UNC Press - The Railroads of the Confederacy

<SPAN STYLE= "" >The Railroads of the Confederacy</SPAN>

400 pp., 6.125 x 9.25, 18 illus., 8 line drawings, 17 maps

Paper

ISBN 978-0-8078-4729-9

Published: April 1998

With a new foreword by Gary W. Gallagher

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.

About the Author

Robert C. Black III lives in Denver, Colorado. His books include The Younger John Winthrop.

Reviews

"[Explores the] subject with commendable thoroughness. . . . Outstanding."
--American Historical Review

"A superior historical monograph. Mr. Black has examined a technical subject with the understanding of an engineer. . . . 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. . . . Fascinating."
--Chicago Tribune

"Eminently worthy of study by those interested in either railroads or the Civil War."
--New York Times