Cushing: Civil War SEAL

If you enjoy something a little out of the ordinary from traditional military histories, this could be ideal for you. At times the writing style seems directed more at young adults than adults, it is still an enjoyable read with enough serious content to entertain most military historians. The swashbuckling Cushing on the edge of the modern era proves to be an interesting topic in himself and the writing style that focuses on action at the expense of depth may be precisely what conveys his story best. All in all, an interesting and concise study of unconventional warfare in America's War Between the States.

This is perfect for the reader looking for an off-the-beaten-path subject from the American Civil War. This book takes you well past the familiar commanding generals, and gives you insight into one of the more colorful characters who excelled at the tactical level during the War Between the States. Commander Will Cushing was a dashing young officer who specialized in unconventional warfare. Four times given commendations from the Secretary of the Navy, he was more frequently chastised by superiors for his reckless actions that contributed little to the overall war effort. Like the Doolittle raid on Tokyo, his missions made a far greater psychological impact on the Confederacy, than the military damage caused by his pin-prick raids. This book highlights his stunning successes, and illustrates how difficult it was for the young officer to get the approval necessary to carry out his bold plans. "Potomac's Military Profiles" series (formerly "Brassey's Military Profiles") is known for biographies focusing on aspects of an individual's life. This particular book focuses on the greatest accomplishments of Commander Will Cushing, including the destruction of the CSS Albemarle. I found the book to be both readable and enlightening, without the onerous prose normally associated with historical biographies. This book was my first experience relating to the exploits of Commander Cushing. Robert Schneller used original source material such as personal letters and the published memoirs of Cushing for the basis of his book. I complement Schneller for recognizing the more thorough biographies in existence, but I found his book to be the perfect length for my desired level of knowledge regarding Cushing. This book would be a welcome complement to any avid Civil War reader's library.