Vicksburg is the Key

[tony_gunter]

Commander David Dixon Porter reports that Lincoln pointed to Vicksburg on a map in November, 1861 and stated "See what a lot of land these fellows hold, of which Vicksburg is the key."

Can we all agree that this is almost certainly apocryphal?

1) David Dixon Porter is the only person who reported hearing any such sentiment from Lincoln.
2) Porter is known to have played loosely with the facts to promote himself.
3) Porter did not lodge a protest to Farragut when ordered to return to New Orleans from Vicksburg with his mortar fleet.
4) Lincoln did not push for a Vicksburg Campaign until McClernand lobbied him for a command to assault Vicksburg in *September, 1862*. Notably, one of the largest armies assembled in the Civil War took Corinth at the end of May, 1862 and quickly dispersed in every direction *but* Vicksburg.
5) Grant sat idle for months after assuming command of western Tennessee and northern Mississippi in mid-1862. He begged repeatedly for Lincoln and Halleck to give him some clear strategic direction but received none.

 

[WJC]

1) David Dixon Porter is the only person who reported hearing any such sentiment from Lincoln.
2) Porter is known to have played loosely with the facts to promote himself.
3) Porter did not lodge a protest to Farragut when ordered to return to New Orleans from Vicksburg with his mortar fleet.
4) Lincoln did not push for a Vicksburg Campaign until McClernand lobbied him for a command to assault Vicksburg in *September, 1862*. Notably, one of the largest armies assembled in the Civil War took Corinth at the end of May, 1862 and quickly dispersed in every direction *but* Vicksburg.
5) Grant sat idle for months after assuming command of western Tennessee and northern Mississippi in mid-1862. He begged repeatedly for Lincoln and Halleck to give him some clear strategic direction but received none.

These points would have far more meaning if you provide a source.
For example, how do we know that "Porter... played loosely with the facts to promote himself"? Is there convincing evidence? How does recording a statement allegedly made by Lincoln enhance Porter's reputation? On the surface, it seems more flattering to Lincoln....

 

[tony_gunter]

I thought that was common knowledge. Quick google gives me a book by Al Nofi which says David Dixon Porter was a shameless self-promoter.

 

[Saphroneth]

It seems worthwhile to point out that Vicksburg's importance was because it was the last remaining crossing point of the Mississippi (and a rail link, though the rail link didn't go all that far into the trans-Mississippi). But the reason it was the last remaining crossing point of the Mississippi was because the others were captured, a process which began in 1862, and because of the fortifications (which also began in 1862).

 

[tony_gunter]

Secretary Welles' Diary states that Porter "is impressed with and boastful of his own powers, given to exaggeration in relation to himself."

 

[huskerblitz]

I thought that was common knowledge. Quick google gives me a book by Al Nofi which says David Dixon Porter was a shameless self-promoter.

Yeah, I would agree it would be, by now, well known Porter liked to brag on himself. Though I will also add this isn't a lot different than a lot of men who wrote about the war later on. But Porter was a blow-hard.

I think whether or not the quote was the direct words of Lincoln is actually of minor importance. It was apparent that Vicksburg was a major importance for the Union to capture.

 

[Saphroneth]

I think whether or not the quote was the direct words of Lincoln is actually of minor importance. It was apparent that Vicksburg was a major importance for the Union to capture.

Well, perhaps, but it's by no means the only point. There were at least three railed crossing points of the Mississippi at the time Lincoln supposedly said that, and one could easily argue that more important points to capture than Vicksburg would be:

New Orleans (crossing point, major port, major industrial centre)
Corinth (only continuous rail route from the Mississippi to the bulk of the CSA)
Richmond (the Confederate industrial zone, all others pale in comparison especially before late 1862)

 

[huskerblitz]

Well, perhaps, but it's by no means the only point. There were at least three railed crossing points of the Mississippi at the time Lincoln supposedly said that, and one could easily argue that more important points to capture than Vicksburg would be:

New Orleans (crossing point, major port, major industrial centre)
Corinth (only continuous rail route from the Mississippi to the bulk of the CSA)
Richmond (the Confederate industrial zone, all others pale in comparison especially before late 1862)

I didn't suggest it was the point to capture (hence the use of 'a'). But Vicksburg kept the Mississippi from being fully controlled by the Union and was a necessary target for the war aims of the US government.

 

[tony_gunter]

Yeah, I would agree it would be, by now, well known Porter liked to brag on himself. Though I will also add this isn't a lot different than a lot of men who wrote about the war later on. But Porter was a blow-hard.

I think whether or not the quote was the direct words of Lincoln is actually of minor importance. It was apparent that Vicksburg was a major importance for the Union to capture.

But the point is that Lincoln wouldn't come to this realization until much later. At the time Lincoln supposedly had pointed at the map, New Orleans had superior connections to Texas and Louisiana, and Memphis had the superior connection to Arkansas.

Farragut sailed as far north as Vicksburg in 1862 when it was barely defended. An unparalleled army was about to take Corinth 280 miles to the north. But none of these men were directed to march to Farragut after the fall of Corinth and Porter's mortar flotilla was ordered back to New Orleans without a peep of protest from Porter, then sent to Hampton Roads for the Peninsula Campaign.

 

[Saphroneth]

I didn't suggest it was the point to capture (hence the use of 'a'). But Vicksburg kept the Mississippi from being fully controlled by the Union and was a necessary target for the war aims of the US government.

Right, but the question is twofold:

1) Whether Porter was correct that Lincoln expressed this sentiment in November 1861.
2) Whether, if expressed, it would be true.

And the answer seems to be that both are false. If one were to pick "the key" from the Confederate strategic position in late 1861 Vicksburg would not even be third!

I expect that Porter's motivation for claiming this was partly Lincoln hagiography and partly to state (or imply) that he had been there when history was being made.

 

[Jimklag]

I expect that Porter's motivation for claiming this was partly Lincoln hagiography and partly to state (or imply) that he had been there when history was being made.

Based on what evidence?

 

[WJC]

I thought that was common knowledge. Quick google gives me a book by Al Nofi which says David Dixon Porter was a shameless self-promoter.

Thanks for your response on this one point.
What source does Al Nofi give?

 

[Saphroneth]

Based on what evidence?

Well, it's my interpretation of why Porter would say something about Lincoln coming to this conclusion rather than saying he had come to the conclusion in November 1861. As for why I think it was false, well, as noted above Lincoln picking Vicksburg out as the critical point at that time would actually be incorrect!

 

[WJC]

Secretary Welles' Diary states that Porter "is impressed with and boastful of his own powers, given to exaggeration in relation to himself."

Thanks for your response.
So we have at least one opinion- a generally reliable one- on Porter's propensity for exaggerating his self-importance. Are there others, particularly others commenting on Porter's recollection of Lincoln's alleged statement?

 

[WJC]

3) Porter did not lodge a protest to Farragut when ordered to return to New Orleans from Vicksburg with his mortar fleet.
4) Lincoln did not push for a Vicksburg Campaign until McClernand lobbied him for a command to assault Vicksburg in *September, 1862*. Notably, one of the largest armies assembled in the Civil War took Corinth at the end of May, 1862 and quickly dispersed in every direction *but* Vicksburg.
5) Grant sat idle for months after assuming command of western Tennessee and northern Mississippi in mid-1862. He begged repeatedly for Lincoln and Halleck to give him some clear strategic direction but received none.

What sources are there for these other points you raised?

 

[Jimklag]

Well, it's my interpretation of why Porter would say something about Lincoln coming to this conclusion rather than saying he had come to the conclusion in November 1861. As for why I think it was false, well, as noted above Lincoln picking Vicksburg out as the critical point at that time would actually be incorrect!

Well, a couple things. According to the National Park Service, Porter was not the only witness. It was a council of war called by Lincoln with pertinent cabinet secretaries and military leaders. And second, it may have been wrong thinking as to the military situation in 1861, but it sure as heck turned out to be the call of the century in the end. Here is a quote from a PDF published by the National Park Service:

With the advent of civil war, President Abraham Lincoln gathered his ranking civil and military leaders to discuss strategy for opening the Mississippi River and ending what he termed a "rebellion" in the southern states. Seated around a large table examining a map of the nation, Lincoln made a wide sweeping gesture with his hand then placed his finger on the map and said, "See what a lot of land these fellows hold, of which Vicksburg is the key. The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket." It was the President's contention that "We can take all the northern ports of the Confederacy, and they can defy us from Vicksburg. It means hog and hominy without limit, fresh troops from all the states of the far South, and a cotton country where they can raise the staple without interference." Lincoln assured his listeners that "I am acquainted with that region and know what I am talking about, and, as valuable as New Orleans will be to us, Vicksburg will be more so."

It was clearly a prediction by Lincoln, not a statement of the precise military situation as things stood in 1861. Opening the Mississippi River was part of Scott's "Anaconda Plan" and was always part of US military strategy. The capture of New Orleans being one of the first strategic thrust of the war was only the opening move in gaining control of the Mississippi.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

I'll agree with "apocryphal," rather than either "true" or "false." It is indubitable that Porter had a tendency to skew truth for his own purposes. However, it is also certain that Porter did indeed have personal access to the President at times, and it does sound like a statement that Lincoln might make, or at least was capable of making.

I don't believe there's enough evidence to firmly indicate if it's a genuine Lincoln quote or not.

 

[Saphroneth]

And second, it may have been wrong thinking as to the military situation in 1861, but it sure as heck turned out to be the call of the century in the end.

I'm not really sure one could call it "the call of the century", since the military importance of the trans-mississippi before Vicksburg was captured was relatively light. The whole area of the two Confederate states out there held only about a million free men and very little industry, and with the loss of Corinth in mid 1862 was cut off by rail anyway (thus reducing the efficiency of transporting goods from the one to the other). Richmond by itself was more important, both in securing control of a recruiting area and in direct industrial production.

 

[tony_gunter]

Thanks for your response on this one point.
What source does Al Nofi give?

Don't know. If I was going to search for a source, I'd probably go with *most everyone who ever met David Dixon Porter.*

 

[Jimklag]

I'm not really sure one could call it "the call of the century", since the military importance of the trans-mississippi before Vicksburg was captured was relatively light. The whole area of the two Confederate states out there held only about a million free men and very little industry, and with the loss of Corinth in mid 1862 was cut off by rail anyway (thus reducing the efficiency of transporting goods from the one to the other). Richmond by itself was more important, both in securing control of a recruiting area and in direct industrial production.

Almost all the South's beef came from the Trans-Mississippi region in addition to a significant percentage of corn and other veggies. Jefferson Davis famously said, "Vicksburg is the nail that holds the two halves of our nation together." He didn't think the Trans-Mississippi was negligible. And Richmond remained uncaptured until the very end to no noticeable effect on the outcome. The capture of Vicksburg, Chattanooga and Atlanta, all transportation hubs, led directly to the end of the war. I think yours would be a minority opinion among Civil War historians as to the importance of Vicksburg. A. Lincoln, U.S. Grant, Jefferson Davis and Joe Johnston certainly disagreed with you. As do I.