Targeted Tracks: The Cumberland Valley Railroad in the Civil War, 1861–1865

by Scott L. Mingus Sr., Cooper H. Wingert

“Anyone who is interested in Civil War logistics, wartime railroads, and the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania needs to read this study.” —Eric J. Wittenberg, award-winning historian and author    The Civil War was the first conflict in which railroads played a major role. Although much has been written about their role in general, little has been written about specific lines. The Cumberland Valley Railroad, for example, played an important strategic role by connecting Hagerstown, Maryland to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Its location enhanced its importance during some of the Civil War’s most critical campaigns.    Because of its proximity to major cities in the Eastern Theater, the Cumberland Valley Railroad was an enticing target for Confederate leaders and an invaluable resource for the Union Army. In October 1859, abolitionist John Brown used the CVRR in his fateful Harpers Ferry raid. The line was under direct threat by invading Confederates during the Antietam Campaign, and the following summer suffered serious damage during the Gettysburg Campaign. In 1864, Rebel raiders burned much of its headquarters town, Chambersburg, including the homes of many CVRR employees. The railroad was as vital to residents of the bustling and fertile Cumberland Valley as it was to the Union war effort.   Targeted Tracks is grounded on the railway’s voluminous reports, the letters and diaries of local residents and Union and Confederate soldiers, official reports, and newspaper accounts. The primary sources, combined with the expertise of the authors, bring this largely untold story to life.   “Mingus and Wingert have done a splendid job telling the story of the industrial, economic, social, and military history of the CVRR . . . engaging.” —Ted Alexander, chief historian (ret.), Antietam National Battlefield

Genres: Civil War, History

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 5, 2019

About the author

Scott L. Mingus, Sr. is an author, tour guide, multiple award-winning miniature wargamer, patented scientist, and history buff based near York, Pennsylvania.

Blog at http://scottmingus.wordpress.com/scot...

Reviews

[Matthew Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of you who’ve read my reviews before, there is always one thing which I praise, and that is simply tell me something new. Thankfully, there have been many works throughout the past few years which have always taught me something I never knew about the American Civil War and Targeted Tracks adds to that. The railroads in the war is something that has always fascinated me, and with this work by both Scott Mingus Sr., and Cooper H. Winger, I have learned more about this lesser spoken about aspect. And with the book being centered around the Cumberland Valley Railroad during the war, there was quite a bit to be excited about.
Scott L. Mingus Sr. is a well known Civil War author who has penned many books and essays. Overall, he has written nineteen books on the subject, all of which add greatly to the Civil War scholarship. Confederate General William “Extra Billy” Smith was the recipient of the Dr. James I. Robertson Jr. Literary Award for Confederate History. Cooper Wingert is also a well known author on the subject, writing both on slavery and the American Civil War. His book, The Confederate Approach on Harrisburg, won the 2012 Dr. James R. Robertson Jr. Literary Award for Confederate History.
Targeted Tracks details the history of the Cumberland Valley Railroad throughout the Civil War, and in some ways reads like a biography. The events which unravel along this important railway not only shape some of the most iconic battles in the eastern theater, but had some interesting encounters itself. As the first major war to use the railroad system, there was much to use and exploit concerning this new mode of transportation for both armies and supplies. The book even details the burning of the railroad bridge at Scotland, Pennsylvania which had crucial ramifications to the proceeding months. The railroad was under such contention that it often saw more action waged against it than one would expect from a major supply line. Both Mingus and Wingert detail each attack, each operation, that used the line with excellent research and a wonderful narrative. You could feel the havoc that the Confederates were creating when they took over the line. You could feel the tension of the northern officials when they were attempting to protect it. Overall, the narrative is fueled by primary sources which only stand to enrich the story which is being presented here. In many ways, we now have the book about the Cumberland Valley Railroad that we always wanted. The importance of this railroad was always there in the back of my mind, but never before had it been written out so well.
I highly recommend this book. Not only will fans of the campaigns that this railway surrounded enjoy it, but I think a Civil War reader overall will enjoy this. It tells the story of a persona in the war that we often put in the back of our minds, but what Mingus and Wingert have truly done is given us a biography of this railroad. It is a much needed study and it will be greatly appreciated for the coming years. Once again, the attention and detail which these two authors put into this work is outstanding and deserves all the praise it is given.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chronicles the triumphs and tribulations of a small railroad within the war zone. I found this book to be well balanced and very detailed. The authors do a good job of interspersing personal accounts within the narrative to keep the reader's interest. Overall, I would say this book lives up to the higher standards set by the publisher for highly readable and educating books.

[Kurry Swigert · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a resident of the Cumberland Valley, I enjoyed this story of the CVRR and the part it played in the civil war and developing the Cumberland Valley. I learned things about cities in the valley. I enjoy reading about the civil war but am not train fanatic - still, this was a thoroughly enjoyable, informative, and fun read.

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great history with detailed attention in an easy to read well written narrative that covers both railroad and military history in the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania with detailed attention. This book is well worth reading.