author
Andrew H. (Andrew Hull) Foote
1806–1863
A disciplined Union naval commander, he helped secure early Civil War victories on the western rivers and was also known for pushing reform in the U.S. Navy. His career ranged from anti-slavery patrols off Africa to the capture of Fort Henry and support at Fort Donelson.
1 Audiobook
Africa and the American Flag
by Andrew H. (Andrew Hull) Foote
About the author
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1806, he entered the U.S. Navy as a midshipman in 1822 after a brief period at West Point. Before the Civil War, he built a reputation as a serious, principled officer, serving in places including the African coast and East Asia. He also became known as a reform-minded figure, especially for supporting temperance and changes to naval discipline and daily life.
During the Civil War, he commanded the Union gunboat flotilla on the western rivers and played an important part in the February 1862 operations against Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. Those victories helped open key waterways to Union forces and made him one of the best-known naval officers of the early war.
He was promoted to rear admiral, but his health declined before he could take up a major new sea command. He died in New York City in 1863, leaving behind a reputation for courage, religious conviction, and steady public service.