The Railroads of the Confederacy

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

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 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.

Genres: Civil War, History, American Civil War, Railways

360 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 1998

Reviews

[Sean Chick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough account of an obscure but important aspect of the war. The Confederacy failed in part because of its railroad system, but I feel Black did not also make clear that it allowed the South to hold out; Southern railroad construction boomed in the years just before 1860 and I can't see them doing well if a war had started in 1850. My only true gripe was that the book was poorly organized until the final chapters detailing activities in 1864 and 1865. One point I did like was about states' rights. They did not cause the war but the belief system shaped how the Confederates fought the war.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a book with a happy ending, although given the difference between the depth of coverage about the first year of the Civil War and the remaining three, and the author's continual reference to a nonexistent "War Between The States," the author and I have a lot we do not agree on.  While we will get to this in due time, I would like to say that despite the massive disagreements on perspective and worldview that the author and I have, that I appreciated this book for a few reasons.  For one, the author is immensely witty, and that is something I always enjoy [1].  In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think that the author has the winsome tone of a Dennis Showalter [2], which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.  Additionally, the author spends a lot of time talking in detail about railroads in the Confederacy and their vital importance with regards to the operation of Confederate armies as well as the vital matter of logistics [3].  Anyone who can write authoritatively on such maters as operations and logistics is definitely someone I want to read, and this book proves to be far less dry of a book than any reader had a write to expect, even if the author's worldview leaves a lot to be desired.

In 22 chapters that cover 300 or so pages, the author takes a comprehensive look at the railroads of the Confederacy that covers the course of the Civil War.  If you're a fan of the Confederacy, it makes for grim reading.  The author is clearly a master of a very technical sort of prosography, reading various reports and paperwork related to trains and stories about trainwrecks as well as making a comparative analysis of train schedules to demonstrate how a shortage of fuel lengthened the time of travel as the war went on.  Here is quantitative history of the best kind, using data to draw sound conclusions based on firm evidence and not mere prejudice.  The data tells the sort of story that one would expect--Southern states and citizens were enthusiastic backers of various rail projects but most of them were local and not part of a larger, coherent and coordinate system.  As a result, when the war came, local and provincial interests and the inefficiencies of the system had disastrous consequences for a nation that had no alternative to the railroads for the large-scale transshipment of food and soldiers.

Ultimately, I recommend this book wholeheartedly despite substantial disagreement with the author.  In the main, the entertainment value of the author's wit, even if he carries his rhetoric to extreme, for example, concerning Sherman's destructiveness, is alone worth the time spent to read this book.  The information value concerning the often-neglected relationship between railroads and the Confederate war effort is itself of considerable value.  That said, this recommendation comes with a large caveat, and that is that I do not endorse two seemingly contradictory aspects of the author's perspective.  For one, the author appears to be somewhat of a booster of Confederate independence, and that is not a cause I support at all.  Second, the author is hostile to the culture of consensus that required a slow and incomplete process of dealing with state and local interests and that remains a particularly American aspect of politics.  The author supports the unrestrained and "efficient" use of centralized government power, something I view with a great deal of horror and disgust.  If your political views are remotely close to mine in opposing both the tyrannical power of the rebellious lords of the lash as well as of a corrupt, centralized state, you will find much to criticize in the author's approach.  Even so, this is a well-done history.

[1] The following passage may be taken as representative concerning the author's wit:

"When Sim's very real abilities are considered, it seems strange that he has become so shadowy a figure.  Even among the quiet squares of Savannah he has been almost forgotten.  He was a rather large, homely man, of medium complexion, with heavy features, yet his personality must have been pleasing.  Between the lines of his correspondence we glimpse an active, gregarious person, quick, intelligent, and much given to talk in the easy manner of mid-Georgia.  All things considered, F.W. Sims represented the administrative branch of the Confederate Army at its best (167)."

[2] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

[3] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...

[David R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent treatment of a subject that deserves much more attention. Black discusses the state of railroads before and during the Late Unpleasantness, efforts to coordinate rolling stock for military purposes, and the misuse of railroads in addressing Federal military threats. Serious students of the war will see clearly why armies moved as they did, what weaknesses the Confederacy faced in managing a wartime economy, and the incredible value of railroads in moving personnel and supplies at that time. The writing tends to be dry, but the content is fascinating.

[James Crabtree · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Civil War began the sheer mileage of railway lines of the North far outstripped those of the South. However, Mr. Black's book points out that several Confederate military operations in the South were made possible due to the ability of the CSA to concentrate at key points using "interior lines of communication." This was more obvious at the beginning of the war than towards the end, because the Confederacy was loath to place the control of the railroads under the government, unlike the North which recognized the need to to have control over the rails to support the war effort and created the U.S. Military Rail Road (USMRR). The various states backed the "property rights" of the myriad railroads and prevented (for the most part) the dismantling of minor lines in order to keep strategic ones open. But it was a doomed endeavor, as iron was almost impossible to find and the machinery needed to keep the railroads in safe working order were lacking.

Black's writing is very good and engaging. Illustrated with maps and photographs.

[Mark Harden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to believe this was written in 1948, it reads like a newly written book. Outstanding.

[PMB · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written in 1954. Reads like 1854. What is this prose? The word “shibboleth” makes an appearance.

Credit where it’s due. Probably won’t find a more concise book on the subject.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute gem! A specialist study that is accessible and entertaining. Well written, succinct, and the narrative is accompanied by a wealth of quality maps and illustrations. Also not pro-Southern (as many, especially older, specialist studies on the CSA are), but a fair assessment of the Confederates and their railroads. If you're interested in the American Civil War or railroads, do yourself a favor a find a copy of this book!