Historian’s talk to argue Union navy really won American Civil War

USS ALASKA

Captain
Joined
Mar 16, 2016
For those of you near Cromwell, CT.

'...In a program set for Monday, a naval historian intends to defend his thesis that it was the Union Navy that actually won the war. “How the U.S. Navy Won the American Civil War” is being presented by the Cromwell Historical Society at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Cromwell, 355 Main St.
The speaker is Chuck Veit, a Massachusetts native, graphic designer and naval historian who has published five books on 19th-century American naval history...'

https://www.middletownpress.com/mid...k-to-argue-Union-navy-really-won-12630501.php

Bit of a drive for me.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA
 
Operation Anaconda was a MAJOR part of the union victory. Since the South didn't really have any industries and relied on imports it was the nail in the coffin of our defeat.
 
For those of you near Cromwell, CT.

'...In a program set for Monday, a naval historian intends to defend his thesis that it was the Union Navy that actually won the war. “How the U.S. Navy Won the American Civil War” is being presented by the Cromwell Historical Society at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Cromwell, 355 Main St.
The speaker is Chuck Veit, a Massachusetts native, graphic designer and naval historian who has published five books on 19th-century American naval history...'

https://www.middletownpress.com/mid...k-to-argue-Union-navy-really-won-12630501.php

Bit of a drive for me.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA
Grant would still be trying to crack Vicksburg without the Navy.
 
Grant Controlled the US Navy at Vicksburg.
 
To say that the Navy single handedly won the war is stretching it a bit. BUT, the U.S. Navy's role has been completely underrated, both at sea and on the Western Rivers. Scott's Anaconda plan was effective, but it took years to be so. The role of the Navy in the Western Theatre has been largely overlooked. After Fort's Henry and Donelson, the Cumberland River was open for the Navy all the way to Nashville, which left the city untenable. And with the one exception of Vicksburg, the rest of the Mississippi was almost entirely opened by the Navy, effectively cutting the Confederacy in two. That is HUGE. The Navy's role was monumental.
 
For those of you near Cromwell, CT.

'...In a program set for Monday, a naval historian intends to defend his thesis that it was the Union Navy that actually won the war. “How the U.S. Navy Won the American Civil War” is being presented by the Cromwell Historical Society at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Cromwell, 355 Main St.
The speaker is Chuck Veit, a Massachusetts native, graphic designer and naval historian who has published five books on 19th-century American naval history...'

https://www.middletownpress.com/mid...k-to-argue-Union-navy-really-won-12630501.php

Bit of a drive for me.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA
Off hand that seems like a stretch. The Andoconda Plan ultimately depends on the Union Army seizing ports. The Union Army seized ports every year although the Confederate Army did take back Galveston Port on Texas,and briefly Plymouth Port in North Carolina.
Not to say the Union Navy didn't play a major role in the ultimate Union victory.
What do our naval experts @Mark F. Jenkins and @AndyHall think about the OP?
Leftyhunter
 
"The mistake of the South was neglecting her navy."

- John Newland Maffit

Maffit was among the most colorful characters of the era. This Confederate commerce raider was also a ladies' man - they couldn't get enough of him, wherever he went and the Union Navy couldn't catch him, he was too good.
 
For those of you near Cromwell, CT.

'...In a program set for Monday, a naval historian intends to defend his thesis that it was the Union Navy that actually won the war. “How the U.S. Navy Won the American Civil War” is being presented by the Cromwell Historical Society at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Cromwell, 355 Main St.
The speaker is Chuck Veit, a Massachusetts native, graphic designer and naval historian who has published five books on 19th-century American naval history...'

https://www.middletownpress.com/mid...k-to-argue-Union-navy-really-won-12630501.php

Bit of a drive for me.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA
Catchy title: sure to draw interest. Some attendee might want to remind him that it was a team effort....
 
You'd have to guess it really is phrased like that to wake ' em up but there's bound to be an excellent argument. How could there not be? Not, goodness knows, anyone would argue one arm of the service won the war- has to be why they use that word. You can't do it alone.

Posts by our Naval Forum experts will be awfully long. How the war could have been won, without the rivers controlled by the navy, seems a puzzle.

Like to add it would also have been impossible for that incredibly extensive network of transports for wounded, to be set up. It was just massive, not sure we know how many men would not have made it back without those.
 
Catchy title: sure to draw interest. Some attendee might want to remind him that it was a team effort....

That to me seems to be the point of the group that is sponsoring the event. A Pronouncement that: "The Union Navy Kinda, Sorta Won! the War." Would not draw as much interest, donations to the sponsors or book sales for the speaker. Great PR and a sure attention getter for those with an interest and I'm betting that he will not go unchallenged; kinda like when such things are said around here. :whistling:
 
You'd have to guess it really is phrased like that to wake ' em up but there's bound to be an excellent argument. How could there not be? Not, goodness knows, anyone would argue one arm of the service won the war- has to be why they use that word. You can't do it alone.

Posts by our Naval Forum experts will be awfully long. How the war could have been won, without the rivers controlled by the navy, seems a puzzle.

Like to add it would also have been impossible for that incredibly extensive network of transports for wounded, to be set up. It was just massive, not sure we know how many men would not have made it back without those.
You bring up what I wasn't thinking about, which was also crucial: The transport system on the rivers. Aside from the fighting ships' role of opening the rivers for cutting the Confederacy in half, it also opened the rivers for transportation of war materials, food, and supplies, and a excellent highway system to return the wounded North. Again, this has all been underrated.
 
Navies take money, experienced commanders, and sailors. The United States had all three.
1. Cut off direct trade between New York and the South.
2. Push the coast traffic of the south inland onto the rail system.
3. Eliminate the ability of the Confederates to use steamboats to support their economy and war logistics.
4. Cut off the importation of railroad supplies, rails and locomotives, from England to the South.
5. The navy had the ability to appear in unexpected places along the entire Confederate coast and to move on the inland waterways despite the Confederates' forts. With some cooperation from the army they could assist in successful combined operations almost anywhere in the south.

Eliminate the Confederate's contact with the outside world and their railroad system would collapse in about 3 year, between July 1861 and August 1864.

This strategy has a 100% chance of succeeding. The Confederates cannot match a 900 ship navy. There is nothing they can do to change the rate at which rails and locomotives wear out.
 
Navies take money, experienced commanders, and sailors. The United States had all three.
1. Cut off direct trade between New York and the South.
2. Push the coast traffic of the south inland onto the rail system.
3. Eliminate the ability of the Confederates to use steamboats to support their economy and war logistics.
4. Cut off the importation of railroad supplies, rails and locomotives, from England to the South.
5. The navy had the ability to appear in unexpected places along the entire Confederate coast and to move on the inland waterways despite the Confederates' forts. With some cooperation from the army they could assist in successful combined operations almost anywhere in the south.

Eliminate the Confederate's contact with the outside world and their railroad system would collapse in about 3 year, between July 1861 and August 1864.

This strategy has a 100% chance of succeeding. The Confederates cannot match a 900 ship navy. There is nothing they can do to change the rate at which rails and locomotives wear out.
Also like to add what the book "Blockadrs,Refugees,Contrabands
Civil War on Florida's Gulf Coast 1861-1865" George Buker The University of Arkansas Press details the support the U.S. Navy gave to Unionist guerrillas in South East Florida. Also the U.S. Navy established the 2nd Florida Cavalry Union composed of Confederate deserters.
Both elements became a huge thorn in the Confederate side in Florida.
Had the U.S. Navy perused such a strategy along the entire Confederate coast it could of paid huge dividends.
Leftyhunter
 
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