Of Men and Rivers: The Story of the Vicksburg District

Abstract

Abstract : An understanding of the history and heritage of any organized human endeavor can provide an important appreciation for the past, present, and future roles of that endeavor in society. So this historical review of the efforts and contributions of the Army Engineers on the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers over two centuries provides a context for the role of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in this part of America. The history of the Army Engineers in the Cumberland and Tennessee River basins since the late 1700's includes missions ranging from frontier exploration and mapping to emergency military construction during America's major wars; and from primitive open-channel work to canals and canalization projects to modern navigation, flood control and multipurpose projects. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and its Nashville District have had an important role throughout these two centuries in which the Cumberland and Tennessee River basins have evolved from frontier to predominantly agrarian to a balanced industrial-agrarian society. From exploration and the first efforts to make rivers more navigable to pioneering canal and canalization projects to the modern era, the work of the Army Engineers has had far-reaching impact upon regional development. One purpose of this history is to cast new light upon the significance of these contributions. The full historic range of the projects and operations of the Nashville Engineer District and their impact upon life in the Cumberland and Tennessee river basins have never before been studied. The daily work of the District has been so pressing that we seldom find time to reflect upon the many missions of the District in their historical perspective. This volume is designed to fill that need for District personnel. We hope also that it will inform and interest the public.