RAILS TO OBLIVION

You can go here to see two very interesting reports on the topic of Civil War railroads:

http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/gabel4/gabel4.asp

http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/gabel6.pdf

Note: Why the “Rails to Oblivion” post title? Because the lack of an efficient system of railroads is one of the six main reasons why the South lost the Civil War:

1. Weak federal government.
2. Lack of manufacturing capacity.
3. Inefficient railroads.
4. Tiny navy / little shipbuilding / ship repair capacity.
5. Unable to arm the largest Southern pool of potential soldiers:
male slaves ages 18-50 years old.
6. Poor coordination of the efforts of Southern armies.