Destruction of Porter's Squadron before Vicksburg?

[gary]

During the Steele Bayou Campaign, Porter's Squadron was trapped in narrow waters and was almost scuttled to prevent its capture by the Confederates. Happily for the Union, Sherman's men arrived (they had received a "telegraph" from a contraband named Tub who ran the message through Confederate lines for half a dollar) and saved Porter.

What if Porter's Squadron was scuttled? Grant wouldn't be ferried across the Mississippi and land on the opposite bank. The campaign to capture Vicksburg would have taken even longer as Grant would have to find another approach. I'm inclined to think that although the war would still be lost, it would have been prolonged. Thoughts?

[unionblue]

Gary,

This is one idea worth a ponder or two. I have long felt if Vicksburg could have held out and driven off Union forces, there was a good chance of the Confederacy holding on long enough for the North to get discouraged and come to a peace with the South or England and France coming to her aid. If Grant had been unable to take his men across the river, the whole thing could have been up in the air.

Remember, men, supplies and arms could have come from Texas, instead, with the fall of Vicksburg, that didn't happen.

I tend to agree with you at the very least the war may have been prolonged and the most, it might have resulted in a loss for the North.

Nice idea to chew on, thanks.

Unionblue