The stern look on the cover of this book should not fool you. David Dixon Porter was one of the wittiest, most erudite men to have served in the American Civil War and once you've read his memoirs, you won't miss the twinkle in those eyes. What most Americans know about the Civil War centers around Union and Confederate land campaigns. But without the U.S. Navy, the absolutely essential blockade of southern ports could not have prevented the rebels from trading on a large scale. Even less known is the crucial role the Navy played in many of the land campaigns, including the siege of Vicksburg and operations on the James River among many others. David Porter was in the center of this action, collaborating closely with Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman. Porter was the U.S. Navy's second admiral, after his adopted brother David Farragut.