America’s Anchor

This naval history of the Delaware Estuary spans three centuries, from the arrival of the Europeans to the end of the World War II. The author describes the shipbuilders and infrastructure, and the ships and men who sailed this surprisingly active waterway in peace and in war. From Philadelphia to the Delaware Capes, the story of the nascent U.S. Navy and key historical figures emerges. Dozens of historic images and four appendices are included.

Kennard R. Wiggins, Jr., is a retired military officer and the author of five regional military history books. He lives in Elkton, Maryland.

Kennard R. Wiggins, Jr.
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 296
Bibliographic Info: 82 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2019
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7197-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3435-7
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
Introduction 3
One. Delaware River and Bay Maritime Heritage 5
Two. Creating an American Navy 20
Three. Maintaining American Sovereignty and Independence 51
Four. Years of Peace and Development 80
Five. The Civil War 107
Six. Years of National Expansion, 1865–1914 131
Seven. The Great War, 1914–1918, and through 1925 163
Eight. World War II 194
Appendix 1: Delaware Valley Sailor and Marine Medal of Honor Recipients 223
Appendix 2: ­Delaware-Built Civil War Vessels 239
Appendix 3: ­Post–Civil War, ­Wilmington-Built Ships, 1871–1917 249
Appendix 4: Ships of World War I from Delaware Shipyards 255
Chapter Notes 259
Bibliography 273
Index 277

“[Wiggins] clear and concise writing style makes for an enjoyable read, and the book includes a vast array of interesting and insightful information about the colorful ships, men, and deeds that contributed to the progress of the United States Navy in both war and peace.”—The Nautical Research Journal