American Civil War Railroad Tactics

THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR WAS THE WORLD`S FIRST FULL-BLOWN `RAILROAD WAR`. THE WELL-DEVELOPED NETWORK IN THE NORTH WAS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE IN SERVING THE UNION ARMY`S LOGISTIC NEEDS OVER LONG DISTANCES, AND THE SPARSER RESOURCES OF THE SOUTH WERE PROPORTIONATELY EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. BOTH SIDES INVESTED GREAT EFFORTS IN RAIDING AND WRECKING ENEMY RAILROADS AND DEFENDING AND REPAIRING THEIR OWN, AND BATTLES OFTEN REVOLVED AROUND STRATEGIC RAIL JUNCTIONS.