Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 1.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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Chapter 3:

Port Royal.

THE navy of the United States, improvised at the time of the war of independence, had not experienced during the long period of peace which followed that war the same vicissitudes as the regular army. Its maintenance had been necessary to enforce respect for the star-spangled banner on every sea; and the immense development of American commerce had given it an importance which screened it from the economical or political measures which had affected the land forces.

The crews were obtained by voluntary enlistments, and were liberally paid. The officers were all pupils of the Naval Academy at Annapolis; being admitted, as at West Point, upon the presentation of members of Congress, or by appointment of the President, they received at that institution a thorough scientific and practical education;¹ they thus formed an educated, distinguished, almost aristocratic body, quite exclusive, and ardently devoted to the flag whose honor they worthily sustained. The extreme neatness and strict discipline which prevailed on board American vessels had long been observed in all the ports of Europe; there had also been occasion to admire frequently in these ships the new models the appearance of which had produced a real revolution in the art of naval construction. The Americans had early abandoned high-decked ships and substituted frigates, which, in dimensions and sailing qualities, were superior to any found in Europe. When steam was adopted as the chief motor in the navy, they persevered in that direction until their large