William Watson and the Rob Roy

The Rob Roy may be the American Civil War's most famous blockade running schooner. Its fame stems from the spellbinding wartime memoir of its owner and captain, William Watson. This obscure but articulate Scotsman's rollicking tale is a standard maritime reference for scholars and students of America's most tragic conflict. However, his sea story is only partly true. It blends verifiable facts with liberal doses of exaggeration and omission. It was his story after all, and he saw no harm in making himself its hero.

This first-ever critical examination of William Watson's "eyewitness" account relies on widely dispersed contemporary accounts and official reports. The narrative fills in the gaps that Watson left untold and exposes the true history of the people and events surrounding his blockade running adventures. In some cases, the truth is even more remarkable than Watson's fictional version. The resulting saga captures the excitement of this inherently dangerous business with long-deserved historical accuracy.