The war is still far from over. The Confederates, with less troops available, must move their men around quickly: but government takeovers of private railways will lead to more grumbles about 'state rights'. The Unionists, as they take the war into the South, require longer and more efficient supply lines. Confederate Options Focus on sabotaging the railways of the north. Pass laws which bring the railways under government control, then use them to move and supply the army. Encourage private businesspeople to build the railways - we don't want to get into another debate about 'state rights'. Union Options Pass laws which bring the railways under government control, then use them to move and supply the army. Encourage private businesspeople to build the railways – the government has more important things like weapons to spend money on. Don’t rely on railways for moving and supplying troops - they are too easily sabotaged. Outcomes The Confederates had far less troops than the North and so needed to move them quickly to wherever they were required. However, President Jefferson Davis couldn't persuade the Confederate states to give him overall control of the railways until mid-1863. In the meantime, he employed certain troops to focus on sabotaging the railroads of the North.
The Unionists were fighting a war of movement, pushing into enemy territory, so they needed efficient supply lines and invested heavily in the railway network. President Abraham Lincoln took overall control of the railways in January 1862.
In the Battle of Chattanooga (November 1863, Tennessee), Union General Ulysses S. Grant, General Joseph Hooker and General Sherman took control of Lookout Mountain from the Confederates and thereby gained control of the Confederate railway network. Quiz Questions Which fort did black Union troops bravely assault in July 1863?*Fort Wagner*Fort Beethoven*Fort Chopin*Fort Elgar Which battle secured Union control of the Confederate railway network?*Chatanooga*Atlanta*Antietam*Shiloh