A state with long land borders can still be highly vulnerable to blockade when its economy depends on maritime transport. Confederate ports, ships, warehouses, and commercial routines were organized around the volume and efficiency of trade by sea. Redirecting that traffic overland required railways, vehicles, border access, and political relationships that did not exist at equivalent scale. Farragut's Gulf command therefore applied economic pressure while fighting for coastal and river positions.
Notable Point · 1:48:36-1:50:19
Why a maritime blockade could strangle Confederate trade
The Anaconda Plan exploited the volume advantage of sea transport, which Confederate land routes through Mexico could not readily replace.