19 November 2022

Good afternoon, everyone.

Ed Ostermeyer here.

Several readers have requested information on the works I’ve used in the design of “Infernal Machine: Dawn of Submarine Warfare.

Herewith is my bibliography (current as of 19 November 2022) for the game, alphabetized and annotated for your use.

Comments and remarks are my own opinions on the indicated text’s usefulness, ease of same, and value as a source.

So, here you go: 

Bibliography:

“Infernal Machine: Dawn of Submarine Warfare”

A – C

Andreano, Ralph et al,” The Economic Impact of the American Civil War,” (2^nd ed), Cambridge, MA, 1967 Schenkman Publishing Co. Inc. ISBN-10: unavailable

Andreano has collected a bounty of information about what the economic requirements and ultimate cost in materials, lives and treasure were for both sides in the conflict.

Barnes, J.S., (LCDR, USN), “Submarine Warfare, Offensive & Defensive, including discussion of the Offensive Torpedo System, its Effects on Ironclad Ship Systems and Influence Upon Future Naval Wars,” Annapolis, MD, 1868 D. Van Nostrand.

LCDR Barnes monograph, produced almost before the guns went silent, defines the development and use of torpedoes and mines in the Civil War, and gives a remarkably prescient prediction of their effect on the period’s other terror of naval technology, the ironclad ship. 

Batchelor, John Calvin, “American Falls: A Novel,” New York, NY, 1985, W.W. Norton & Company, ISBN-10: 0393022110

John Batchelor’s eminently readable and interesting story of the Union and Confederate secret services, centered around the Confederate secret service’s historic attempt to simultaneously burn five New York City hotels, thus disrupting the 1864 Presidential election and possibly cause New York City to secede from the Union.  

Black, Jeremy, “Naval Warfare: A Global History Since 1860,” Lanham, MD 2017, Rowman & Littlefield pub. ISBN-13: 9781442276314 (paperback ed)

Black’s concise and informative work should be in any naval enthusiast’s library. 

Brandes, Stuart D, “Warhogs: A History of War Profits in America,” Lexington, KY 1997, The University Press of Kentucky, ISBN-10: 0813120209

Though something of an “academic,” Brandes is unrelenting in his coverage of graft and the money to be made during wartime, usually on the bodies of the fallen.

Bretherick, Leslie, “Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards (2^nd ed.), Guildford & London UK, 1979 Butterworths. ISBN-10: 0408709278

I used Bretherick in my work as a chemist. I use it here to give me insight into the chemical reactions and inner workings of the often extremely dangerous torpedoes of the 19^th Century.

Burton, E. Milby,“The Siege of Charleston 1861-1865,” Columbia, SC 1970, University of South Carolina Press. ISBN-10: 0872493458

Burton’s excellent history of the ‘Cradle of the Rebellion” is still relevant some fifty two years on. Another keeper.

Campbell, R. Thomas, “Hunters of the Night: Confederate Torpedo Boats in the War Between the States,” Shippensburg, PA 2000, Burd Street Press ISBN-10:1572492023 (paperback ed.)

This is the best book on the Confederacy’s development of the torpedo boat. Try to get a hardback copy; my paperback one has been losing pages from its binding from the moment I bought it.

Carlin, Colin, “Captain James Carlin: Anglo-American Blockade Runner,” Columbia, SC, 2017 University of South Carolina Press, ISBN-13: 9781611177138

An excellent biography of a real 19^th Century blockade runner and adventurer, who became the owner and captain of the “Torch,” the first-ever Confederate torpedo boat and precursor to the CSS “David” class.

Chaffin, Tom, “Sea of Gray: The Around-the-World Odyssey of the Confederate Raider, Shenandoah,” New York, NY, 2006 Hill & Wang, ISBN-10: 0809093114

One of the better histories of the Confederate raider “Shenandoah’s” career, told by a master storyteller.

Chaffin, Tom, “The H.L. Hunley – The Secret Hope of the Confederacy,” New York, NY 2004 Hill & Wang. ISBN-10: 0809095122

My first book on the “Hunley” tale, and “a cracking good read.”

Clark, James C. “Last Train South: The Flight of the Confederate Government from Richmond,” Jefferson, NC 1984, McFarland & Co. ISBN-10: 0786404698

A slim enough volume on the last days of the Confederate government’s leadership, but packed with lots of information nonetheless.

Coffee, Hugh L. “Ditch Medicine: Advanced Field Procedures for Emergencies,” Boulder, CO, 1993, Paladin Press, ISBN-10: 0873647173

A modern text on dealing with injuries, illness and other sufferings that flesh is heir to, added here to give me an idea of what the 19^th Century’s general  quality of first aid and medical care was like in the field and on the water. 

Coker, P.C. “Charleston’s Maritime Heritage: an Illustrated History,” Charleston, SC 1987, CokerCraft Press. ISBN-10: 0914432036

Coker’s “coffee table”-style book is packed with images, maps, plans, drawings and information, detailing the birth, growth, history and determination of one of the South’s most beautiful cities. 

Coski, John M. “Capital Navy: The Men, Ships and Operations of the James River Squadron,” New York NY, 2005, Savas Beatie ISBN-10: 1932714154

The reference book for the Confederate Navy’s James River Squadron of ironclads, gunboats, torpedo boats and submarines. Excellent technical drawings and maps, plus a selectively-curated group of period engravings and photographs.

D – K

Davis, George P. (Maj. USA) et al, “The Official Military Atlas of the Civil War,” (orig. publ.1895) New York, NY 1983, Gramercy Press. ISBN-10: 0517415666

(Military Atlas to Accompany the Official Records (ORN) of the Union & Confederate Armies)

Warning: Be sure you get the Gramercy Press version of this classic. The map images in the Forgotten Books’ version are laughable, being way too small to view, even with a powerful magnifying glass.

Davis, Tenney L., “The Chemistry of Powder & Explosives,” Las Vegas, NV 1943, Angriff Press, ISBN-10: 0913022004

Another of my chemistry books, this time teaching me the difference between “detonation” (as in nitroglycerin) and “deflagration” (as in tightly-packed gunpowder.) Also has an interesting date of publication, no?

Dickey, Christopher, “Our Man in Charleston: Britain’s Secret Agent in the Civil War South,” New York, NY 2015, Crown Publishers, ISBN-13: 9780307887276

Dickey’s brilliant biography of a British civil servant thrust into a position initially “way above his pay grade,” and how he slowly, painfully walks a diplomatic and economic tightrope in the heart of “blockade runner country.”  Interpreting British diplomatic policy made months before and thousands of miles away to a very genteel and dangerous group of Southerners is dangerous work indeed.

Dunkerly, Robert M. & Doug Crenshaw, “Embattled Capital: a Guide to Richmond during the Civil War,” El Dorado Hills, CA, 2021, Savas Beatie, ISBN-13: 9781611214918 (paperback ed.)

My bookshelf’s companion to Coski’s “Capital Navy,” Dunkerly & Crenshaw paint a progressively interesting but grimmer picture of Richmond, Virginia during the Civil War, and also include a travel guide for those visiting the former Confederacy’s capital.

Dunnigan, James F. “Wargames Handbook: How to Play and Design Commercial and Professional Wargames,” San Jose, CA, 2000, Writers Club Press. ISBN-10: 0595155464.

Beat-up, dog-eared and marked throughout. What condition is your copy in?

Fife, Emerson David, “Social & Industrial Conditions in the North during the Civil War,” New York, NY 1963, Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. Library of Congress Cat. # 62-22259

Another glimpse of what was going on back home while the boys in blue were busy with their counterparts in gray. Hard to find, but well worth the effort. 

Fishel, Edwin C., “The Secret War for the Union: The Untold Struggle of Military Intelligence in the Civil War,” New York NY, 1997, Houghton Mifflin, ISBN-10: 0395742811 

Fishel was part of the team that discovered over fifty packets of documents in the National Archives’ Civil War collection that dealt exclusively with the development of military intelligence in the Union’s armed forces. Dense with material, a plodding read sometimes, but incredibly interesting.

Foote, Shelby, “The Civil War – A Narrative,” (3 volumes), New York, NY 1986, Vintage Books (Random House), ISBN-10: 0394746236

The seminal narrative work on the Civil War. ‘Nuff said.

Fuller, Howard J., “Clad in Iron: The American Civil War and the Challenge of British Naval Power,” Westport, CT 2008 Praeger Security International, ISBN-13: 9781591142973

What was causing the British to regard with increasing alarm the remarkable growth in both numbers and technology on both sides of the American Civil War. Their HMS “Warrior” was soon matched by USS “Galena,” then USS “New Ironsides” and then surpassed with the technology leap forward made by the “Monitor” design, and then its subsequent improvements.

Harrigan, Pat & Matthew G Kirschenbaum (eds.) “Zones of Control: Perspectives on Wargaming,” Cambridge, MA 2016, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, ISBN-13: 9780262033992

You already know the Who, What, Where and When we play wargames. Harrigan and Kirschenbaum teach you the “How” and, of course, “Why.” A standard reference book for any gamer’s bookshelf..

Hicks, Brian & Schuyler Kropf, “Raising the Hunley: The Remarkable History and Recovery of the Lost Confederate Submarine,” New York, NY 2002, Presidio Press. ISBN-10: 0345447727

The book I bought when I first saw “Hunley” captain George Dixon’s lucky $20 gold piece. What a story. 

Hills, Albert Gaius, “A Civil War Correspondent in New Orleans,” Jefferson, NC 2013. McFarland & Co. ISBN-13: 9780786471935 (paperback ed.)

A reporter for a Boston newspaper, Hills went “up the river,” (as in Mississippi) with Admiral David Farragut, then stayed in a New Orleans under the draconian heel of UnionGenerl Benjamin “Beast” Butler. His news reports, features and letters to his colleagues and employers make very good reading. 

Hoyt, Edwin P. “The Voyage of the Hunley,” Short Hills, NJ, 2002, Burford Books. ISBN-10: 1580800947

Good, if somewhat juvenile re-telling of the “Hunley” tale, notable for Hoyt’s spare, almost acerbic writing style. A useful starter read, but there is better out there.   

Johnson, Robert Underwood & Clarence Clough Buell, (editors: The Century Magazine), “Battles & Leaders of the Civil War,” (3 volumes), New York, NY 1957, Thomas Yoseloff & Co. (Dist. by Castle Books) ISBN: Unavailable.

My copies are almost as old as I am, and have pride of place in my Civil War library, right next to Shelby Foote.

Kochan, Michael P. & John C. Wideman, “Torpedoes: Another at the Infernal Machines of the Civil War,” Charleston, SC, 2004 (self-published)

A very-difficult-to-find little book clearly and precisely describes the construction, maintenance and deflagration/detonation of Civil War-era torpedoes and mines.

L – R

Little, Benerson, “The Sea Rover’s Practice: Pirate Tactics and Techniques 1630 – 1730,” Dulles, VA 2007 Potomac Books, ISBN-13: 9781574889116 (paperback ed.)

Little’s book on pirating makes a good primer for what 19^th Century sailors and watermen encountered on a daily basis. It is also a lot of fun to read. 

Lockwood, John & Charles Lockwood, “The Siege of Washington,” Oxford UK, 2011 Oxford University Press, ISBN-13: 9780199759897

The Lockwoods’ remarkable work on Washington, DC just prior to opening of hostilities. 

Long, E.B & Barbara Long, “The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac 1861-1865,” New York, NY, 1971 Doubleday & Co., Library of Congress Cat.# 73-163653

Another “pride of place” book in my Civil War library, and an indispensable tool for determining what happened and when? Guidebook for the game’s Fortunes of War Cyclopedias. 

Luraghi, Raimondo, “A History of the Confederate State Navy,” Annapolis, MD 1996 Naval Institute Press, ISBN-10: 1557505276

Outside of Scharf, Luraghi is the single best work on the Confederate States Navy, and another must-have for anyone’s Civil War library. 

Mahan, Capt. Alfred Thayer, “The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660 – 1783, (8^th printing),” Cambridge, MA, 1890, University Press.

Though its subject matter is about sea power in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it speaks with the voice of Mahan’s contemporaries, veterans all, who’ve just experienced the “Real Thing” in one of 19^th Century America’s truly world-shaking events.

McClellan, George Brinton (with Stephen W. Sears, editor), “The Civil War Papers of George B. McClellan: Selected Correspondence 1860 – 1865,” New York, NY 1989, Ticknor & Fields, ISBN-10: 0899193374

Given the literary quality and tone of McClellan’s voluminous correspondence herein, he must have been, to quote my grandfather, “a real pip to be around.” Having McClellan in command of the Army of the Potomac not once, but twice, with the likes of Hooker and Burnside as subordinates, I marvel at the forbearance of Abraham Lincoln.

Miles, Jim, “Forged in Fire: A History & Tour Guide of the War in the East – From Manassas to Antietam, 1861 – 1862,”Nashville, TN 2000 Cumberland House Publishing, ISBN-10: 1581820895

Though dated, Jim Miles’ combination of history text and on-the-ground guide book is emotionally stirring. 

Nosworthy, Brent, “The Bloody Crucible of Courage: Fighting Methods and Combat Experience of the Civil War,” New York, NY 2005 Carroll & Graf, ISBN-10: 0786715634

Nosworthy’s text on all things shot from guns is exhaustive, informative and another must-have for your Civil War bookshelf.

Perry, Milton, “Infernal Machines: The Story of Confederate Submarine and Mine Warfare,” Baton Rouge, LA 1965, Louisiana State University Press, ISBN-10: 0807112852 (paperback ed.)

Perry provides a workman-like and very good treatise on the torpedoes designed by and for the Confederacy.

Pollard, Edward A. “The Lost Cause: The Standard Southern History of the Confederacy,” (2 volumes) New York, NY 1977, The Fairfax Press, ISBN-10: 0517228998

Dated take on the efforts of Southern revisionist historians to remove, or at least divert attention away from the question of freedom from slavery and Reconstruction, concentrating instead on the violation of states’ rights by the federal government over those of the state governments.  

Porter, David Dixon, “Naval History of the Civil War,” Secaucus, NJ, 1984 Castle Books (reprint) ISBN-10: 8900095752

A dense and valuable text on operations in the United States Navy during the Civil War. Porter is spare with his adjectives, delivering facts like nails being hammered home. 

Ragan, Mark K. “The Hunley: Submarines, Sacrifice, & Success in the Civil War, (2^nd ed.)” Charleston, SC, 1999, Narwhal Press, ISBN-10:1886391432 (paperback ed.)

Updated edition to the original. Lots of images, maps, diagrams and charts. Included is the chilling purchase order showing Confederate General Beauregard’s request for brushes, carbolic acid and workmen to scrub and sterilize the inside of the “Hunley,” newly salvaged from her second sinking, the one that drowned both her crew and her namesake, Horace Hunley.

Ragan, Mark K., “Union & Confederate Submarine Warfare in the Civil War,” Mason City, IA, 1999 Savas Publishing, ISBN-10: 1882810325

One of my go-to books for when I needed quick information or confirmation of same; this book gets a workout from me almost every day. 

S – Z

Sabin, Philip, “Simulating War: Studying Conflict through Simulation Games,” New York, NY 2012, Continuum, ISBN-13: 9781441185587

Sabin’s follow-up to “Lost Battles,” used here to remind me to not get diverted, but keep focused on the task at hand.  

Scharf, J. Thomas, “History of the Confederate States Navy: From its Organization to the Surrender of its Last Vessel,” New York, NY 1987, The Fairfax Press (Library of Congress Cat# 77-79652)

Scharf is another superb primary source on the Confederate States Navy, and reads surprisingly modern.

Schecter, Barnet, “The Devil’s Own Work: The Civil War Draft Riots and the Fight to Reconstruct America,” New York, NY 2005, Walker Publishing Co. ISBN-10: 0802714390

The best contemporary work on the New York City Draft Riots of 1863. Crowd control performed at bayonet point.

Sears, Stephen W., “Controversies & Commanders,” New York, NY 1999 Houghton, Mifflin & Co. ISBN-10:0395867606

A good companion to the McClellan papers collection mentioned previously, Sears has collected ten essays dealing with the political and personal differences within the Union Army of the Potomac’s command structure, particularly those during George McClellan’s tenure as commander. 

Sears, Stephen W., “To the Gates of Richmond: The Peninsula Campaign,” New York, NY, 1992 Ticknor & Fields, ISBN-10: 0899197906

Good evaluation of an important military campaign. McClellan is proved a good quartermaster, but an incompetent tactician and an appalling strategist. His fear-laced demands made upon the Union Navy led to 1862’s abortive Appomattox River Raid.   

Sherman, William T. “Memoirs,” Bloomington, IN 1957, University of Indiana Press, Library of Congress Cat. # 57-10722

“Uncle Billy’s” memoirs are a delightful “Book of Days,” with acid-laced comments about the perfidy of the press thrown in for good measure. Sherman explains why he did not attack Charleston,South Carolina directly, preferring to obliterate state capital Columbia, the “Birthplace of Secession” instead.  

Solomon, Robert S, “The Little David: The Story of the First Successful Torpedo Boat,” Columbia, SC 1970, R.L. Bryan Company

Another informative booklet on the CSS “David” torpedo boat. 

Starobin, Paul, “Madness Rules the Hour: Charleston – 1860 and the Mania for War,” New York, NY,1997, Public Affairs Publishing, ISBN-13: 9781610396226

A good book to help you get the feel of what “Secession Madness” in Charleston, SC was like in the years preceding the outbreak of hostilities. 

Tidwell, William A. et al, “Come Retribution: The Confederate Secret Service & the Assassination of Lincoln,” Oxford, MS 1988, University Press of Mississippi (Dist. By Barnes & Noble Books) ISBN-10: 0760703817

Tidwell’s work studies the several different Confederate intelligence services, their sometime cooperation and their all-too-often inter-service rivalry. 

Trudeau, Noah Andre, “Southern Storm: Sherman’s March to the Sea,” New York, NY, 2008 Harper Collins, ISBN-13: 9780060598679

Contemporary account of Sherman’s military campaign to split the Confederacy in two. The sixty-mile-wide path of devastation it wrought upon the states of Georgia and South Carolina can still be seen today.

Turner, Maxine, “Navy Gray: A story of the Confederate Navy on the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers,” Tuscaloosa, AL 1988, University of Alabama Press, ISBN-10: 0817303162

Delightful and interesting history of a little-known naval campaign mercilessly fought in the Chattahoochee/Apalachicola river valley in Georgia, Florida and Alabama, both to protect the naval works at Columbus, Georgia and the blockade runner ports at Chattahoochee and Apalachicola.

Wheeler, Tom, “Mr. Lincoln’s T-Mails: The Untold Story of How Abraham Lincoln Used the Telegraph to Win the Civil War,” New York, NY 2006, Collins, ISBN-10: 006112978X

Use of the telegraph during the Civil War greatly aided and speeded up communication between the military and the government, as shown by Lincoln’s interest and then enthusiasm for the device.

Wise, Stephen R. “Gate of Hell: Campaign for Charleston Harbor, 1863,” Columbia, SC, 1994, University of South Carolina Press ISBN -13: 9781611170115

Aptly-titled work on the land-based and naval defenses of the harbor at Charleston, South Carolina. Wise is a conscientious and thorough researcher. His book was very helpful in my on-the-ground research on the “Hunley’s base at Conch Creek behind Breach Inlet. 

Be advised that the game is still being worked on, and that this list may not be currently complete. A full bibliography will be made available upon completion of the game.

Thanks very much,

Ed Ostermeyer

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