The Union began having battlefield successes against the Confederacy. Major Union victories at Gettysburg and the fall of Vicksburg led Union leaders to believe that the Confederacy would soon have to surrender.
The reason the capturing of the Confederacy capital in Richmond was so difficult for the Union to accomplish was because it was so well guarded. The Confederate Army, protected it because they felt the Confederacy would fall if Richmond fell.
By the Union capturing Vicksburg and Port Hudson they took complete control over Mississippi river.
The fall of Vicksburg in July 1863 was decisive for the Union because it gave them complete control over the Mississippi River, effectively splitting the Confederacy in two. This strategic victory not only bolstered Union morale but also prevented Confederate supplies and reinforcements from moving freely between the eastern and western states. Additionally, it paved the way for Union General Ulysses S. Grant's rise in prominence, ultimately contributing to the overall Union strategy to weaken and defeat the Confederacy.
Nashville became the first Confederate state capital to fall to Union forces during the Civil War due to its strategic importance and vulnerability. In February 1862, Union General Ulysses S. Grant launched a successful campaign, capturing Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, which opened the way to Nashville. The city's defenses were weak, and by February 25, 1862, Union troops occupied Nashville, marking a significant blow to the Confederacy and a pivotal moment in the war.
With the fall of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, the Federals gained full control of the Mississippi River and thus cut the Western Confederacy (Trans Mississippi District) off from the eastern two thirds of the Confederacy. Control of the Mississippi was vital to the Union's Anaconda Plan which was intended to strangle the Confederate supply lines both foreign and domestic.
The Confederate Western Front dissolved, the so called Atlantic Fortress of the Confederacy was taken between Sherman's Army and the Army of the Potomac. That led the Confederacy to collapse within about four months.
{| |- | The Union cut them off by taking control of the Mississippi River. The last city to fall was Vickburg. The battle took many days before the city fell. The Brown Water Navy consisted of gunboats and iron clads that fought in the fresh water of the Mississippi, Missouri and numerous other rivers that connected the Southern states. |}
In 1863, the Union forces captured Vicksburg, Mississippi, which was a critical stronghold for the Confederacy along the Mississippi River. This victory, along with the capture of Port Hudson shortly after, effectively divided the Confederacy in two, disrupting their supply lines and communication. The fall of Vicksburg marked a significant turning point in the Civil War, enhancing Union control over the Mississippi River.
The Union targeted Charleston during the Civil War primarily because it was a significant stronghold of the Confederacy and a symbol of Southern resistance. Capturing Charleston would disrupt Confederate supply lines, demoralize Southern forces, and bolster Union morale. Additionally, the city’s strategic location and its role in the slave trade made it an important objective for the Union's broader military strategy. The fall of Charleston also aimed to undermine the Confederacy's political and economic power.
Boris Yeltsin
The last port city captured by the Union during the American Civil War was Wilmington, North Carolina. The Union forces took control of Wilmington on February 22, 1865, following a series of military engagements. This capture was significant as Wilmington had been a crucial supply port for the Confederacy. The fall of Wilmington further restricted Confederate access to resources and contributed to the eventual defeat of the Confederacy.