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Success Is All That Was Expected: The South Atlantic Blockading Squadron During the Civil War
Success Is All That Was Expected is a comprehensive operational history of the Union naval blockade that monitored the southern Atlantic coast from South Carolina to Florida during the American Civil War. Created in 1861 by the order of President Abraham Lincoln and charged with halting Confederate maritime commerce and closing Southern ports, the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron was the largest of the four Union coastal blockading squadrons for much of the conflict. This story covers the harrowing engagements between ships and forts, daring amphibious assaults, the battles between ironclad vessels, the harassment of Confederate blockade runners, and the incredible evolution of underwater warfare in the form of the CSS Hunley.
The worldâ s leading scholar of Union naval blockades during the Civil War, historian Robert Browning, reveals the squadronâ s numerous tactical accomplishments. He also illustrates how its success was constantly hampered by indecisive leaders in Washington who failed to express their strategic vision as well as by reputation-conscious naval commanders who were reluctant to press the fight when the specter of failure loomed. Despite lost opportunities, unfulfilled expectations, and failures along the way, the bravery, sacrifice, and vigilance of these fighting men played a crucial role in the Unionâ s ultimate victory.
The worldâ s leading scholar of Union naval blockades during the Civil War, historian Robert Browning, reveals the squadronâ s numerous tactical accomplishments. He also illustrates how its success was constantly hampered by indecisive leaders in Washington who failed to express their strategic vision as well as by reputation-conscious naval commanders who were reluctant to press the fight when the specter of failure loomed. Despite lost opportunities, unfulfilled expectations, and failures along the way, the bravery, sacrifice, and vigilance of these fighting men played a crucial role in the Unionâ s ultimate victory.
- GenresAmerican Civil War
495 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2002
About the author
Robert M. Browning Jr.
8 booksRobert M. Browning Jr. is Chief Historian of the United States Coast Guard.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 12, 2026
The South Atlantic Blockading Squadron of the Union Navy was responsible for the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida north of Cape Canaveral. The vast majority of their operations were concentrated against Charleston.
The slightly confusing book title is a slight misquote of "The success is all that was expected" (i.e. we expected success and that expectation was met), from a report of the great achievement of the Union Navy at Port Royal. Without the word "the" the title comes off negatively to me, and I'm not sure if that was intentional.
The book's focus is on the Union operati0ns. While the book is mostly a chronological narrative, there are some parts that address the squadron's logistical and maintenance issues over the course of the war. The squadron went through two commanders, both among the most notable American naval officers of the period: Samuel DuPont and John Dahlgren. Both take center stage in their respective halves of the narrative. Both men were plagued by difficulty cooperating with the Union Army, especially in its operations against Charleston. Strong personalities on top of petty inter-service rivalries is a bad combination.
A number of prominent figures in the book are not depicted favorably. Dahlgren comes off as a glory-hound. David Hunter's rogue behavior foreshadows his later behavior in Virginia. Quincy Gilmore seems all too willing to blame the navy when anything goes wrong. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus Fox seems to have deserved dismissal for his actions surrounding the failed ironclad attack on Fort Sumter.
I have read a lot of books about the Civil War, including a history of Fort Sumter, and learned more from this book than the average Civil War history book I read.
Chapters are generally 30-40 pages in length, but broken up into shorter sections. The book has extensive Endnotes as well as an Index. A good selection of photos is included together in the middle. There are a few simple but effective maps scattered through the book in appropriate places. An action chart for the ironclad attack on Fort Sumter is unfortunately not included. An appendix listing all the warships involved and their type would have been helpful; there were a lot of them mentioned!
My only criticism of the information is that the focus on Charleston does mean general blockade activity elsewhere, though not ignored, is perhaps a little too sparse. However, the book's main weakness is the writing, which is only okay. The somewhat repetitive nature of some of the events, the many small scale actions, and the general tedium of some of the operations does mean any author would have a challenge in making this an fast and easy read. I did feel the need to take a break to read an entire unrelated book before returning and finishing this one up. However, I have certainly read much dryer prose.
I give this 3.5 stars, but given the number of times I found myself thinking "I didn't know that" I am rounding up. Strongly recommended for Civil War buffs, but not for a general history audience unless you're really into naval operations. I will certainly read the rest of the author's blockade squadron trilogy - From Cape Charles to Cape Fear: The North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the Civil War and Lincoln's Trident: The West Gulf Blockading Squadron during the Civil War - though not with any urgency.
The slightly confusing book title is a slight misquote of "The success is all that was expected" (i.e. we expected success and that expectation was met), from a report of the great achievement of the Union Navy at Port Royal. Without the word "the" the title comes off negatively to me, and I'm not sure if that was intentional.
The book's focus is on the Union operati0ns. While the book is mostly a chronological narrative, there are some parts that address the squadron's logistical and maintenance issues over the course of the war. The squadron went through two commanders, both among the most notable American naval officers of the period: Samuel DuPont and John Dahlgren. Both take center stage in their respective halves of the narrative. Both men were plagued by difficulty cooperating with the Union Army, especially in its operations against Charleston. Strong personalities on top of petty inter-service rivalries is a bad combination.
A number of prominent figures in the book are not depicted favorably. Dahlgren comes off as a glory-hound. David Hunter's rogue behavior foreshadows his later behavior in Virginia. Quincy Gilmore seems all too willing to blame the navy when anything goes wrong. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus Fox seems to have deserved dismissal for his actions surrounding the failed ironclad attack on Fort Sumter.
I have read a lot of books about the Civil War, including a history of Fort Sumter, and learned more from this book than the average Civil War history book I read.
Chapters are generally 30-40 pages in length, but broken up into shorter sections. The book has extensive Endnotes as well as an Index. A good selection of photos is included together in the middle. There are a few simple but effective maps scattered through the book in appropriate places. An action chart for the ironclad attack on Fort Sumter is unfortunately not included. An appendix listing all the warships involved and their type would have been helpful; there were a lot of them mentioned!
My only criticism of the information is that the focus on Charleston does mean general blockade activity elsewhere, though not ignored, is perhaps a little too sparse. However, the book's main weakness is the writing, which is only okay. The somewhat repetitive nature of some of the events, the many small scale actions, and the general tedium of some of the operations does mean any author would have a challenge in making this an fast and easy read. I did feel the need to take a break to read an entire unrelated book before returning and finishing this one up. However, I have certainly read much dryer prose.
I give this 3.5 stars, but given the number of times I found myself thinking "I didn't know that" I am rounding up. Strongly recommended for Civil War buffs, but not for a general history audience unless you're really into naval operations. I will certainly read the rest of the author's blockade squadron trilogy - From Cape Charles to Cape Fear: The North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the Civil War and Lincoln's Trident: The West Gulf Blockading Squadron during the Civil War - though not with any urgency.
February 28, 2023
An extremely detailed and well written book that covers the entirety of naval operations in the dept of the south. It is a bit dry at times, but is the most detailed book on naval operations I’ve ever read. I would definitely recommend this book to a patient reader who is interested in the civil war or naval affairs.
April 30, 2023
Detailed description and thorough analysis of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and the mission to blockade the southern coast and, where possible, seize southern ports.
The latter was mostly accomplished by 1862 with the exception of Savannah and Charleston. Attempts by the navy to attack and secure Charleston accomplished little to nothing. Although the port itself was thoroughly closed to traffic for the first part of 1863.
Confederate innovations - ironclads, torpedoes (mines), torpedo boats, and submarines - help deter US progress. But the advances against the larger harbor by US ironclads mainly pointed up the limitations of those craft.
Lack of cooperation between US land forces and navy contributed to the ineffectiveness of attacks against the harbor. The absence of a larger overall military strategy by the Union command also weakened assaults. Having no sustained strategy meant actions were more reactionary than they should have been.
In the end the primary responsibility of blockading was met. Only when, late in the war, US ground forces threatened the city from the landslide did the navy have more success in attacking from the water - in part because Confederate forces abandoned the area due to the pressure of land forces.
The author covers a range of topics in this well written monograph. Couple with his book on the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, this book is indispensable in understanding the blockade.
The latter was mostly accomplished by 1862 with the exception of Savannah and Charleston. Attempts by the navy to attack and secure Charleston accomplished little to nothing. Although the port itself was thoroughly closed to traffic for the first part of 1863.
Confederate innovations - ironclads, torpedoes (mines), torpedo boats, and submarines - help deter US progress. But the advances against the larger harbor by US ironclads mainly pointed up the limitations of those craft.
Lack of cooperation between US land forces and navy contributed to the ineffectiveness of attacks against the harbor. The absence of a larger overall military strategy by the Union command also weakened assaults. Having no sustained strategy meant actions were more reactionary than they should have been.
In the end the primary responsibility of blockading was met. Only when, late in the war, US ground forces threatened the city from the landslide did the navy have more success in attacking from the water - in part because Confederate forces abandoned the area due to the pressure of land forces.
The author covers a range of topics in this well written monograph. Couple with his book on the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, this book is indispensable in understanding the blockade.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews