A Ransomed Yankee: Epic Voyage of the Whalingship Milo [Paperback]

Frank Elliott Sisson (Author), II (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2008

One week after Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, on a calm morning, the Milo sailed out of New Bedford harbor into the Atlantic Ocean crowded with Confederate Cruisers, on a journey that would impact many lives and make Civil War history. This is her story.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A vivid portrayal of Civil War maritime history. --Night Owl Reviews

About the Author

Frank Sisson was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, into a New Bedford family with roots in the whaling industry. Frank's great grandfather was Jonathan C. Hawes, master of the Whaleship Milo and one of two principal characters in the book, A Ransomed Yankee. The other principal character was Captain James Iredell Waddell, skipper of the CSS Shenandoah. Frank is a West Point graduate and served as an Air Force pilot during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He retired from military service in 1969 and began a second career in the private sector in the aviation field. He has earned masters degrees in both aeronautical engineering and management, and in 1988 founded an aviation consulting and marketing firm in Wichita, Kansas. He headed the firm, which became quite successful, until 2005. At that time, he sold the business to his associates and retired. He continues to be available for aviation consulting projects that can use years of experience in aviation program and engineering management.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Red Anvil Press (September 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934956058
• ISBN-13: 978-1934956052
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,246,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for Civil War history buffs, May 1, 2010

By 

Jack Of Alltrades "Just another soul" (Loth Ethtadoth Unidoth) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Ransomed Yankee: Epic Voyage of the Whalingship Milo (Paperback)

This is a must read for Civil War, Navy or students of history. The writing is concise, cogent and well documented. Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars An Epic Account of The War Between the States, April 30, 2009

By 

Hal C. Porter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Ransomed Yankee: Epic Voyage of the Whalingship Milo (Paperback)

The Civil War was over, yet the Rebels didn't know it. They still burned the Yankee whaling ships in the Bering Sea. But, the Rebel commander had a great deal of honor. He always saved the lives of the crews of those burned ships. There is an odd twist as how Frank Sissons' great-grandfather's ship was spared. Read it. You will enjoy it.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Ransomed Yankee, November 3, 2008

By 

Andrew Remson "Reader" (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Ransomed Yankee: Epic Voyage of the Whalingship Milo (Paperback)

A most enjoyable read -- this is a fine job of research, using several original sources and is extremely well written.

The book has two stories:
- The voyage of the whaleship Milofrom New Bedford in 1863-65
- The voyage of the Confederate Raider CSS Shenandoah in 1864-65.

These two stories merged when Shenandoah captured Milo in the Bering Sea and then released her on ransom to take the prisoners from earlier captures to safety in San Francisco.

Although the author was an Air Force Officer and spent most of his career around airplanes, his New England ancestry and his early years in New Bedford gave him an appreciation for life at sea. You can almost smell the salt water spray in some of his descriptions!