Ulysses S. Grant was the most important figure in the western theater of war.

The Union captured Nashville and had control of Kentucky and much of Tennessee.

Although the Battle of Shiloh initially caught General Grant by surprise, Union reinforcement forced the Confederates to retreat.

David Farragut easily destroyed the two forts guarding the approach to New Orleans.

Following the Union capture of New Orleans, Commodore Farragut sailed farther up the Mississippi River, taking Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi.

The Confederate defenders of Vicksburg easily defeated the Union forces.

The capture of Vicksburg soon gave the Union complete control of the Mississippi River.

Union forced defeated pro-Confederate Missourians in the Battle of Pea Ridge.

In the Battle of Pea Ridge, Union forces were helped by a group of American Indians.