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On July 4, 1863, the fortress city of Vicksburg, Mississippi finally was captured after a siege by forces under the command of US Grant. The term of "finally" is used inasmuch as Vicksburg had been under attack ever since the fall of New Orleans in 1862. Union forces had tried every way possible to do this. As one example, General Grant even attempted to alter the course of the Mississippi River over a two year period. This almost caused damage to one of Grant's most loyal supporter, General Sherman, whose troops were engaged in endless digging in the bayous and swamps surrounding the city.As it turned out, the capture of Vicksburg gave the Union control of the Mississippi River from St. Louis Missouri to New Orleans, however, truly its only advantage was one of propaganda value to the North. A look at the map shows three Rebel states west of the river, Arkansas, Texas and the western half of Louisiana.

The military high command of the Confederacy was not impressed with Vicksburg's military or logistical significance. In the Eastern Theater, General Lee was aware of this and from his point of view, Vicksburg was an obstacle for the Union's commercial traffic. Even Lee was incorrect on this, as Mississippi River commerce in 1860 was never surpassed in the years after the fall of Vicksburg.

Confederate generals in the Western Theater, considered Middle Tennessee of much more value than anywhere else within the Rebel west.

As for being a conduit of Southern trade, first thought to be West to East trade, there too was an error. The trade actually flowed in the opposite direction.

The loss of Vicksburg had already been accounted for, especially once the South's largest city, New Orleans, was lost in April of 1862.

Texas had access to Mexico and its own Gulf ports, and Arkansas had access to Texas. And as no major Union operations had even been attempted against Texas, the Mississippi River no military or logistical value whatsoever.

As an aside, the siege of Vicksburg brought great pain to the citizens there. Vicksburg did not celebrate the Fourth of July until 1945.

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The capture of which city advanced the Union's goal of dividing the Confederacy in two?

The capture of New Orleans was a good start. It was actually the capture of Vicksburg that was the key moment - not a city, but a major river-port.


What was the river that separated the free states and the slave states during the civil war?

The Potomac divided the Confederacy from the Union, although Maryland was a slave-state, and so was DC at the beginning. The Ohio River divided the slave-states from free soil.


Which was part of the unions anaconda plan to conquer the south?

The Anaconda Plan was a strategic outline formulated by the Union during the Civil War to defeat the Confederacy. Its key components included a naval blockade of Southern ports to restrict trade and supplies, the capture of the Mississippi River to split the Confederacy in two, and the gradual encirclement of Southern forces. By constricting resources and movement, the Union aimed to weaken the South economically and militarily, ultimately leading to its surrender.


How did the loss of its control of the Mississippi river comtribute to the defeat of the confederacy?

The loss of control of the Mississippi River severely weakened the Confederacy's logistical capabilities by disrupting supply lines and communications. The river was vital for transporting troops, weapons, and food, and its capture by Union forces effectively split the Confederacy in two, isolating Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas from the eastern states. This strategic loss hindered the Confederacy's ability to mobilize resources and maintain effective coordination, contributing significantly to its eventual defeat in the Civil War.


How does the anaconda plan would help the north win the war?

The Anaconda Plan was a Northern strategy to seize the Mississippi River, capture Richmond, capital of the Confederacy, capture Chatanooga, a railroad center, and essentially divide it into parts and squeeze it like an anaconda.

Related Questions

Who did they capture in 1863 by the north that divided the confederacy?

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.


What physical feature was vital in the unions plan to cut the confederacy in half?

The Mississippi River


What city on the Mississippi river did the us want to control of?

The Siege and Capture of Vicksburg gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy in two.


Why was Vicksburg so important to the Confederacy?

Vicksburg was the only channel, at the time the only channel connecting the parts of the confederacy divided by the Mississippi. So long as it was held by the enemy, the free navigation of the river was prevented. Hence its importance. Points of the river between Vicksburg and Port Hudson were held as dependencies; but their fall was sure to follow the capture of the former place.


The capture of which city advanced the Union's goal of dividing the Confederacy in two?

The capture of New Orleans was a good start. It was actually the capture of Vicksburg that was the key moment - not a city, but a major river-port.


Why did David farragut's capture of New Orleans signifigants?

ANSWER The city was the most large city of the Confederacy. By its capture the Union sized the control of the Lower Mississippi, that, in addition to the progress made on the upper course of the river, was an important step forward to gain the whole control of the river and split in to two parts the Confederacy.


What opened the way for union forces to split the confederacy and gain complete control of the Mississippi river?

Grant's capture of Vicksburg did that.


Which major river split the confederacy in two parts?

There was no river that divided the Union and Confederacy. It was the 36°30′ north that divided the two. Any state above this line, except Missouri, could not keep slaves. Any state below the line could keep slaves.


Why was david farraguts capture of new orleanes significant?

It meant that the confederacy could no longer use the river to carry its goods to sea


Why was Davids Farragut capture new Orleans significant?

It meant that the confederacy could no longer use the river to carry its goods to sea


Was blockading Southern ports part of the Unions three part plan to conquer the South?

Yes. the Anaconda plan,as it is called, had these three parts: 1. Blockade southern ports 2. Cut the confederacy in half (take control of the Mississippi river) 3. Invade Virginia and capture the confederate capital (Richmond)


What was the river that separated the free states and the slave states during the civil war?

The Potomac divided the Confederacy from the Union, although Maryland was a slave-state, and so was DC at the beginning. The Ohio River divided the slave-states from free soil.