The mention of the "Golden Age of Sail" conjures up images of seventy-four-gun ships-of-the-line and powerful frigates roaming across the open seas. But the fleet was dominated by Jefferson's gunboats -- small, shallow-draft, defensive vessels designed to maneuver and fight in coastal waters. Gunboats were never meant to replace larger vessels, in his opinion.
Read More
The mention of the "Golden Age of Sail" conjures up images of seventy-four-gun ships-of-the-line and powerful frigates roaming across the open seas. But the fleet was dominated by Jefferson's gunboats -- small, shallow-draft, defensive vessels designed to maneuver and fight in coastal waters. Gunboats were never meant to replace larger vessels, in his opinion.
Read Less