War of the Rebellion: Serial 062 Introduction

Vol. 34 Introduction - Serial 62

Beyond the Mississippi River the war was not as flashy, but no less bitter. Ceaseless skirmishes, raids, and ambushes killed soldiers and civilians alike throughout Arkansas, Missouri, and on the edges of Louisiana and Texas. The Indians on the Plains caused worries, and even the Pueblo Indians in (then) New Mexico needed a punitive expedition. But the main event in that part of the world was the Red River Campaign, launched by the inept Nathaniel Banks, with support from Admiral David Porter. Both were enticed by the prospect of vast cotton holdings, pinned up by two years of blockade, that could be smuggled out to co-operative merchants. The destruction of Confederate States' property was a convenient cover. If only it had gone as planned... The US forces were badly led and surprised by spirited Southern resistance, and the Navy was hamstrung by falling water levels. Just getting the gunboats back was a victory of sorts.
These four volumes tell the varied stories.

This is the first part of the correspondence that fleshes out the reports. It covers the period January 1, 1864 to March 31, 1864.