The Union inland navy that became the Mississippi Squadron is one of the greatest, yet least studied aspects of the Civil War. Without it, however, the war in the West may not have been won, and the war in the East might have lasted much longer and perhaps ended differently. The men who formed and commanded this large fighting force have, with few exceptions, not been as thoroughly studied as their army counterparts. The vessels they created were highly specialized craft which operated in the narrow confines of the Western rivers in places that could not otherwise receive fire support. Ironclads and gunboats protected army forces and convoyed much needed supplies to far-flung Federal forces. They patrolled thousands of miles of rivers and fought battles that were every bit as harrowing as land engagements yet inside iron monsters that created stifling heat with little ventilation. This book is about the intrepid men who fought under these conditions and the highly improvised boats in which they fought. The tactics their commanders developed were the basis for many later naval operations. Of equal importance were lessons learned about what not to do. The flag officers and admirals of the Mississippi Squadron wrote the rules for modern riverine warfare.

"Gary Joiner has greatly added to the historiography of Civil War naval history and has hopefully shed enough light on the subject to motivate other scholars to research the subject further. This book is worth reading by many audiences, including professional historians, Civil War buffs, naval history enthusiasts, and those interested in early examples of joint force operations. This book is also recommended for use by educators for classes dealing with the Civil War." - Civil War History

"Clearly written and well researched, Joiner’s sound study also offers a superior selection of photographs of the weird and wonderful craft that won the rivers for the Union." - Booklist

"This is a worthy outing . . . [the book] deserves a sport on library shelves. . . . Recommended." - CHOICE

"Joiner is at his best when he is discussing strategy and the sometimes stormy army-navy relationships. . . . This is an excellent short introduction to the often-neglected yet vitally-important naval war in the West." - The Journal Of Military History

"A good scholarly introduction to this neglected aspect of Civil War maritime history." - Sea History

"This book is well-written, thoroughly researched, and complemented by outstanding maps and illustrations. . . . A well-rounded and thoroughly engaging book that serves as a fine introduction to the Civil War on the western waters." - Civil War Book Review

"Excellent maps and pictures support Joiner's presentation . . . which is solidly researched and well written." - Journal of Southern History