Book excerpt: This long-awaited book fills a gap in knowledge of the uniform clothing, headgear, equipage, and weapons of the United States Navy during the Civil War period. Based on original accounts from official documents, newspapers, diaries, letters, and other primary sources, the well-written text is accompanied by a wealth of period images of navy personnel, many of which are identified and published for the first time. Numerous photographs of surviving articles of clothing and artefacts throw further light on life in a blockading fleet or on the High Seas from 1852 through 1865. With great clarity the author explains the various changes to officers uniforms and for the first time provides a detailed analysis of the clothing worn by ratings and enlisted men. A much needed book in a long overlooked subject, Bluejackets is an essential reference work for collectors, living historians, modellers, and curators, as well as anyone with a general interest in the Civil War at sea.