The Railroads of the Confederacy [Paperback]

Robert C. III Black (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1998

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

[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 Inside Flap

The only comprehensive history of the South•s use of railroads during the Civil War.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press (April 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807847291
• ISBN-13: 978-0807847299
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #917,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very useful and fascinating book, January 19, 2000

By 

Jack Trammell - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Railroads of the Confederacy (Paperback)

After reading dozens of scholarly books, and writing published articles related to the Civil War myself, this book was a refreshing read. It is a reminder of the enormity of the task faced by the bureaucrats and businessmen behind the Confederate armies. Yes, the tide did turn at Gettysburg.

But for those who like to play "What if?" and speculate on the fortunes of war, this book is a bleak testimony to the long odds the south confronted. The Confederate States were almost completely unequipped to fight a modern, industrial war.

One shortcoming of this book, and it is a minor one, is that the story is told primarily through the eyes of railroad tycoons, and ignores to a great extent the perspective of well-known military personalities. This stems in part from the fact that Black relies heavily on the railroads themselves (their annual reports) for his source material. More research from military source material would round the picture out.

On the whole, however, Mr. Black must be commended. As I said, "fascinating."

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IMPORTANCE OF RAIL TRANSPORTATION DURING THE CIVIL WAR, June 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Railroads of the Confederacy (Paperback)

This was a fascinating book as it put the Civil War into a slightly different context. It spotlighted the fact that many of the the major battles were fought over areas which were strategic rail centers - the best example being Atlanta.

It also clearly pointed out that the South was severely hampered by three different track gauges limiting the ready ability to carry freight long distances. In addition, even though the track gauges of a connecting railroad might have been the same, many of them were state owned. And some states would not permit rolling stock to cross state lines. This meant offloading and reloading freight at the state border.

And the Southern railroads never came under a unified control until very late in the War - in contrast to the North. And the South only had about a third of the track miles that the North had.

I highly recommend this book to any serious student of Civil War history. You don't even have to be a rail fan to enjoy it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic, March 11, 2009

By 

David R. Fuller (Pewaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Railroads of the Confederacy (Paperback)

If you are a Civil War buff, and especially a Civil War buff who is interested in how the transport net in the Confederacy was allowed to slowly deteriorate, then this book is for you. It is a classic -- I first encountered it at a college where I was was transcribing Civil War diaries. It tells the story of the gradual deterioration of the southern railway network, and does it well.