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The Mississippi: River of
Destiny
Native Americans
•
Native American wigwam on the Mississippi
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.
Europeans
•
Discovery of the Mississippi by
De Soto by William Henry Powell
(1847-1853)
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.
•
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 Memphis
The Battle of Memphis, June 6, 1862
Photograph 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
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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)