Submarine Warfare In The Civil War

by Mark K. Ragan

Many people have heard of the Hunley, the experimental Confederate submarine that sank the USS Housatonic in a daring nighttime operation. Less well known, however, is that the Hunley was not alone under the waters of America during the Civil War. Both the Union and Confederacy built a wide and incredible array of vessels that could maneuver underwater, and many were put to use patrolling enemy waters. In Submarine Warfare in the Civil War, Mark Ragan, who spent years mining factory records and log books, brings this little-known history to the surface.The hardcover edition, Union and Confederate Submarine Warfare in the Civil War, was published to wide acclaim in 1999. For this new paperback edition, Ragan has revised and updated the text to include the full story of the Hunley's recovery and restoration.

Genres: American Civil War, History, Nonfiction, Civil War

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2003

Reviews

[Clay Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative book on how men and ships fought during the Civil War.

[Christopher Obert · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I saw the cover I had to read this book. What a contradiction of terms “submarine warfare” and the “civil war”! You would not think the two go together. I had heard the stories of the famous Hunley but are you kidding me, there were more submarines! In this book Mark Ragan tells the incredible story of the dozens of submarines that were created and tested during the civil war. I was surprised with each turn of the page as I learned more and more about that remarkable war. A must read for any civil war or submarine buff but even more important to any American interested in learning the true history of America!

[Mark K. Vogl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well researched book that identifies at least 17 possible Confederate submarines. Much of the story is told through first hand accounts, letters and telegrams of engineers, submariners, government officials, and naval officers. Newspaper accounts, even from as far away as France report stories of the war.

This book should be on the shelf of every serious student of the war.

[Sam Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good!

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book. Shows that at least two dozen subs were built during the war, mostly by the Confederates all throughout the South. Personally, I think the alternate history possibilities are almost as interesting; for example, what if more than one Confederate submarine had been successful, or if the submarine-based divers system had worked.

I don't remember anything about the original edition, so I don't know how much of the original text had changed, other than the information on the discovery and recovery of the Hunley.

[Joe White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a reference type historical book primarily focused on reputed or actual Confederate subs in the Civil War. The detail sounds accurate and matches other sources I've read.