The Mississippi: River of Destiny

Native Americans

• The Mississippi River has long been a major transportation route in the United States. Before the first white men ever viewed this mighty river, the native Americans used it for food and trading. Many tributaries empty into the Mississippi. Some of these are major rivers such as the Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas, and the Red River along with numerous streams.

Native American wigwam on the Mississippi

Europeans

• The Spanish, French, and British settlers knew the importance of control of this transportation route and every effort was used to defend their rights to it. The French were the first to establish a city, New Orleans, at its mouth as a means to control that major port site. The city would change hands between the Spanish and French. The city would become part of the United States in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Discovery of the Mississippi by De Soto by William Henry Powell (1847-1853)

• Naval Flags of the Union and Confederacy

• By the time of the Civil War (1861-1865), both the United States and the Confederate States knew that total control of the Mississippi was necessary to win the conflict. The CSA had a primary reason to defend the lower half of the Mississippi since it flowed through the states of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Texas would also be cut off if the Union took control of this mighty giant.

The Anaconda Plan• The first military strategy offered to

President Abraham Lincoln for crushing the rebellion of Southern states was devised by Union General-in-Chief Winfield Scott. From April-May,1861, Scott briefed the president daily on the national military situation.  About May 3, Scott told Major General George B. McClellan, that he believed an effective "Blockade" of Southern ports, a strong thrust down the Mississippi Valley with a large force, and the establishment of a line of strong Federal positions there would isolate the disorganized Confederate nation "and bring it to terms.“ President Lincoln agreed to this plan.

A 1861 Cartoon

Battle for the Mississippi

• Sixteen major battles of the Civil War were fought in Mississippi, and numerous other skirmishes. Among these was the fight for Memphis which would give the Union vital control of Tennessee and the upper Mississippi. New Orleans was also a primary target for the Union Navy which would give them control of the Lower Mississippi. If the Union could control these important ports, they could concentrate on cutting the Confederate supply lines and separating the Confederacy. These goals would take over 2 years to achieve. Traditional ships, converted paddleboats, and ironclads would be used in the battles and skirmishes for the Mississippi.

Ironclads on the Mississippi River

Much of the Union Army's success in taking the River can be credited to the Mississippi River ironclads called the "brown water" navy. These boats were designed to be used against Confederate positions in the Western theater. The CSA also used ironclads during the struggle for control of the waterway. Many of the ships were named for cities along the River.

Road to New Orleans• As the largest city in the Confederacy and the southern gateway on the

Mississippi River, New Orleans became an early Union target.• With the fall of Forts Jackson and St. Phillip which were approximately 70 miles

south of New Orleans, nothing could stop the Union forces from taking New Orleans. The two forts were taken between April 16-22, 1862 by Captain David Farragut.

US Navy Passing Forts Jackson and St. Phillip below New Orleans, April 24, 1862

Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center

NEW ORLEANS

• After days of heavy bombardment in April 1862, a Union flotilla under Captain David Farragut passed the several minor Confederate-held forts at the mouth of the Mississippi and steamed toward the city. New Orleans officials, finding themselves under the gun from both Union navy and army forces, surrendered the city April 28.

Battle of MemphisThe Battle of Memphis, June 6, 1862Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center

• After the Confederate River Defense Fleet, bested the Union ironclads at Plum Run Bend, Tennessee, on May 10, 1862, they retired to Memphis. Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard ordered troops out of Fort Pillow and Memphis on June 4, after learning of Union Major General Henry W. Halleck's occupation of Corinth, Mississippi. From Island No. 45, just north of Memphis, Flag-Officer Charles H. Davis and Colonel Charles Ellet launched a naval attack on Memphis after 4:00 am on June 6. Arriving off Memphis about 5:30 am, the battle began. In the hour and a half battle, the Union boats sank or captured all but one of the Confederate vessels 

• Memphis, an important commercial and economic center on the Mississippi River, had fallen, opening another section of the Mississippi River to Union shipping.

Battle of Vicksburg

• Battle of Vicksburg With the Union in control of both New Orleans and Memphis, the Union eyes turned to Vicksburg which remained a major Confederate supply line. Many other battles would continue after the fall of this city, but for all purposes the Union was in control of the mighty river of destiny, the Mississippi, after mid-1863. The battle for Vicksburg would not be an easy one.

Battle of Vicksburg• In the fall of 1862, all eyes turned toward

Vicksburg. The heavily fortified city on the bluffs above a big curl in the Mississippi River was the key to total control. If the Confederate stronghold fell, Union forces not only would control navigation over thousands of miles of waterways, but also cut the area west of the river off from the rest of the Confederacy.

• U.S General Ulysses S. Grant, soon found that the Vicksburg nut was tough to crack. Through the fall of 1862 and early spring 1863, Grant and his subordinates tried dozens of plans, large and small, to get close to the Confederate river bastion. Grant first tried to move southwest into the heart of the state along the Mississippi Central Railroad, then he tried various waterway routes on both sides of the river. Nothing seemed to work.

Surrender of Vicksburg• From May through July 4, 1863,

Grant and his troops fought to drive Confederate Lieutenant General John C. Permberton from the city of Vicksburg and gain total control of the Mississippi River. This 47-day siege is considered one of the greatest campaigns of military history. This victory by Grant would lead to his appointment as President Lincoln’s commanding general and lead to the end of the Civil War.

The situation on July 3, 1863

Conclusion• The importance of the Mississippi River to both the United States and the

Confederate States was never underestimated by either side. The Union and Confederacy both concentrated major forces to achieve control of this vital link in the Western theater. Other engagements would continue along the Mississippi River throughout the balance of the War, but the Union was definitely in control. Perhaps the final victory of the Union and its control of the Mississippi did not end the Civil War, but its role in this mighty conflict was important.

The Battle of Appomattox Court House(April 9, 1865)

Sources• americancivilwar.com

• civilwarhome.com

• civilwar-pictures.com

• civilwartraveler.com

• cr.nps.gov

• johnweeks.com/river-mississippi/map

• militaryhistory.about.com/od/navalbattles

• nps.gov/fodo/forteachers-ironclads

• pbs.org/civilwar/classroom/lesson

• usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/ironclads.htm

• wikipedia.com (images)