REVIEWS ment. In return, the government would give them a return of 6 percent per annum on the "net cost of the vessel and its equipments," with final reimbursement to come at the "convenience of the government. " T hus started a trend, albeit short-lived , of seaport towns putting up the money and building, for the use of the Federal government, a series of warships ranging from armed Baltimore pilot schooners to the 36gun New York. Most were so ld out of the navy by President Jefferson in keeping with his policy of a "gunboat" navy; only a very few ever saw service in future wars. John Adams and Philadelphia made it to the coast of Tripoli where, after capture by the Bey, the latter was burned by Steven Decatur. T hi s eminently readable, well-researched and well-documented book, while somewhat repetitive by its nature and layout, is likely the best account of this generally forgotten period of our nation's history currently available. I look forward to future offerings from Mr. Leiner. WILLIAM H. WHITE Rumson, New J ersey Warships of the Napoleonic Era, by R obert Gardiner (Naval Institute Press, Annapolis MD, 1999, 160pp, illus, appen, ISBN 1-5575 0-962-x; $49.95h c) At last! Someone, in the person of Robert Gardi ner, has put together a quite comprehensive portfolio of the plans/blueprints/ draughts of not only English vessels, but also those of foreign nations whose ships the Royal Navy captured. T he diagrams are copies of those on file in England's National Maritime Museum with the legends and notes intact. Information is included on the builder, intended use, and strengths and weaknesses of each vessel, derived not only from the plans themselves, but also from Gardiner's research . His text, in many cases, details the changes made in subsequent iterations and the reasons for those changes. An additional useful feature is the listing of vessels in the class, their dimensions, armamen t, and use, as well as comparable ships of other nations , including Denmark, F ranee, and the United States. A separate section shows the lines of captured vessels, among them USS Chesapeake, President and the French flush-decked corvette La Bonne Citoyenne, which was influential in the design of the English frigate classes of 18 10-12. SEA HISTORY 94, AUTUMN 2000
While clearly not a "cover-to-cover" read, this volume, coffeetable-sized, is a splendid reference for anyone who paints, writes about, or models sailing warships of the 1789-1815 period. The text is readable, informative, and, most important, complementary to the plates which, of course, are the real meat of the book. Detailed footnotes and source references are provided for those desiring more information. Thumbing through this book will delight and intrigue any with even a mild interest in these wonderful vessels. WILLIAM H . WHITE The Boats of Men-of-War, by W. E. May (Naval Institute Press, Annapolis MD, in association with the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich UK, 2000, 128pp , illus, ISBN 1-5575 0-190-4; $34.95hc) This new book is based on work the late Commander W. E. May, RN, published in 1974. May was Deputy Director of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England, from 19 51 to 1968 and a recognized expert on many details of naval history such as navigation and the equipment of warships, including their boats. Simon Stephens, also of the Museum, has preserved May's original text and notes while adding a significant amount of tabular data, illustrations and captions. The result is a magnificently illustrated presentation on British ships' boats from the long boats, cocketts and skull es of 1345 to the steam pinnaces of pre-World War I, with the emphasis on the period of sail. T h e complexities of fittings, rigs, propulsion and armament are well covered, to the benefit of historians and modelers. Artwork includes many original black-andwhite naval boat draughts and paintings showing historical detail. There are tables showing boat dimensions, scantlings and other data from vario us eras as well as evolutionary changes. This will be the standard work on its subj ect. TOWNSEND HORNOR Osterville, Massachusetts Fort Anderson: Battle for Wilmington, by Chris E. Fonvielle, Jr. (Savas Publishing Company, Mason C ity IA, 1999 , 12 lpp, illus, notes, biblio, index, ISBN 1-8828 1024-4; $ 12.95pb) In Fort Anderson: Battle fo r Wilmington the avid Civil War reader will find a thor-
oughly researched and well-illustrated work on a Confederate Civil War fortress that defended the seaward approaches to Wilmington, North Carolina. The thoroughness of Chris E. Fonvielle's wo rk in the primary source material results in an interesting social history as wartime even ts associated with Fort Anderson unravel not just from the generals' points of view, but from the perspective of the ordinary soldier. Fort Anderson is a rewarding reading experience. The relative significance ofFort Anderson to the defense of Wilmington is debatable, however. Like a Gibraltar of the No rth Carolina coast, the more strategic Fort Fisher defended the approaches to the Cape Fear River and helped deter Union forces from assaulting Wilmington throughout most of the war. Once Fort Fisher fell into Union hands, enemy army and navy units quickly rolled up Confederate resistance along the Cape Fear. There was little the outnumbered and undergunned garrison at Fort Anderson could do to oppose this force. For a more comprehensive study of the Battle for Wilmington, read Fonvielle's earlier book, The Wilmington Campaign: Last Rays of D eparting Hope (Campbell California: Savas Publishing Co., 1997) . WILLIAM H . T HIESEN Greenville, North Carolina The Bismarck Chase: New Light on a Famous Engagement, by Robert J. Winklareth (Naval Institute Press, Annapolis MD, 1998, 188pp, illus, appen, biblio, index, ISBN 1-55750-183-1 ; $36.95hc) The fascination with one of the most famous naval battles of the modern age has not dimmed in the 59 years since that day in the North Atlantic when Bismarck and Prinz Eugen engaged HMS Hood and Prince of Wales. Nor has the controversy surrounding this battle diminished with the passing of time. In this new study, the author brings to light some inconsistencies in previously written histo ries of the battle and provides clarification on a number of issues through a detailed study of written and photographic evidence. While he concentrates primarily on the battle berween Bismarck and the British ships on 24 May 194 1, he also provides a solid historical backgro und to this important battle. Attention is given to the design and construction of battle-
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