Confederate railroads in the American Civil War

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During the American Civil War, the Confederate States Army depended heavily on railroads to get supplies to its lines. In addition to existing railroads, which had been built mainly for economic purposes, some important connections were built.

[edit] History

The outbreak of war had a depressing effect on the economic fortunes of the Confederate railroad industry. With cotton crop being hoarded in an attempt to entice European intervention, railroads were bereft of their main source of income.^[1] Many were forced to lay off employees, and in particular, let go skilled technicians and engineers.^[1] Due to a general sentiment that the war would not last long, initially Confederate rail operators did not seek, nor build, alternative sources of iron for rail construction and repair.^[1]

Though railroad contracts to port-towns had ceased, due to the combined effects of the Cotton export policy and the Union naval blockade, lucrative government contracts were doled out to rail operators with lines supplying men and arms to the front line of Tennesse and Virginia.^[1] A consortium of rail operators had decided upon a universal rate for government contracts;"a uniform rate of two cents a mile for men and half the regular local rate for munitions, provisions, and material, and also agreed to accept Confederate bonds at par in payment of government transportation."^[2]

As troop movement began in earnest in May and June of 1861, a crippling problem was discovered; many rail lines terminated in towns without connecting to continuing lines.^[3] Instead, cargo would have to be unloaded, driven across town, and then reloaded. Soldiers, and other passengers, would often have to stay overnight in order to catch a continuing train the next day.^[3] When the Confederate government attempted to rectify this problem, they ran into local opposition. Towns preferred the lack of connection, since it required the hiring of teamsters and populated hotels with guests.^[3]

As the war wore on attempts were made by railroad operators to acquire railroad supplies abroad.^[4] The problem of supplies had become increasingly acute, especially amongst the already small supply of engines and cars. Stressed by overuse, lacking material to make repairs, and the conscription of men who could make them, rail operators were predicting a breaking point as early as 1862.^[5]

Attempts were made to enlarge the Confederacy's rail system by adding or connecting lines. Of the three rail projects the Confederate congress proposed and funded, only one of them, a connection between Danville, Virginia, and Greensboro, North Carolina was completed.^[6]

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Charles W. Ramsdell The Confederate Government and the Railroads The American Historical Review, Vol. 22, No. 4 (Jul., 1917), p. 795
^ Charles W. Ramsdell The Confederate Government and the Railroads The American Historical Review, Vol. 22, No. 4 (Jul., 1917), p. 796
^ ^a ^b ^c Charles W. Ramsdell The Confederate Government and the Railroads The American Historical Review, Vol. 22, No. 4 (Jul., 1917), p. 797
^ William Diamond Imports of the Confederate Government from Europe and Mexico The Journal of Southern History, Vol. 6, No. 4 (Nov., 1940), p. 487
^ Charles W. Ramsdell The Confederate Government and the Railroads The American Historical Review, Vol. 22, No. 4 (Jul., 1917), p. 799
^ Charles W. Ramsdell The Confederate Government and the Railroads The American Historical Review, Vol. 22, No. 4 (Jul., 1917), p. 801 The other two lines funded, but never completed, were a line between Meridian and Selma, Alabama, which was abandoned after the fall of New Orleans and another, a connection between Rome, Georgia and Blue Mountain, Alabama, which was not finished before the end of the war.