At the start of the Civil War, the Union's main strategy was to use naval forces to surround the South. This strategy aimed to block Southern ports and prevent the Confederacy from receiving supplies or exporting goods. By implementing a naval blockade, the Union hoped to weaken the Confederate economy and eventually gain a strategic advantage in the conflict.
Additionally, the Union also focused on gaining control of key waterways like the Mississippi River to split the Confederacy in half and limit their ability to move troops and supplies. This strategy was part of the Anaconda Plan, which emphasized strangling the Confederate states by cutting off their resources and isolating them from the outside world.
While the Union did engage in land battles and defensive actions, such as defending major Northern cities, the primary strategic focus at the beginning of the Civil War was on utilizing naval forces to encircle and weaken the South.
