This is a handy little guide to wooden gunboats and rams in service on the Mississippi during the American Civil War. Konstam gives background on the organization, training and arming of the various Union and Confederate gunboat fleets before providing narration of three important gunboat battles at New Orleans, Plum Point and Memphis. There is not in depth information about individual gunboats, though that information can be found in other sources.

The plates are varied-again wooden gunboat only-and include examples of Union and Confederate gunboats.

This book was widely panned by the ACW naval gaming community, and I'm not sure I understand why. As an introduction and overview to the topic it works. ( )