Few historical books have addressed the role of the Union Navy during the Civil War, and this volume serves to close that gap by describing naval strategies employed by Lincoln and his Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Wells. Taaffe (history, Stephen F. Austin U., Texas) provides detailed accounts of how the Navy was used to create blockades in Confederate ports, patrol the Mississippi River and its tributaries and work with the Union Army in amphibious assaults. History and military buffs will also appreciate the profiles of key Union Navy commanders and their roles in historic battle campaigns in New Orleans, Charleston, Mobile and Fort Fisher. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)