Railroads in the Civil War: A Strategic Perspective
Abstract
The Civil War was the first opportunity to demonstrate the full military value of the railroads. The railroads played a vital part for both the North and South and the final outcome of the war was ultimately influenced by the use of the railroads. The North was in far better shape at the outbreak of the Civil War with about 21,000 miles of railroad under its control compared to the South that had only about 9,000 miles The majority of the locomotive manufacturers and other construction facilities were in the North allowing them to maintain or increase their supply of equipment. The South on the other hand lacked almost everything. Not a single plant could manufacture a locomotive under wartime conditions. This combined with the type of rail used were a great detriment to the South. Visionaries of railroad uses were abundant in the North, yet few in the South were given the same latitude to accomplish heroic feats. Railroads played a key part in almost every battle of the Civil War and the lessons learned from its usage helped us exploit the possibilities in every future war.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 10, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA389767
Entities
People
- Victoria A. Leignadier
Organizations
- United States Army War College