The Confederate Navy
The Confederacy issued letters of marque to privateers, authorizing the seizure of Union vessels at the onset of war. It took control of all ships in southern ports. Its best assets were the purchase and construction of sleek fast vessels such as the Alabama and Florida. The confederacy also initiated the building of ironclads in an attempt to overcome the Union blockage. They used several other innovative tactics including the use of torpedo boats such as the one pictured below