“A Little Short of Boats will appeal especially to readers interested in tactical battle studies. This reviewer recommends it enthusiastically.” —Civil War News “Perhaps a small demonstration on your part would have the effect to move them,” wrote Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan to Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone on October 20, 1861. The simple telegram triggered the “demonstration” by Col. Edward Baker’s brigade the following day—that evolved into the bloody subject of this book. Opposing the Union effort was Brig. Gen. Nathan “Shanks” Evans’ small Confederate command at Leesburg. When he learned of the enemy plans, Evans shuttled troops from Edwards Ferry to Ball’s Bluff, where Baker pushed his brigade across the upper reaches of the Potomac. His troops were on open ground, ill-organized, and with their backs to the river when the Southern infantry attacked. The twelve fitful hours of fighting that followed ended in one of the worst defeats, proportionally speaking, that either side would suffer during the Civil War, wrecked a Union general’s career, and killed Baker—a sitting US senator and one of Abraham Lincoln’s good friends. The news rocked a Northern populace already reeling from the recent disasters of Bull Run and Wilson’s Creek. Based on firsthand research and a full appreciation of the battlefield terrain, A Little Short of Boats sets forth the strategy behind the “demonstration,” the combats that followed, and the colorful personalities involved. The result, coupled with the disaster’s political fallout, held the nation’s attention for weeks. The battle’s most important impact was also the least predictable: the creation of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. Ostensibly formed to seek out the causes of the string of defeats, the Joint Committee instead pushed the political agenda of the “Radical Republicans” and remained a thorn in Lincoln’s side for four long years. This fully revised and expanded edition of A Little Short of Boats will please Civil War enthusiasts who love tactical studies—and remind them once again that very often in history, smaller affairs often have important and lasting consequences.

For the first time ever, a comparative survey of 95 percent of the fiberglass pocketcruising sailboats ever built Author Steve Henkel has researched hundreds of cruising sailboats less than 26 feet long--pocket cruisers--to create this definitive gallery and handbook of the small cruising sailboats built in the last 45 years. With detailed plans, specifications, performance indexes, and commentary for every model the author could find (360 in all!), The Sailor’s Book of Small Cruising Sailboats is your ideal core reference for the used and new boats you see on the water.

One of our most imaginative and accomplished writers, Angela Carter left behind a dazzling array of work: essays, citicism, and fiction. But it is in her short stories that her extraordinary talents—as a fabulist, feminist, social critic, and weaver of tales—are most penetratingly evident. This volume presents Carter's considerable legacy of short fiction gathered from published books, and includes early and previously unpublished stories. From reflections on jazz and Japan, through vigorous refashionings of classic folklore and fairy tales, to stunning snapshots of modern life in all its tawdry glory, we are able to chart the evolution of Carter's marvelous, magical vision.

A charmingly illustrated selection of thirty-six iconic boats and the remarkable stories surrounding them. Whether it be on a humble fishing boat, a canvas kayak, or a racing yacht, the allure of navigating across a brilliant blue sea is a pleasure that many dream of experiencing. Notable Boats presents thirty-six small crafts and the inspirational journeys that made them memorable, celebrating the beauty and craftsmanship of each vessel. From an eleven-foot micro-cruiser that was built on an apartment balcony then set sail around the world, to the seven-day voyage that would change John Lennon’s life, this book is an absorbing read that will engage the reader in the romance of maritime adventures. Featuring beautiful color illustrations, attractively styled statistics, and gripping text, Notable Boats is a delightful read for anyone who appreciates the art of sailing, showing a range of everyday crafts such as the canoe and the fishing trawler, boats of historic interest, fictional ships, and more. Each boat is illustrated in detail, including the aerial view of its deck, a map of its course, and a written description of the boat and what it is famous for. The stories cover the globe, with compelling tales from all the world’s waterways, from the Nile to the poles and from the Spanish Main across the seven seas. Notable Boats offers an intimate window into a world of sailing and pays homage to some of the world’s most unforgettable boats, adventurous sailors, and amazing voyages.

The first anthology for small-boat enthusiasts -- fiction and essays on sailboats, canoes, rowboats, and kayaks.

Greg Rossel grew up cruising the waters of New York Harbor and spending time in the boatyards on the south shore of Staten Island where economics (more than anything else) made wooden boats the craft of choice. He makes his home in Maine where he specializes in the construction and repair of small wooden boats, as well as writing for several publications. Greg has been an instructor at WoodenBoat School in Maine since the mid-1980's, teaching lofting, skiff building, and the "Fundamentals of Boatbuilding".

Illustrations and rhyming text celebrate different kinds of boats and what they can do.