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Brig. Gen. John Pope, USA and Flag-Officer Andrew H. Foote, USN
Brig. Gens. John P. McCown and William W. Mackall, CSA
Pope had a large corps called the Army of the Mississippi, while the Confederate garrisons were much smaller.
Exact casualties are unknown.
After the surrender of Forts Henry and Donelson, Tennessee, and the evacuation of Columbus, Kentucky, P.G.T. Beauregard, commander of the Confederate Army of the Mississippi, had to revise his strategy for protecting the Mississippi River. The next natural strongpoint was Island No. 10, about 60 river miles below Columbus. There the river made a long loop, and batteries on the Island could fire on ships headed south, then again as they tried to move north around the bend. Just as important, the current would carry any disabled ship ashore where the Confederates could capture her. Nearby was New Madrid, on the Missouri shore, and a potential weak point. It also had heavy batteries to control the river, but they could also be turned to fire inland.
John Pope was the man tasked to open the upper Mississippi. He commanded the Army of the Mississippi, which he organized in St Louis
New Madrid/Island No. 10
THESE ARE ARCHIVED PAGES OF THE OLD EHISTORY SITE click here for the NEW eHistory site These pages are not actively maintained and may have errors in content and functionality
Brig. Gen. John Pope, USA and Flag-Officer Andrew H. Foote, USN
Brig. Gens. John P. McCown and William W. Mackall, CSA
Pope had a large corps called the Army of the Mississippi, while the Confederate garrisons were much smaller.
Exact casualties are unknown.
After the surrender of Forts Henry and Donelson, Tennessee, and the evacuation of Columbus, Kentucky, P.G.T. Beauregard, commander of the Confederate Army of the Mississippi, had to revise his strategy for protecting the Mississippi River. The next natural strongpoint was Island No. 10, about 60 river miles below Columbus. There the river made a long loop, and batteries on the Island could fire on ships headed south, then again as they tried to move north around the bend. Just as important, the current would carry any disabled ship ashore where the Confederates could capture her. Nearby was New Madrid, on the Missouri shore, and a potential weak point. It also had heavy batteries to control the river, but they could also be turned to fire inland.
John Pope was the man tasked to open the upper Mississippi. He commanded the Army of the Mississippi, which he organized in St Louis before setting out on the long march t
