"The Blockade of Confederate Ports, 1861–1865" Topic

"During the Civil War, Union forces established a blockade of Confederate ports designed to prevent the export of cotton and the smuggling of war materiel into the Confederacy. The blockade, although somewhat porous, was an important economic policy that successfully prevented Confederate access to weapons that the industrialized North could produce for itself. The U.S. Government successfully convinced foreign governments to view the blockade as a legitimate tool of war. It was less successful at preventing the smuggling of cotton, weapons, and other materiel from Confederate ports to transfer points in Mexico, the Bahamas, and Cuba, as this trade remained profitable for foreign merchants in those regions and elsewhere…"

Office of the Historian

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Armand

Nice map and info.
One thing to remember is that not all Federal Forts fell to the CSA in 1862. Several such as Pensacola became a center of Union activity on both the sea and land. Numerous raids were dispatched from Pensacola by the Florida Unionist to raid into Southern Alabama and Florida. Similar Unionist rom the current Huntsville Tennessee River area formed the First Alabama Volunteer Cavalry which had an outstanding record.

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks….

Armand