"Big Bad Ironclad! covers the history of the amazing ironclad steam warships used in the Civil War. From the ship's inventor, who had a history of blowing things up and only 100 days to complete his project, to the mischievous William Cushing, who prankedhis way through the whole war, this book is filled with surprisingly true facts and funny, brave characters that modern readers will easily relate to"--Publisher's web site.