The defending Confederates closely matched the advancing federal force in raw numbers, with eight rebel vessels opposing nine Union gunboats and rams, but the fighting qualities of the former were far inferior. As such, it is a milestone in the development of professionalism in the United States Navy. ![]() Its primary historical importance is that it was the last time civilians with no prior military experience were permitted to command ships in combat. Despite the lopsided outcome, the Union Army failed to grasp its strategic significance. It resulted in a crushing defeat for the Confederate forces, and marked the virtual eradication of a Confederate naval presence on the river. The engagement was witnessed by many of the citizens of Memphis. ![]() ![]() The First Battle of Memphis was a naval battle fought on the Mississippi River immediately north of the city of Memphis, Tennessee on June 6, 1862, during the American Civil War. Map of Memphis I Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program
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