Doyle- Thanx for your great answer. "...use of an army because he(the enemy) was simply there." "Arkansas Post was a target of opportinity." and "The Confederates in the Trans-Mississippi weren't going anywere."

Pardon me for being too broad-but that was the point of the war wasn't it? The federals ultimatly had to strike down the rebel flag wherever it flew-when they could get to it. I agree with your earlier post but was Arkansas Post a "target of opportunity" because of its location close to the Mississippi-the "Father of Waters" as Lincoln called it with minimial military value to the Union? Did the federals occupy Arkansas Post and Ft. Hindman after they took them? Or was it as it was in Vietnam-where we took "X" hill only because the NVA or cong held it and after driving them off we just left?

I also totally agree with your assesment of the red river campaign-it was about money although Lincoln espoused a political objective as well-that Grant dis-agreed with when he loaned troops that he wanted to use against Mobile.

Sorry-I fear that I have intruded upon your orginal question which is actually more interesting: "Did Confederate troops at Ft.Hindman actually surrender to the US Navy" and what were the terms of the surrender of Arkansas Post/Ft. Hindman?