Lincoln began to appreciate the critical need to control strategic points, such as the Mississippi River.
lˈɪŋkən bɪɡˈæn tʊ ɐpɹˈiːʃɪˌeɪt ðə kɹˈɪɾɪkəl nˈiːd tə kəntɹˈoʊl stɹətˈiːdʒɪk pˈɔɪnts, sˈʌtʃ ɐz ðə mˌɪsɪsˈɪpi ɹˈɪvɚ.