Andrew Foote: Civil War Admiral on Western Waters

Library of Naval Biography

by Spencer C. Tucker

This biography traces the life and career of one of the U.S. Navy's first admirals, Andrew Hull Foote. As flag officer of the Union's western naval forces, Foote was a key figure in the February 1862 Union victories at Forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee and helped open the Confederate heartland to the Union. Later he shared in the victory at Island No. 10, an action that opened the upper Mississippi River to the Union.



In this revealing portrait, Spencer Tucker describes Foote as emblematic of a period of great change in the American navy. Although very much an officer schooled in the tradition of the Old Navy, Foote considered himself first and foremost a staunch Christian and agent of Divine Will. An ardent social reformer, he crusaded zealously for abolition of the daily grog ration in the navy, and during his command of the brig Perry in the African squadron, he also became a leading advocate of the government's use of forceful measures to end the slave trade. In the 1850s Foote's career exemplified America's emerging international policy in the Far East when, in support of U.S. interests in China, he led a shore party to destroy coastal forts that had fired on U.S. ships. The first study of the admiral to be published in more than one hundred years, this work makes an important contribution to the literature of the period and to the series.

Genres: Civil War

296 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brief, concise, very succinct biography of one of the Union's much overlooked heroes, this book really packs a punch. The author posits that Foote would be better remembered today if he had survived the war. Having died before Gettysburg from Bright's disease, he never got to see the end of the conflict. This biography will be placed on my top shelf of naval books. Definitely worth the time and effort to read it.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second biography that I've read about Civil War Admirals. The first being David Dixon Porter, which was interesting but a very dry read.
This book was much better, a far more enjoyable read. It takes awhile to reach Foote's Civil War service but that is because Foote served in every rank and in every theater where the American Navy went. He traveled the world through his service. He was on the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean. He visited the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii), Europe, Africa, South America, China, Japan, and more in his long career.
Foote's career began with the fledgling and insignificant American Navy that had more officers than ships to the Globe-spanning and premiere Navy of the World! Through his efforts, he put in place policies that are taken for granted today. Reading this book, you truly see how great a man he was.
One of the highlights of his career in the Pre-Civil War period was his service with the African Squadron where he made great efforts in stopping the Slave Trade on American ships. Throughout his life, Foote was a devout Christian and felt his first duty was to God, his second was to his Nation.