The Civil War Anaconda Plan

Explore the drama of the Union strategy that won the war.

De: History Highlights, Bill Wiemuth

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Explore the strategy and impact of the Union plan that significantly contributed to their victory. Our brief History Highlights Series Books share fascinating true stories you can read in about an hour.

Benefits:

• Gain insight into key battles and turning points, including personal narratives and historical reflections
• Understand the economic impact of the Union blockade on the Confederacy
• Uncover the human cost of the war through personal letters and stories
• Explore the fascinating people, events, and struggles that brought the Anaconda Plan to reality
• See how the Anaconda Plan changed the course of the Civil War and its lasting effects on the country

What's included:

• Introduction to the Anaconda Plan to blockade Confederate ports and control the Mississippi River.
• The role of the Mississippi River in the war and its importance to both sides
• The Union construction of a specialized inland navy and its impact on key battles
• Union Efforts along the Mississippi River and its tributaries.
• Highlights of Ulysses Grant's military campaigns to secure strategic river locations.
• Overview of Key Battles and Sieges.
• Economic Impact of the Union Blockade
• Historical Letters for insights about the war.
• The Significance of cities like Vicksburg and New Orleans in the war effort.

ABOUT "The Civil War Anaconda Plan"

With the outbreak of the United States Civil War in 1861, President Abraham Lincoln turned to General Winfield Scott –the experienced Commanding General of the U.S. Army – to develop a strategy to quell the rebellion. Scott’s plan – which became known as the “Anaconda Plan” – was to blockade and control the Confederacy’s ocean ports and the Mississippi River system in order to – like a great snake – surround and squeeze the South into submission by restricting the South’s ability to export their agricultural crops. Control of the rivers also provided invasion routes, and arteries of transportation for troop movement and supplies.

The Mississippi River quickly became a focus in the war plans of both sides. Flowing south through the center of the Confederacy, the river and its vast network of tributaries were primary arteries of transportation. Steamboat transportation along the rivers supported the South’s economy, and provided pathways for troop movement and necessary supplies. But these rivers also represented potential invasion routes.

Those waterways were home to many of the largest and most important cities of the Confederacy, including Memphis, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and Nashville. Near the mouth of the Mississippi River, the all-important port New Orleans, Louisiana was a southern financial, manufacturing, and shipping center.

To control the river systems, the Union constructed a customized inland navy. Those vessels impacted the outcome of many river battles at places like Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Memphis, and the important river and rail connections at Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Confederate President Jefferson Davis said that Vicksburg was, "the nail that held the South's two halves together." Union President Abraham Lincoln said "Vicksburg is the key! The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket....as valuable as New Orleans will be to us, Vicksburg will be more so."

Enjoy this journey of discovery.