author
Andrew H. (Andrew Hull) Foote
1806–1863
Remembered for leading Union gunboats in some of the Civil War’s key western river campaigns, this determined naval officer also pushed for reform in the Navy long before the war began.
1 Audiobook
Africa and the American Flag
by Andrew H. (Andrew Hull) Foote
About the author
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1806, Andrew Hull Foote built a long career in the U.S. Navy after entering service as a midshipman in 1822. He served around the world and became known not only as an able officer, but also as a man of strong moral conviction.
Before the Civil War, Foote gained attention for his part in anti-slavery patrols off Africa and for his support of temperance in the Navy. He wrote about his experiences in Africa and the American Flag, and later played an important role in the movement that helped end the Navy’s daily liquor ration.
During the Civil War, he commanded the Western Gunboat Flotilla and helped secure important Union victories at Fort Henry and Island No. 10. Wounded in service and in poor health, he died in 1863 before he could take up a new sea command, but his name remained closely tied to the rise of Union naval power on the western rivers.