Thank you for the interesting info.Certainly General Churchill would have burned up those wires notifying General Holmes of the federals approach.And as you suggest,even if time would permit,I can see the difficulties of any attempt by General Walker to support the garrison from either south of the river or cross over to the north from his positions at Jourdan's Plantation.

It would appear,using hindsight from us armchair generals,that General Churchill's only option may have been to hold out awhile longer and then withdraw and save his army.I suppose we must grudgingly give credit to General McClernand and most especially the federal navy.

What possibilities there must have been with those command detonated mines! Can only assume there may have been some technical difficulties or problems in acquiring certain materials that prevented extensive employment.I just last night watched that movie,"The Hurt Locker."

MWT