what was the main form of transportation used to freight goods along the Mississippi river in the early 1800s

In the early 19th century, the main form of transportation along rivers, the Mississipi included, was the steamboat.

By that time the U. S. had had access to British steam technology and was applying it to improve production on the country, as Great Britain started doing with its production. The use of the steam engine for water transports accelerated transport, production, and consumption. It is from this time the construction of many canals in order to better navigate the interior of the country.