Background Information
The Union victory of control over the Mississippi River occurred in the American Civil War. It began in 1862, with a significant battle taking place near Vicksburg, Mississippi. From the 15th of April through the 4th of July, Union and Confederate forces battled for the command of the river. At stake was the control of the transportation route and therefore full Union access to the South.
The ability to cut off cotton shipments from Confederate areas made the river an especially crucial point of access. Many Union vessels tried to take the city but with no success as it lay on a high bluff, rendering it hard to reach. As a result, Union Chief of Naval Forces, David Farragut declared a siege on a Confederate position at Port Hudson, Louisiana.
Relevant Data
The Vicksburg campaign involved over 50,000 soldiers, 36,000 of which were Union forces while the remaining amounted to Confederate forces. It was a total of six weeks spent in siege, with the Union eventually prevailing at Vicksburg, as well as another complementary battle at Port Hudson, Louisiana. The consequence of this was the Union taking complete control of the Mississippi River, as Confederate forces were unable to defend the river at either of the locations.
The guns at Vicksburg eventually surrendered, and the city remained in Union hands for the remainder of the war. The victory provided the Union with an important strategic advantage in the war and allowed them to sever the Confederacy and halt the shipment of Confederate supplies and troops south.
Perspectives from Experts
Experts believed that this was a significant turning point in the American Civil War. Historians note that the Union taking control of the Mississippi River severely weakened the Confederacy. The Union had the ability to control supply shipments to the South and the transportation of troops and weaponry, giving them the advantage and eventually leading to a Union victory.
Military historian and expert Thomas J. Cutrona, PhD. of Johns Hopkins University says, The Union victory of command over the Mississippi River was a decisive factor in winning the American Civil War. By essentially taking control of the river, the Union was able to supply their troops much more easily while simultaneously preventing Confederate troops and shipments from entering the South.
Own Insights and Analysis
The victory conferred many advantages to the Union side. Not only could Union forces multiple shipments of food and materials, but they could also use the river to transport more troops. This, in turn, enabled them to create more bases of operation in key Southern areas. The most notable example of this is Anthony Wayne’s raid on Madison, Georgia in 1864.
Furthermore, the Union victory at Vicksburg was the pivot point of President Lincoln’s “Anaconda” strategy. This plan was designed to place strong strangleholds on all Confederate states, ensuring, as General Winfield Scott declared, that “the rebellion must collapse from its own weight, if no other power crushed them.”
Advanced Grammatical Structures
By gaining control of the Mississippi River, Union forces strategically positioned themselves to cripple the Confederacy’s ability to continue in the Civil War. Although the Union had suffered many losses in the battles prior to their victory of Vicksburg, this event represented a turning point that enabled the Union side to gain control of the river.
The strategic advantage of commandeering the river as well as the potential it offered in Union transportation of troops, weapons and supplies minimized the advantage Confederate forces held in the area. As a result, this battle played a key role in the eventual Union victory.
Emotional Triggers
The significance of the Union gaining control of the Mississippi River lay in its ability to prevent Confederate forces from gaining resupply or repopulating their forces in the South. This came as devastating news to the Confederate sympathizers and those fighting for the Confederates’ cause.
Meanwhile, Union supporters and troops alike were elated at their success in gaining the supreme strategic advantage over Confederate forces in the area. Indeed, this highly morale-boosting victory began to tenuously cement the Union’s idea of unifying a single country, by dealing a severe blow to the Confederate forces.
Active Voice
Union forces seized the strategic advantages of the Mississippi River with the Vicksburg campaign, resulting in a complete shut down of Confederate forces in the South. Control of the river provided Union ships access to the South and enabled them to block supplies and troops essential for the Confederate war effort.
The Union’s advantageous control of Vicksburg, as well as Port Hudson, Louisiana, enabled them to limit the movement of Confederate forces throughout the Southern states as well as strengthen their bases of supply. This had a a direct, profound impact on the Confederate forces’ success in the war, making a Union victory more apparent.
Implications
The Union victory of control over the Mississippi River had a far-reaching implication on the American Civil War. Symbolically, it represented the Union’s ability to subdue Confederate forces and to limit their power. Moreover, in practical terms it enabled Union forces to strengthen their military presence throughout the South, as well as to prevent supplies from being shipped further south.
The battle for control of the Mississippi River effectively curtailed the Confederacy’s cause, as the Union had gained access to the supply route and blockaded Confederate troops from entering. This event made a significant impact on the war, and is still remembered to this day as a decisive factor in eventually ending the American Civil War.
Conclusion of Hostilities
The conclusion of the American Civil War marked a grand feat in American history, and though not solely attributed to the Union victory at the battle of the Mississippi River, it certainly played a significant role in the Union’s success. With control of the river, the Union had managed to cut off supply lines to the Confederacy, severely limiting their ability to bring in troops or resupply their existing soldiers.
The battle at the Mississippi River allowed the Union to gain full access to the South and begin the battle for the hearts and minds of the Confederate states. Although a long, arduous path lay ahead, the Union’s victory of command over the river opened the doors for the eventual union of East and West as well as the confirmation of the United States of America.
