States from the Mississippi Valley to the sea. This immense and
fluctuating front, under its various and often changed
commanders, was never a well coordinated whole. The Alleghany
Mountains divided the eastern or Virginian wing from the western
or "River" wing. Yet there was always more or less connection
between these two main parts, and the fortunes of one naturally
affected those of the other. Most eyes, both at home and abroad,
were fixed on the Virginian wing, where the Confederate capital
stood little more than a hundred miles from Washington, where the
greatest rival armies fought, and where decisive victory was
bound to have the most momentous consequences. But the River wing
was hardly less important; for there the Union Government
actually hoped to reach these three supreme objectives in this
one campaign: the absolute possession of the border States, the
undisputed right of way along the Mississippi from Cairo to the
Gulf, and the triumphant invasion of the lower South in
conjunction with the final conquest of Virginia.

We have seen already how the Union navy, aided by the army, won
its way up the Mississippi from the Gulf to Baton Rouge, but
failed to secure a single point beyond. We shall now see how the
Union army, aided by the navy, won its way down the Mississippi
from Cairo to Memphis, and fairly attained the first
objective--the possession of the border States; but how it also
failed from the north, as the others had failed from the south,
to gain a footing on the crucial stretch between Vicksburg and
Port Hudson. One more year was required to win the Mississippi;
two more to invade the lower South; three to conquer Virginia.