Date of Award

Spring 1978

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

Committee Director

Harold Wilson

Committee Member

Alan Harris

Committee Member

Carl Boyd

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.H47 N68

Abstract

The subject of this paper is a Union "Board of Strategy" convened by the Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, in June of IS61 to examine all matters pertaining to the naval blockade of the Confederacy. The idea for the board originated with Alexander Dallas Bache, Superintendent of the Coast Survey; in addition to him, the board consisted of Major John Gross Bernard of the Army and Captain Samuel Francis Du Pont and Commander Charles Henry Davis of the Navy.

The board during its three months existence developed a comprehensive plan for the conduct of the blockade of the Confederacy and provided suggestions for amphibious operations against the Confederate coastline. Its work influenced General George B. McClellan to lead his army in an amphibious operation via the Virginia peninsula towards the capture of Richmond.

The board's recommendations resulted in some of the earliest Union victories, but unfortunately historians had made little mention of its work.

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DOI

10.25777/7xhj-kz68

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