INTRODUCTION

In Chapter 2, the British blockade of the French coast during most of the nearly one hundred years of continuous warfare was shown to be a “defensive blockade.” That is, the English defended their country by deploying their fleets off the French ports to prevent that country's naval vessels from putting to sea and attacking the British coast and its colonies. During the American Civil War, the United States “stationed her fleets off the southern ports, not because she feared for her own, but to break down the Confederacy by isolation from the rest of the world, and ultimately by attacking the ports.” Although the method was the same as that earlier employed by the British, the purpose of the Northern blockade was “offensive” rather than “defensive.”

Much has been written about the Civil War blockade; few historical events have been the subject of more academic controversy. For example, the historian Allan Nevins concludes that “To the east and south on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts the blockade had stiffened until near the end it was perhaps the major element in garroting the South.” He reports the words of the Civil War soldier-journalist, T. C. DeLeon, that by 1863 “the blockade had become so thoroughly effective that blankets and shoes had almost given out, and a large portion of the army was barefoot.”