Caught behind rebel lines in New Orleans at the opening of the American Civil War, John Rawley and his crew "liberate" a ship they rechristen, the USS Lincoln and fight back towards their homes. Dubbed "river pirates" by the local authorities, Rawley and his crew pick up a small armada to disrupt river commerce and aid the Union cause. Scott Perry has crafted an accurate and detailed tale of war on the river during the American Civil War.