How long did it take for the anaconda plan to work?

This was Winfield Scott's original war-plan, and it was never put into effect. Nearly everyone said it was too slow for the short war they were expecting, and 'Anaconda' (indicating slow strangulation) was a joke-name coined by the press.

As the war dragged on, people began to see the strength of the idea, and when Grant was apoointed General-in-Chief in March 1864, he adopted a plan that was based on similar principles.