When the Civil War began, Washington could not assume that every American warship overseas would return to federal control. Senior sea officers largely stayed with the Union even when their home states seceded. Years spent abroad representing the whole United States may have encouraged a professional identity broader than allegiance to one state. Farragut's denunciation of secession was unusually public, while the Navy's wider federal loyalty returned ships and experienced leaders to the Union at the moment of crisis.
Notable Point · 2:06:24-2:07:30
Blue-water service encouraged federal loyalty
Long overseas service may have encouraged US Navy officers to identify with the federal service more strongly than with their home states.