The Civil War in the West

The Civil War in the West refers to the series of battles and campaigns fought primarily in the western Confederate states, including modern-day Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Missouri. Unlike the eastern battles around Virginia, this theater involved control of key rivers, movement of supplies, and securing strategic areas. The Union aimed to dominate the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy, while the Confederates fought to defend their territory. Significant campaigns include the Union victories at Vicksburg and Chattanooga, which were crucial in gaining control of vital transportation routes and weakening the Confederacy’s overall war effort.