Book Review: Mr Lincoln's Brown Water Navy: The Mississippi Squadron, by Gary D. Joiner

At the outset of the Civil War, the Lincoln Administration understood the importance of gaining control of the major rivers in the western part of the Confederacy. These rivers, including the Tennessee, the Cumberland, and especially the Mississippi and its tributaries, were not only important shipping routes for commerce, they were important militarily as transportation routes into the south for Union Army operations in the region. In Mr. Lincoln's Brown Water Navy historian Gary D. Joiner tells the story of the vital role the United States Navy played in securing these inland waters for the Union.

There were significant obstacles to overcome before the western rivers could be secured. First of all, the U.S. Navy had oceangoing ships (the "blue water" navy) but no vessels suitable for operations in the shallower river waters; in other words, a "brown water" navy did not exist. (Joiner does discuss the role of the blue water navy on the lower Mississippi as far north as Vicksburg, Mississippi but the ocean going vessels were unable to operate in the other shallower, narrower rivers). Second, the army claimed jurisdiction over all inland operations, even those operations on waterways.

Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles acted quickly in building the brown water navy. River craft of all types were purchased and converted into gunboats and support vessels, and new ships were built. Joiner introduces the reader to James Buchanon Eads and Samuel Pook, who designed and built a fleet of seven shallow draft ironclad ships and had them all commissioned by January 1862. These ships and the others were organized into what was called the Western Gunboat Flotilla. The army insisted that the Flotilla was under its control, but Welles and others lobbied President Lincoln and Congress to transfer control to the navy. Congress was convinced and the Flotilla was transferred to the navy as of October 1, 1862. The Flotilla's name was also changed to The Mississippi Squadron.

Joiner details the contributions of the river gunboats to Union victories at Fort Donelson and Shiloh in Tennessee and at Island No. 10 near New Madrid, Missouri. Major General Ulysses S. Grant recognized the value of naval support for land operations and formed a close working relationship with the Mississippi Squadron's commander, Rear Admiral David Porter. This cooperation between the army and the navy was invaluable during the 1863 Vicksburg Campaign in Mississippi.

The final major campaign for the Mississippi Squadron was the April 1864 Red River Campaign in Louisiana. The Squadron was nearly lost here when river levels dropped so low even the shallow draft vessels were unable to pass. Only the hasty construction of dams that created a deeper channel saved the fleet from capture or destruction. The Squadron's last action in support of ground forces was on the Cumberland River at the Battle of Nashville in December 1864. The fleet patrolled the rivers to guard against guerrilla attacks until the end of the war.

Joiner provides the reader with excellent descriptions of battle between the Squadron and Confederate ships on the rivers. These close range encounters were equal in intensity to any of those experienced at sea. There are also vivid accounts of artillery duels between the gunboats and Confederate batteries covering the rivers

The navy continued to add a wide variety of ships to the fleet throughout the war. The book contains photographic images of many of the ships in the diverse fleet. There are also several maps. Joiner, an Assistant Professor of History and Geography at Louisiana State University at Shreveport, did much of the cartography himself.

Mr. Lincoln's Brown Water Navy is an excellent narrative of an important element of the Civil War's western theater. With vivid descriptions of battle, technical information on the ships, and background history on how this powerful fleet was quickly created out of nothing in a short period of time, this book is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in inland naval operations in the Civil War.