«Finally, there is a book that gives African-American sailors the credit they’re due for the winning the Union’s war on the waters." —Claude Berube, PhD, director, United States Naval Academy Museum, author of On Wide Seas: The US Navy in the Jacksonian Era

"In researching the history of the naval reserve which came into existence just before World War I, I discovered African-Americans proved to be the manpower reserve enabler to allow for the rapid expansion of the Union Navy to suppress the southern rebellion. James Bruns explains how cultural differences between the army and navy facilitated the recruitment and integration of colored sailors into the ranks and how they contributed to Union success on multiple fronts. Using artifact and manufacts as focal imagery, Bruns goes far to fill a critical void in Civil War naval historiography!" —David F. Winkler, Ph.D. Naval Historical Foundation, author of Ready Then, Ready Now, Ready Always: More Than a Century of Service By Citizen Sailors»