"Once the Union Army gained control of the upper rivers of the Mississippi Valley during the first half of 1862, slow and heavy ironclads proved ineffective in patrolling the waters. Hastily outfitted steamboats were covered with thin armor and pressed into duty. This history documents the service records and duties of these little-known vessels"--Provided by publisher.

Introduction -- Rivers and steamboats -- Insurgents and gunboats -- The coming of the Tinclad -- Early rounds, August-December 1862 -- Tinclad river guardians, January-April 1863 -- Guerrilla attacks and Morgan's raid, May-December 1863 -- Troubled rivers, January-March 1864 -- Fort Pillow, the Petrel, and Red River, April 1864 -- The big guns of Brig. Gen. Major, Col. Greene, and Capt. Creuzbauer, May 1864 -- Long, hot summer, 1864 -- Decatur and Johnsonville, October-November 1864 -- Nashville and beyond, December 1864-April 1865 -- Winding down, May to the fall of 1865.