Union operational demands create openings on the rivers

The Union Navy possessed far greater strength but could not concentrate everywhere because its vessels were continually recalled to joint operations. That tension gave Arkansas room to survive even while Union reconnaissance closed on her. Van Dorn ordered Brown to scout the Union fleet, attack ships north of Vicksburg, and then proceed south against the mortar boats if Arkansas remained fit. Brown integrated survivors from scuttled Confederate gunboats, accepted sixty Missouri artillery volunteers, gave them emergency naval gunnery training, and exercised the crews before moving toward Vicksburg. The episode links Arkansas's opportunity to Union force availability as much as to Brown's competence.