Waters of Discord: The Union Blockade of Texas During the Civil War

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McFarland, Jan 1, 2003 - History - 200 pages
At the beginning of the American Civil War the Federal government imposed a blockade of the southern coast of the Confederate States of America, including the dark corner of the Confederacy--Texas. Much of the fighting in Texas during the Civil War took place in the state's coastal counties and the adjoining Gulf of Mexico waters, and nearly all of these engagements were involved in one way or another with the Union blockade of the Texas coast.
This book examines all major blockade-related land and sea engagements in and near Texas, and also includes many minor ones. It begins with a discussion of the blockade's creation and then concentrates on the successful Confederate efforts to evade the blockade by shipping cotton out of Mexico and, in return, receiving materiel and civilian goods through that neutral nation. The author also covers political intrigue and the spy activity with the French who had invaded Mexico. The book concludes with an analysis of the effectiveness of the Union blockade of Texas.

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Contents

Preface
1
Blockade Growth
39
Moves and Countermoves
77
Cotton Politics and Foreign Involvement
103
The Rio Grande Expedition
125
An Evaluation
147
Epilogue
167
Bibliography
187
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About the author (2003)

Lecturer and author Rodman L. Underwood lives in Port Orange, Florida

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