Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-16
CAPTAIN WALTER BLAIR, IN THE
DAVENPORT DEMOCRAT.

DAVENPORT DEMOCRAT.
The approach of spring, the break
ing up of the ice and its going out; the
opening of navigation, are all interest
ing facts to those who live close to the
Mississippi river.
Think what these things meant so
years ago-the spring of go!
The ice went out, but the river was
not open. For the first time in history
the coming of spring did not mean the
opening of navigation.
There were few railroads in this val
ley then, none between Cairo and New
Orleans, and the river was alive with
boats, but there was no commerce in
the spring of 60.
The confederate forts at Columbus,
| Island No. 10, Fort Pillow, Memphis.
Vicksburg, Grand Gulf, st. Phillip, and
jackson commanded the entire river
| from Cairo to it's mouth, and their
fleets of rams, iron-clads and gunboats
patrolled the river SO that even cross
ing was difficult and dangerous. Steam
boating as a business was at an end in
the south.
1t was then that Sam Clemens and
many others left the river for good.
But while the south had the middle,
the north had both ends of the great
stream. It's mouths into the gulf were
closely blockaded by our navy, and the
rebel gunboats never got above Cairo
The season turned out to be a very
lively one after such an unfavorable
opening, and the spring and early sum
mer months of 1862 were the liveliest
ever known on the Mississippi.
General Grant, aided by the gunboats
under Foote. had captured Forts Hen
ry on the Tennessee and Donelson on
the Cumberland by Feb. 16. The gun
boats were then turned loose TO open
up the lower Mississippi and right
nobly did they perform the mighty
task Island No. 10, the great rebe
stronghold, surrendered to Foote April
Z, 1862, the same day that closed the
fight at Shiloh. Fort Pillow was biCwr
up and evacuated June 4, 1862. Two
days later Memphis fell after a bril-
liant naval battle, and in a short time
the northern feet had possession Il
Millikens Bend, or Goblin Teele, eigh
miles above Vicksburg. This by Jul!
1, 1862.
SIEGE OF VICkSBURG.
At Vicksburg the south made stant
that held our fleet and army in checl
, for over nine months before they go
past it, and just year until they car
tured it, July 4, 1863. But bear this il
mind, while the union fleet did no
pass the rebel batteries at Vicksburl
until April 16, 1863, another great fee
under Farragut and Porter had entereI
the mouth of the river, had silence
the great guns in Forts ST. Phillip an
Jackson after, a. terrific bombardmen
that lasted six days and nights, the
had broken and cleared away the grea
boom of logs and chains stretched an
anchored across the river; they ha
whipped the entire rebel feet, captul
ing or destroying all of It. and finall
had captured the Crescent city itseli
the emporium of the south. and Ger
eral Butler with Is, 200 union soldier
had taken possession April %, 1852.
HISTORIC MISSISSIPPI.
In no other river in the world ha
such a series of battles been tough
such a contest waged and won, b
large armies and large fleets of pow
erful war vessels on both sides. Ele'
en- hundred miles Of a wide, dee
Fif er TO be wrested from a skiIlfI
and resolute foe who had fortifie
every vantage point with great int