern blockade running was hampered by a lack of central control, multiple competing efforts, and over reliance on private enterprise. The South had ample opportunity early to ship cotton and bring in war materiel while the Federal blockade was a token force. Unfortunately, the Confederacy's policy of cutting off the cotton supply prevented it from effectively using its only valuable financial asset, and arms flowed in much more slowly than they should have early in the war. As a result, the rights to cotton were sold at ¼ market value rather than obtaining better compensation, and cotton bonds were discounted even more as Southern military reverses occurred.

What stands out is the transformation of Wilmington, NC from a minor developing port into the premiere deepwater port for the South, and the final lifeline for Lee's army in Virginia.

226 pages of the primary text includes 25 maps. Following that are 101 pages of detailed appendices about attempts at each port, those captured/destroyed/lost, and a summary of the known specifications for each steam blockade runner. Notes and bibliography occupy a further 50 pages. Additionally, there are 36 drawings, photos, and sketches of steamers, and prominent figures.

Note: My softcover copy does not seem to have the binding problem mentioned by another reviewer--at least not so far. I've seen that sort of problem in books before, but not in this one, so perhaps I have a different printing.