Railroads: On Track to Victory
Railroads were used during the Civil War as weapons but also as methods for transportation. They were also a crucial factor in the Union victory because they aided soldiers in battle by providing cover, carrying cannons, bringing food to sustain starving troops, transporting soldiers under short notice, and increasing the wealth which led to a well funded war effort in the North. Railroads gave the North the
advantage of having more troops come as reinforcements in certain battles such
as the Battle of Chickamauga. This tactic was deployed over the war also
in delivering raw goods, and other necessary supplies such as food and
clothing.
1862 Colton’s Civil War Railroad Map of the US and Canada
The map above is a Civil War era railroad road map that illustrates the huge disadvantage the South had over the North in terms of the amount of tracks located in the each section of the country. This specific map was chosen because it is a high resolution example of a Civil War era map and also it portrays how a visual representation of facts can really enhance the significance of a concept especially by a map. It is a little hard to tell but if you look closely enough, you can see the railroad tracks. By 1861, the North had built over 22,000 miles of tracks while the South had only 9,500 miles. It is then easily understandable why the North used this to their advantage by moving large amounts of troops relatively quickly over vast areas of land. Realizing the significance of the railroad will help clear up a major reason why there was a Union victory!
The map above is a Civil War era railroad road map that illustrates the huge disadvantage the South had over the North in terms of the amount of tracks located in the each section of the country. This specific map was chosen because it is a high resolution example of a Civil War era map and also it portrays how a visual representation of facts can really enhance the significance of a concept especially by a map. It is a little hard to tell but if you look closely enough, you can see the railroad tracks. By 1861, the North had built over 22,000 miles of tracks while the South had only 9,500 miles. It is then easily understandable why the North used this to their advantage by moving large amounts of troops relatively quickly over vast areas of land. Realizing the significance of the railroad will help clear up a major reason why there was a Union victory!
Colton, John. "Welcome to HistoryNYC Historical Maps, Poster, Books and Custom Framing."
Welcome to HistoryNYC Historical Maps, Poster, Books and Custom Framing.
N.p., 01 Jan. 2008. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
Welcome to HistoryNYC Historical Maps, Poster, Books and Custom Framing.
N.p., 01 Jan. 2008. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
Sherman's March Tearing Up Railroad Tracks
In the engraving shown, Sherman and his army are making their infamous March to the Sea. One of the main things they are doing is breaking down the railroads. This is because railroads are so important to the war effort and without them the South is at a great disadvantage. This picture was chosen because it shows just how important railroads were and the struggle between the two factions to have the superior rails. Without trains being able to bring supplies, troops, and weapons for the South, the North can claim victory more easily.
Ritchie, Alexander H. Sherman's March to the Sea. N.d. Civil War
on the Western Border. Kansas City Public Library. Web.
06 Dec. 2013.
In the engraving shown, Sherman and his army are making their infamous March to the Sea. One of the main things they are doing is breaking down the railroads. This is because railroads are so important to the war effort and without them the South is at a great disadvantage. This picture was chosen because it shows just how important railroads were and the struggle between the two factions to have the superior rails. Without trains being able to bring supplies, troops, and weapons for the South, the North can claim victory more easily.
Ritchie, Alexander H. Sherman's March to the Sea. N.d. Civil War
on the Western Border. Kansas City Public Library. Web.
06 Dec. 2013.
"The Dictator" Being Prepared to Fire at Petersburg
"The Dictator" was a standard coastal mortar built to fire explosives at ships far out to sea. In addition to this, the Union also used it to fire explosives at Confederacy fortifications. This image shows "The Dictator" being set up to fire at Petersburg, Virginia. By having more railroad tracks, the Union has a distinct advantage over the Confederacy by having the mobility of such weapons like "The Dictator" and being able to transport them to battles very easily.
Hankey, John P. "Civil War Rails." TRAINS Magazine. TRAINS
Magazine, 21 Jan. 2011. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
"The Dictator" was a standard coastal mortar built to fire explosives at ships far out to sea. In addition to this, the Union also used it to fire explosives at Confederacy fortifications. This image shows "The Dictator" being set up to fire at Petersburg, Virginia. By having more railroad tracks, the Union has a distinct advantage over the Confederacy by having the mobility of such weapons like "The Dictator" and being able to transport them to battles very easily.
Hankey, John P. "Civil War Rails." TRAINS Magazine. TRAINS
Magazine, 21 Jan. 2011. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
The Railroad Bringing People Together
Although this political cartoon discusses Lincoln trying to restore the Union, it can also be interpreted militarily. This cartoon shows Lincoln's belief in the power of the railroad. If the North could unite to defeat the South through the use of the railroads, then the placement of railroads connecting the entire Nation should also unify the Nation. The Image shows railroad tracks being placed in the southern part of the Nation. This shows how crucial railroads were in the Civil War.
Baker, Joseph E. "The "Rail Splitter" at Work Repairing
the Union." Cartoon. Loc.gov. Library of
Congress, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
Although this political cartoon discusses Lincoln trying to restore the Union, it can also be interpreted militarily. This cartoon shows Lincoln's belief in the power of the railroad. If the North could unite to defeat the South through the use of the railroads, then the placement of railroads connecting the entire Nation should also unify the Nation. The Image shows railroad tracks being placed in the southern part of the Nation. This shows how crucial railroads were in the Civil War.
Baker, Joseph E. "The "Rail Splitter" at Work Repairing
the Union." Cartoon. Loc.gov. Library of
Congress, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
Using Trains as Weapons
This is just one of the numerous examples of how the railroads trains were used as weapons. Trains were used as weapons in a variety of ways; one of the most effective of these methods was to mount an artillery cannon either on top of the train or even on the front of the train, as seen in this image. Because trains were a common target for both sides during the war, due to all of the supplies that they helped transport, they needed someway to protect against these raids. By mounting an artillery cannon onto the train, this allowed them to not only protect the trains, but to deliver these powerful weapons to wherever their army needed them.
"American Civil War." American Civil War. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
This is just one of the numerous examples of how the railroads trains were used as weapons. Trains were used as weapons in a variety of ways; one of the most effective of these methods was to mount an artillery cannon either on top of the train or even on the front of the train, as seen in this image. Because trains were a common target for both sides during the war, due to all of the supplies that they helped transport, they needed someway to protect against these raids. By mounting an artillery cannon onto the train, this allowed them to not only protect the trains, but to deliver these powerful weapons to wherever their army needed them.
"American Civil War." American Civil War. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
End of the Line..
Trains were used a major tool in the Union victory. Bridges like these on the picture were built all over America in order for supplies to come to the main congregation of troops quickly and efficiently. This photo explicitly shows the magnitude of the railways and how important they were to both sides. In the end, to understand the Civil War clearly one has to understand the causes and effects for each point in the war. Railroads were a major factor that are commonly looked over. However they were one of the most important methods of transportation and military help during the Civil War.
Brady, Matthew. 1861. Photograph. Cars of
U.S. Military Rail Road and a Bridge Built by
Soldiers on the Orange and Alexandria Rail
Road. Railroads and the Making of Modern
America. University of Nebraska. Web. 06 Dec.
2013.
Trains were used a major tool in the Union victory. Bridges like these on the picture were built all over America in order for supplies to come to the main congregation of troops quickly and efficiently. This photo explicitly shows the magnitude of the railways and how important they were to both sides. In the end, to understand the Civil War clearly one has to understand the causes and effects for each point in the war. Railroads were a major factor that are commonly looked over. However they were one of the most important methods of transportation and military help during the Civil War.
Brady, Matthew. 1861. Photograph. Cars of
U.S. Military Rail Road and a Bridge Built by
Soldiers on the Orange and Alexandria Rail
Road. Railroads and the Making of Modern
America. University of Nebraska. Web. 06 Dec.
2013.