What waterway was important to both sides of the US Civil War?

Answer 1

Many people might quickly state that the Mississippi River was important to both sides of the US Civil War. On the surface, this is just a bit too easy. The fact of the matter was that cargo moving up and down the Mississippi River in 1860, was vital and important to the USA. Manufactured products and agriculture dominated the US economic factors in antebellum America.After the fall of Vicksburg in 1863, and even prior to that, cargo volume never came close to 1860 levels.

Early in the US Civil War, the Mississippi River was the waterway in which Union troops were able to transport their troops. The problems the Union encountered was from the banks of the river. Cannon fire and torpedoes were more than a nuisance.

Also, the popular cliche' that the fall of Vicksburg cut the South in half, fails the mathematics test. The Mississippi River runs to the east of Arkansas, Texas and part of Louisiana.

That's two and one half states and the Confederacy had eleven states.

High level Confederate generals were well aware of the Propaganda value of Vicksburg. They were, however, never impressed with its military or logistic importance.

In their minds there was also another factor. Confederate General John Clifford Pemberton commanded the Vicksburg "fortress" despite the general opinion that he was at best an "average" general. Pemberton also failed to follow the instructions he received from General Joseph Johnston which entailed to attempt a flank attack or a rear attack on Grant's army. He also failed to follow Johnston's last instruction which was to abandon Vicksburg and move his 27,000 man force and join Johnson's army.