After capturing Fort Pillow, the Federal Western Flotilla immediately targets Memphis, the Confederacy’s fifth largest city, further down the Mississippi River.

Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
After capturing Fort Pillow, the Federal Western Flotilla immediately targets Memphis, the Confederacy’s fifth largest city, further down the Mississippi River.
Confederates abandon an important garrison on the Mississippi River, opening a path for Federal naval forces to move downstream and attack Memphis.
Confederates launch a surprise attack on the Mississippi River to keep the Federals from continuing downstream to capture Fort Pillow and Memphis.
Confederate defenders abandon a position on the Mississippi River under artillery bombardment from John Pope’s Army of the Mississippi.
M. Jeff Thompson leads 3,000 secessionist Missourians in disrupting Federal operations and engaging in several skirmishes in southeastern Missouri.
Abraham Lincoln addresses the delicate issue of John C. Fremont’s proclamation imposing martial law in Missouri and freeing slaves belonging to disloyal masters.