Imagine you're a Union soldier, slogging through knee-deep Mississippi mud, trying to outflank a fortress that's not even on dry land. Welcome to Island Number 10.
In this episode, we're diving into the Battle of Island Number Ten. We'll explore how a patch of land barely above the waterline became a linchpin in the Mississippi. You'll hear about innovative tactics- from digging canals through swamps to ironclad ships running gauntlets in pitch-black thunderstorms.
This is a story of naval duels on a river, of mortar boats raining iron from the sky, and of commanders gambling with thousands of lives. It's about the precarious nature of nineteenth-century siege warfare and where spring floods could wash away the best-laid plans.
See the maps and transcript for this episode:
www.usnavalhistory.com/the-river-war-island-no-10-2/
But really, please do support the show if you are able. It's somewhat expensive to make and host the show, and I'm in the red every month.
Email me at: usnavalhistorypodcast@gmail.com