 |
The Civil War
When
considering the importance of the Tennessee River during the War Between the States, you
must realize that its strategic importance was
one of transportation. The economy of the southern states
was built almost exclusively around
agriculture, while the northern economy was based on manufacturing
and heavy industry. Because of this the
south lacked sufficient roads and railroads that invading forces
are dependent on. Not to mention that
railroads are particularly vulnerable to guerrilla attack. This,
combined with a superior Union Navy, resulted
in the river system being the preferred method of
transportation.
|
Union Transport Fleet on the Tennessee River
The Importance of Kentucky
"While I hope to have God on my side...I must have
Kentucky"
-President Abraham Lincoln
Control
of the Tennessee River played a important role in the early days of the war, notably in
the border
states of Kentucky and Missouri. The
state of Kentucky wished to remain neutral in the conflict. The
Tennessee River, which joins the Ohio River at
Puducah, Kentucky, provided the Union Army a invasion
route into the western Confederacy.
Knowing this, the Confederacy wished to protect this strategic point.
At the outbreak or
hostilities, Kentucky Governor Beriah Magoffin refused requests troops from both U.S.
President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate
President Jefferson Davis. At the same time, Governor Magoffin
issued a neutrality proclamation and warned
that neither side was to send troops to Kentucky or allow troops
to move within the state.
Both Union and
Confederate forces massed along the Kentucky border. Several Union regiments under the
command of General Grant were stationed across
the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois. Confederate General Polk
feared that Grant's forces were preparing to
take Columbus and therefore control the Mississippi and
Tennessee Rivers. Polk decided to occupy
Columbus himself. While this was a wise military decision, it was
a poor political one. The Kentucky
legislature denounced the confederates as invaders and asked the Federal
forces to drive them out.
On September 6,
1861. General Grant occupied Puducah, Kentucky and contolled the mouth of the
Tennessee
River. Kentucky would officially remain
in the Union. However, during the course of the war almost as many
men from Kentucky would fight for the South as
did for the North.
Kentucky Civil War Facts:
-Kentucky was the native state of both U.S. President Lincoln and Confederate President Davis.
-Three of Heny Clay's grandsons fought for the Union, Four fought for the Confederacy.
-One son of Kentucky Senator John Crinttenden's became a Union General, the other a Confederate General.
-Four of Mrs. Lincoln's brothers and three brother-in-laws served in the Confederate Army
.
