uff and center, as one f them wrote, of them wrote, of culture, education and luxury. All this to change with coming of the war. (Brann 81)By early 1862 the peaceful town had become one of the most stregically important spots in the entire confederacy. From the beginning of the war in 1861, to protect their most prized possession, the Confederacy but up fortifications at strategic points along the river. Federal forces eventually captured post after post.After fighting their way southward from Illinois and northward from Gulf of Mexico. Until by late summer of 1862, only Vicksburg and Port Hudson appeared to be major constraints to the Union of the two posts, Vicksburg was by far the strongest and most important. Setting high over looking a bend in the river, protected by artillery and dangerous swamps. So far the city had defined Union efforts to force into submission. (Williams 1)In order to protect the Mississippi Valley, Confederates established a line of defense, which ran from Columbus, Kentucky, overlooking the Mississippi River through Bowling Green to Cumberland Gap where the bright flank was secure on the mountains. On the Mississippi River, south of Columbus, fortifications were also placed on island number 10 and on the Chickasaw Bluffs north of supported Jackson St. Phillip stood guard at the mouth of the Mississippi River. (Brann 82)Anxious to confront the task, Union land and naval forces moved from two directions. In a huge attack to gain control of the Mississippi from the Confederate troops headed south from Cairo Illinois, federal forces took forts Henry and Donelson on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers respectfully and opened the pathway of invasion to the south. (Street 27) Efforts by Union land and naval forces to capture Vicksburg and open the great waterway to navigation ended in failure. (Catton 230) It was only a mater of time before war centered in on Vicksburg.It was only a matter of time before war center...
