LIFE AT SEA IN THE CIVIL WAR

"SHIPS" HARD TO ACQUIRE

"MEN" TO CREW THE SHIPS

WAS LIKE

GETTING ORANGE JUICE OUT OF A LEMON

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Both the North....and the South...both sides had an extremely difficult time in acquiring ships during the years of the Civil War....they more or less would beg, borrow and steal them...[actually they would buy some, convert a few for the purposes of war, and then when all else failed they would build some.]

But that was only half the problem...once they had these 'corks in the water' .....getting a warm body to man these so called vessel was another matter entirely.  Here again ...they would beg, borrow...and take any warm body, and that included young boys....and I do mean young....to help with running there vessels. 

So...this is what this article is all about...how the North and South obtained these "crewmen"...as well as once they were on board...."what was daily life like on these war vessels???"  Well it was not like being on a holiday...of that you can be sure.

Now folks this is a "TWO PART" article....the title is: LIFE AT SEA IN THE CIVIL WAR.  To start off with....that is if your interested.....click on this: PART I    Then if you really like it and you wish to continue....come back here and click on this: PART II 

[if for any reason the above two links do not connect you to the articles....please do not hesitate to give me a heads up at cshortridge@comcast.net  ]

Ok folks I sure do hope you enjoy the article....I'm sure you will be enlightened at what these young crewmen had to endure in this early internal war of the United States]

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