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Iron Afloat - The Story of the Confederate Armorclads

Iron Afloat - by William N. Still Jr.
#23: When the Civil War began the South had no navy, few seamen, and limited shipbuilding facilities. In order to defend its ports against a well-established Northern navy, the South had to resort to innovation, and the Confederate ironclad navy was born. The Confederate government commissioned and put into operation twenty-two armorclad vessels of war. This book tells that story. "Iron Afloat" is history that reads like a novel and will appeal to readers interested in naval history.
Paperback - 262 pages - many photos and eyewitness drawings.

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The Siege of Charleton

By E. Milby Burton
This is the best single book that covers the entire Siege of Charleston.

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A Year on a Monitor and the Destruction of Fort Sumter

Alvah Hunter

In November of 1862 Alvah Hunter, then a youth of sixteen, signed on as a ship's boy aboard the the Passaic class monitor "Nahant." His year's service aboard the warship allowed the young man to witness, among other things, the abortive April, 1863 Union attack on Fort Sumter, the capture of the Confederate ironclad ram "Atlanta", and the naval and military actions against Battery Wagner and Morris Island. Hunter kept a diary, it recorded such vivid entries. Civil War scholars at all levels will rejoice in this worthy addition to the literature.

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Gate of Hell: Campaign for Charleston Harbor 1863

By Stephen R. Wise
Gate of Hell is the detailed history of the war on Morris Island, South Carolina. Wise details the landing on Morris Island and the naval and artillery bombardments on Battery Wagner as well as Fort Sumter. Gate of Hell takes its name from a soldiers quote after the fall of Battery Wagner. There is an excellent discussion of rifled artillery as well as the attack on Wagner by the 54th Massachusetts. This book tells the story the movie Glory never did. Hardback. . 218 pages. Great photos and diagrams of Wagner and various Union siege batteries. Please choose shipping via U.S. Mail option for most cost effective method.

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Ironclads & Big Guns of the Confederacy

The Journal & Letters of John M. Brooke. Hard Back.

#24: As Confederate commander of ordnance and hydrography Brooke was charged with developing a vessel that could break the Union blockade. Brooke raised the Merrimack and outfitted it with armor plates as the CSS Virginia. Brooke's papers trace his conception of the plan to create the first Confederate ironclad warship and offer insight into the experiments that would lead to his invention of the Brooke rifled gun. The Brooke rifle was a significant innovation in cannon-making.
This is a magnificent book. It chronicals the developement of the iron navy of the north and south and the advancements in weaponry necessary to defeat iron clad warships.
Brooke was a genius. It was Brooke and not Blakely who understood why the huge 12.75 inch Blakely gun burst in Charleston. His letters to both Blakely and Armstrong are included in the book.
The hardback book is 257 pages in length and contains many of Brooke's sketches of the CSS Virginia, his rifles, and there effect on iron plating.
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Lifeline of the Confederacy-Blockade Running During the Civil War

Stephen Wise, the same author of "Gate of Hell", work on blockade running is without peer. His work is original and all encompassing on this subject. He covers the people , their ships and techniques. After reading this Civil War classic you will understand how approximately 75% of all blockade runners made port successfully. In paperback. 300 pages with pictures. Please select U.S. Postage option for shipping.

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Secessionville: Assault on Charleston

By Patrick Brennan
This detailed, authoritative, and superbly written account is not only a valuable micro-history of an often overlooked battle; it also fits that battle into the broad context of the Union effort to capture Charleston - the heart and soul of the rebellion.

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Siege Train

The Edward Manigault Diary
Major Edward Manigault , ordered by Gerneral Beauregard to document his unit's daily operations, began to diary in July 1863 which would become one of the most informative records to survive the Civil War. Major Manigault diary vividly depicts his unit's participation in such well-known engagements as the battle for Battery Wagner and the attempt to seize the U. S. gunboat Marblehead. The diary is especially notable for its descriptions of artillery training and application. Warren Ripley is the editor.