Prior to the civil war in this country, railroads were a new and relatively untried invention. At the outset of the war, the confederacy possessed the third largest set of railroads of any nation in the world, with about 9,000 miles of railroad track. With the war, railroads become both a necessity and an objective. An illustrated history, michael leavy uses compelling period photographs and drawings and a rich narrative to reevaluate and illuminate the role of railroads in the civil war. Watch now to find out how civil war armies used railroads to transport anything from food and supplies to. The lines eastern terminus was at hanover junction presentday doswell, about twenty miles north of richmond, where it joined the. Railroads critical role in the civil war the civil war is renowned for the introduction and employment of many new weapons, including rifled artillery, machine guns and submarines.
Inside the 2016 ato annual edition coming out very late, in 2018. This is a definite must have for every person interested in the american civil war. Originally published by unc press in 1952, the railroads of the confederacy tells the story of the first use of railroads on a major scale in a major war. Six books on the civil war these six histories of the civil war that are mustreads if you want to better understand the conflict.
Virginia central railroad during the civil war, the. The civil war began in kansas 80 years ago by harold c. Railroads in the civil war american battlefield trust. The author is a professor at waynesburg university, director of eberly library, and an adjunct instructor in u.
By the time of the civil war, the railroads had advanced to allow the movement of large numbers of troops even though railways had not yet matured into a truly. Join historian sam smith as he discusses the importance of railroads in the civil war era. Oct 01, 2004 by the time of the civil war, the railroads had advanced to allow the movement of large numbers of troops even though railways had not yet matured into a truly integrated transportation system. For the confederate states army, the system was fragile and was designed for short hauls of cotton to the nearest river or ocean port. After many, many hours searching websites and trying to collect civil war era railroad photos, i came across this book. The great railroad revolution the great railroad war. Far more books have been written about the civil war than about any other event in american history, and lincolns stack of books towers over that of any other american figure. In the spring of 1861 the american railroad journal predicted that the majority of the railroads would be unaffected by the civil war, a mistaken prophecy, indeed.
It has emerged as the premier account of the impact of the railroads on the american civil war and vice versa. By 1860, railroads are a major feature of the american landscape moving goods and passengers between towns. An illustrated history michael leavy uses compelling period photographs and drawings and a rich narrative to reevaluate and illuminate the role of. Hulbert, james marten, and amy murrell taylorfor their opinions on a variety of popular topics, including the wars most overrated and underratred commanders, top turning points, most influential women, and best depictions on film. Congress authorized the first transcontinental railroad during the civil war, and on may 10, 1869, the union pacific and the central pacific. The best civil war books of all time analysis civil. Working magic with cornstalks and beanpoles national archives.
Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. They became both strategic resources, as well as a military targets, precisely because they were strategic resources. Michael leavy is a professional artist specializing in mural painting and the author of nine books of history. The nation lacked a uniform integrated system but worked around breaks and different gauges.
Railroads of the confederacy american battlefield trust. He was an industrious man, a skilled organizer, and an. Map of eastern united states, showing roads, railroads, distances by rail, towns, state and county names, and boundaries. The railroad may have still been a relatively new technology during the mid19th century but the need for heavier rail, reinforced bridges, and durable rightsofway to. See also confederate railroads in the american civil war. This book combines two of my greatest interest, railroads and the civil war. This is a list of confederate railroads in operation or used by the confederate states of america during the american civil war. The 1850s had seen enormous growth in the railroad industry so that by 1861, 22,000 miles of track had been laid in the northern states and 9,500 miles in the south. An illustrated history michael leavy uses compelling period photographs and drawings and a rich narrative to reevaluate and illuminate the role of railroads in the civil war. During the war, the virginia central was a key element in virginias vast rail network, the most extensive in the south.
As mike schafer notes in his book, classic american railroads, it proved an invaluable asset for the union. Jun 22, 2017 theres definitely no shortage of books about the american civil war. A new perspective on the central role of the railroads and slavery in the coming, fighting, and aftermath of the civil war. However, during the rebellion, railroads came of age. War department organized a new bureau responsible for constructing and operating military railroads in the united states. Any recommended reading list therefore has to be highly selective and at least somewhat arbitrary. The virginia general assembly chartered the louisa railroad, the predecessor of the virginia central railroad, in 1836. Source for information on railroads in the civil war. Stanton, as a colonel and aidedecamp to major general irvin. For our latest newsstandonly special issue, the civil war almanac, we asked a panel of civil war historiansj. Beginning with frederick douglasss escape from slavery in 1838 on the railroad, and ending with the driving of the golden spike to link the transcontinental railroad in 1869, this book charts a critical period of american expansion and national formation, one largely.
On april 27, haupt was appointed chief of the bureau by secretary of war edwin m. It was published back in the 60s, but amazon connected me with someone willing to. Although the south controlled only onethird the railway mileage of the north, the southern railways were strategically located within the theater of operations and were used with great tactical skill by confederate commanders. Not only did the railroads materially help the north to victory.
Gaps between lines, incompatible track gauges, and other vexing impediments remained in both the north and south. First published by columbia university press in 1952, it has been out of print since the 1970s, but never out of demand. Dec 15, 2010 by 1860, railroads are a major feature of the american landscape moving goods and passengers between towns. Mackay, 1863, by thomas halliwell pdf in australia. To this list should also be added railroad weapons, which were the predecessors of modern armored fighting vehicles. It was published back in the 60s, but amazon connected me with someone willing to part with their copy. Railroads, the civil war, and the making of modern america, 75% of its lines had been constructed only in the 1850s.
Civil war books and authors this is a fantastic book about the railroads of the civil war. Mary chesnut was forever train traveling to richmond, etc. The civil war librarian blog helps civil war enthusiasts and academics stay current on civil war news. Virginias railroad network in 1859, prior to the civil war source. The northern railroads in the civil war, 18611865 9780253335494 by weber, thomas and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Nov 02, 2017 civil war railroads by george b abdill the civil war, like all others, was not all gunfire and panic. Theres definitely no shortage of books about the american civil war. The civil war is the first war in which railroads were a major factor. Great deals on illustrated civil war nonfiction books. By the time of the civil war, the railroads had advanced to allow the movement of large numbers of troops even though railways had not yet. The american civil war was the first in which large armies depended heavily on railroads to bring supplies. Nov 02, 2017 in the spring of 1862, a year after the start of the civil war, the u.
Nov 11, 2010 i can understand a 4star rating as the books gives an excellent overview, it just seems a tad thin. A drums story a veteran and his grandchildren lincoln and tad the defenses of washington story of the second bull run campaigning with grant a drummer boy in gray war story told in churchyard an adventure on the eastn sho heroines of 61 and barbara frietchie down the fairfax pike major mallory of malloryville the strange case of geo. In the spring of 1862, a year after the start of the civil war, the u. Military railroads during the civil war summer 2011, vol. Many have said that the american civil war was the first modern war.
Civil war railroads pictorial story of the iron horse 1861 thru 1865 by geo. Railroads critical role in the civil war historynet. Jun 02, 2016 read books railroads in the civil war. United states history civil war, 18611865 the american war. Confederate railroads in the american civil war wikipedia. Locomotive engineer historic book collection on cd price. The impact of railroads on warfare during the american civil war. Pfeiffer enlarge as general mccallum s assistant, herman haupt preferred being out in the field, and he worked magic in reconstructing bridges and keeping the trains running on time. This book is neither just about the civil war nor just about railroads. Areas shaded pink represent the rebellious states and the green areas represent all the southern territory that we hold from the south, after four years war up to october 4, 1864. Its origin, cause and probable results, considered specially with regard to slavery dunedin, nz.
Clark explains in this compelling study, the skill with which union and. Links to civil war books, magazines, booksellers, lists, and. Herman haupt philadelphia, march 26, 1817 jersey city, december 14, 1905 was an american civil engineer and railroad construction engineer and executive. Civil war maps, available online, railroad maps, 1828 to 1900.
Players operate the historical railways of the confederate states. By the time of the civil war, the railroads had advanced to allow the movement of large numbers of troops even though railways had not yet matured into a truly integrated transportation system. Some civil war general officers were slow to grasp this concept but as the war dragged on, more and the generally successful general officers on both sides of the conflict became aware of the immediate impact and potential of railroads on the conduct of the war. Historian sam smith discusses the importance of railroads in the civil war era. Railroads of the civil war an illustrated history rons books. The virginia central railroad during the civil war. The line remained largely in confederate hands throughout the war and was essential to the rapid movement of troops and supplies, especially between richmond and the shenandoah valley. Guiney the confederate blockade confederate calvary west of the river. Civil war railroads by george b abdill the civil war, like all others, was not all gunfire and panic. Working magic with cornstalks and beanpoles national. The locomotive engineer book collection is a collection of 24 late 19th century and early 20th century books concerning the most critical of men in the early days of locomotive transportation the engineer. Time has been very good to thomas webers northern railroads in the civil war, 18611865. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. This video is part of the american battlefield trusts in4 video series, which presents short videos on basic civil war topics.
A union army general, he played a key role in the american civil war, during which he revolutionized u. In addition to identifying details about the various trains and ancillary equipment and buildings in the illustrations, the author explains. The impact of management on victory and defeat baton rouge. Although railroads in the civil war is a scholarly monograph, there are several efforts to widen the appeal of the book, as clark seems intent upon relating his subject matter to modern sensibilities. Northern railroads in the civil war 18611865 by thomas weber is a scholarly work, anyone modeling in the civil war era will find this an invaluable resource. Northern railroads of the civil war, 18611865 by thomas. Illustrated civil war nonfiction books for sale in stock. Because of great distances separating armies, long supply lines, and a premium on quick troop movements, the civil war became the first war to feature railroads prominently. By this they typically mean weapons and tactics, including use of railroads to transport troops and supplies. List of railroads of the confederate states of america.
It was supply and transport, trains and trouble on the line, men in blue and gray fighting against almost unbelievable odds with lumbering, woodburning engines. I can understand a 4star rating as the books gives an excellent overview, it just seems a tad thin. The impact of management on victory and defeat conflicting. In fact, according to the library of congress civil war desk reference, over 70,000 books have been published on various aspects of the civil war and more are being published every day. Illustrated civil war nonfiction books for sale in stock ebay. The impact of railroads on warfare during the american. Both layout designers and operators will be able to add realism beyond the expected. History of rail transportation in the united states wikipedia. Browse and buy a vast selection of civil war books and collectibles on.
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