Welcome to the NavList Message Boards.

NavList:

A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding

Compose Your Message

Message:αβγ
Message:abc
Add Images & Files
    Name or NavList Code:
    Email:
       
    Reply
    Celestial navigation during the Civil War
    From: Ed Popko
    Date: 2016 Oct 3, 08:49 -0700

    I have not found significant commentary on what the celestial navigation practices were during the Civil War.

    The Yankee navy was largely tied up in blockade duty, patrolling rivers or large bays or Iron Clad duals. The round-the-world voyage of the Confederate's CSS Shenandoah destroying Yankee whaling ships (32) was quite exceptional (58,000 miles and became the only Confederate ship to circumnavigate the globe). And yes, there were US Navy ships in persuit.

    By the Civil War, most vessels were equipped with chronometers, sextants and perhaps a quadrant. The American Nautical Almanac provided ephemeris data.  LAN for latitude, time sights for local time and chronometer Greenwich were likely the mainstays. Lunars? Not likely any more.

    So what were the common practices aboard blue water navy ships both north and south?   I would appreciate any NavList-er's suggestion on where I could find out more.

    Ed Popko

       
    Reply
    Browse Files

    Drop Files

    NavList

    What is NavList?

    Get a NavList ID Code

    Name:
    (please, no nicknames or handles)
    Email:
    Do you want to receive all group messages by email?
    Yes No

    A NavList ID Code guarantees your identity in NavList posts and allows faster posting of messages.

    Retrieve a NavList ID Code

    Enter the email address associated with your NavList messages. Your NavList code will be emailed to you immediately.
    Email:

    Email Settings

    NavList ID Code:

    Custom Index

    Subject:
    Author:
    Start date: (yyyymm dd)
    End date: (yyyymm dd)

    Visit this site
    Visit this site
    Visit this site
    Visit this site
    Visit this site
    Visit this site