The Railroads of the Confederacy

by Robert C. Black III, Gary W. Gallagher (Foreword by)

Overview

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. Robert Black presents a complex and fascinating tale, with the railroads of the American South playing the part of tragic hero in the Civil War: at first vigorous though immature; then overloaded, driven unmercifully, starved for iron; and eventually worn out — struggling on to inevitable destruction in the wake of Sherman’s army, carrying the Confederacy down with them.

With maps of all the Confederate railroads and contemporary photographs and facsimiles of such documents as railroad tickets, timetables, and soldiers' passes, the book will captivate railroad enthusiasts as well as readers interested in the Civil War.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781469650302
Publisher:	The University of North Carolina Press
Publication date:	08/25/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	400
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Robert C. Black III lives in Denver, Colorado. His books include The Younger John Winthrop.
Gary W. Gallagher is the John L. Nau III Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Virginia and author or editor of numerous books, including Lee and His Army in Confederate History and The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864.

Table of Contents

Contents

Foreword Preface
1. Railroads through Dixie
2. Of Tracks and Trains
3. Of Men and Methods
4. Of Dollars and Cents
5. The Iron Horse Goes Forth to War
6. Transportation Emergency—First Phase
7. Profits, Losses, and Shortages
8. Colonel Myers Faces Chaos
9. William M. Wadley
10. Expanding Difficulties
11. Concentrations
12. Wartime Construction Programs
13. Frederick W. Sims
14. Steam Cars to Glory
15. The Iron Horse Stumbles
16. The Treasure Hunt for Iron
17. The Downgrade Steepens
18. The Failure of a Bureaucracy
19. Hard Faith and Soft Iron
20. To Sea and Tennessee
21. The Final Effort
22. End of Track Appendix. A Note on Texas Railroads Notes Bibliography Index

Illustrations A Drawing and Facsimiles Maps

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“[Explores the] subject with commendable thoroughness. . . . Outstanding.” — American Historical Review

“A superior historical monograph. Mr. Black has examined a technical subject with the understanding of an engineer. . . . Black has provided the historian with a valuable reference on an important phase of the Confederacy.” — Mississippi Valley Historical Review

“A valuable addition to the Civil War shelf. Thorough in its research, it scrutinizes a vital phase of the rebellion. . . . Fascinating.” — Chicago Tribune

“Eminently worthy of study by those interested in either railroads or the Civil War.” — New York Times

Editorial Reviews

The author's study of nearly a half century ago still stands as a comprehensive redress of a void in the literature on the critical role of the railroads in the US Civil War. Includes a new forward by G.W. Gallagher (Penn State U.). Contains some illustrations, contemporary photographs of sites, facsimiles, and maps; appends information on Texas railroads. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

[Explores the] subject with commendable thoroughness.

American Historical Review

Black has provided the historian with a valuable reference on an important phase of the Confederacy.

Mississippi Valley Historical Review

A valuable addition to the Civil War shelf. Thorough in its research, it scrutinizes a vital phase of the rebellion.

Chicago Tribune

Eminently worthy of study by those interested in either railroads or the Civil War.

New York Times

From the Publisher