Question #bc2c0
1 Answer
Railroads prolonged the Civil War.
Explanation:
The Railroads in the south formed a triangle. This allowed the South to move troops rapidly from one front to another front. This enabled the south to utilize the inferior number of troops in an efficient manner somewhat equalizing the superior number of northern troops.
In the first battle of Bull Run. Railroads brought Stonewall Jackson's troops from the Shenandoah Valley to the battle. These troops turned the tide of battle. Without railroads the north might have won the first battle of Bull Run driving on down to Richmond and ending the Civil War in one summer.
The battle of Chickamauga was also won by the south by a transfer of troops from Northern Virginia to the Western front. The strategically located interior rail lines of the south enable the movement of troops that won this battle in the west delaying the northern advance for over a year. The troops could then be sent back to northern Virginia before the north could take advantage of their absence.
Not until Grant won the battle of Chattanooga and Sherman took Atlanta were the interior rail lines of the south broken and the advantage the rail lines gave the south taken away.
