Nathaniel P. Banks’s Federal Army of the Gulf captures the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, opening the waterway to Federal commerce and cutting the Confederacy in two.

Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
Nathaniel P. Banks’s Federal Army of the Gulf captures the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, opening the waterway to Federal commerce and cutting the Confederacy in two.
The siege of Port Hudson continues to demoralize the Confederate defenders, while another Confederate army tries to break the siege by attacking Federal positions near New Orleans.
Confederates try lifting the siege of Vicksburg by preparing to attack the Federal outpost at Milliken’s Bend, on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
Nathaniel P. Banks avoids attacking the Confederate garrison at Port Hudson by instead targeting objectives in western Louisiana.
Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson caps off his remarkable Shenandoah Valley campaign with another victory over the Federals sent to destroy him.
Federal forces accepted the parole of the last major Confederate force east of the Mississippi River.