Fire on the Waters: A Novel of the Civil War at SeaThe year is 1861, and America shudders on the brink of disunion. Elisha Eaker, scion of a wealthy Manhattan banking family, joins the Navy against his father's wishes. He does it as much to avoid an arranged marriage to his cousin, Araminta Van Velsor, as to defend the flag. Eli meets Lieutenant Ker Claiborne aboard the sloop of war U.S.S. Owanee. An Annapolis graduate who's seen action in the West Indies and the Africa Station, Claiborne is cool and competent in storm and battle, but he now faces an agonizing choice between the Navy he loves and his native Virginia. Whichever road he takes, he'll be called a traitor. With authentic nautical and historical detail, master sea-yarner David Poyer follows Eli, Araminta, Ker, and their loved ones and shipmates into a maelstrom of divided loyalties, bitter partings, stormy seas, governmental panic, political blundering, and, finally, the test of battle as the bloodiest and most divisive war in American history begins. |
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aboard Ahasuerus ahead aloft Araminta arms asked Babcock beneath boat boatswain boatswain's pipe boiler boots breath bulwark burning cabin captain cheroot Claiborne close coal command cough crew cutter dark deck door Duycker Eaker El Cid engine exec eyes face feet felt fire fire ship flag flame forward frock coat Girnsolver glanced glass gone Gosport gunner hand Hanks Harriet Lane he'd head heard Hubbard ice schooner leaned Lieutenant lifted light lips looked MacNail Micah Midshipman navy night nodded Norfolk officer Owanee Owanee's passed Paulding Phelps port pulled quarterdeck rigging river sail seemed ship shouted sloop slowly smelled smoke stand starboard stared steam Steele stepped stern stood Sumter Theo thought throat told took Trezevant Trezevant's turned voice waiting wardroom watch Wilkes wind yard