What's a Brown Water Navy?-- Part 1

From the Winter 2011 Hallowed Ground Magazine.

The Union's "Brown Water Navy" was a term used to descrive those vessels operating along the interior rivers of the United States.  The "Blue Water Navy" operated along the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico.

Just weeks after Fort Sumter, Union Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles was contacted by St. Louis engineer James E. Eads, suggesting that snagboats (used to clear river obstructions) be refiited for Navy use.  Believing the interior rivers were more of an Army thing, Welles passed it along to the War Department.  Under Gen, McClellan, three steamers were procured and refitted under Army control.

The USS Conestoga, Lexington and Tyler were protected by heavy oak and with their shallow draft were soon patrolling the warters south of Cairo, Illinois.

In August 1861, Welles sent Captain Andrew Hull Foote west to command Naval operations.by establishing joint command.  Foote was then raised to the rank of Flag Officer, which is the equivalent of that of an Army major general.

More to Come.  --Old B-R'er