Although the book provides a daily chronicle of the combat, it is written in narrative form to give readers some continuity as they move from skirmish to skirmish. During the course of the saga, the book also chronicles the life spans of more than 600 Union and Confederate vessels, documenting when possible the time of each vessels acquisition, commissioning, major engagements, and decommissioning. Seven appendices provide lists of prominent Union and Confederate officers, primary naval actions, and Medal of Honor recipients from 1863 to 1865.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• The Chronology
• 1850
• 1853
• 1854
• 1855
• 1856
• 1857
• 1858
• 1859
• 1860
• 1861
• 1862
• 1863
• 1864
• 1865
• 1866
• Appendix I: Total Casualties
• Appendix II: Roster of Union Generals
• Appendix III: Prominent Union Brigadier Generals Who Received the Rank Only by Brevet
• Appendix IV: Roster of Confederate Generals
• Appendix V: Prominent Union Naval Officers
• Appendix VI: Prominent Naval Actions
• Appendix VII: Medal of Honor Recipients, 1863-1865
• Bibliography