The more I read I stronger my belief that the history of RRs and steamboat transportation systems during the Civil War is flawed. If the errs can not be corrected/adjusted at least there should be a record of discussion. These errors/oversights are probably unintentional, but oversights nonetheless because the source data is scattered and hard to come by and often contrary to popular opinion. We mistakenly take for granted that RRs then were much like we understand them today.
I been reading the “History of Beaver County Pennsylvania” by Bausman written in 1904. It totals 1,000 pages. Railroads were given 14 pages; steamboats 7 pages. And the steamboat pages are only “building steamboats” in Beaver County boatyards. No words on the men who owned and operated them. No words on their missions and accomplishments. The history of Beaver County is fundamentally defined by the Ohio River and river transportaition systems. That presentation written by Rev Bausman who lived during the day of the steamboat and RR competition is flawed.
I found an interesting page on the Baltimore and Ohio RR in 1861. The B&O was 188 miles of track in 1861 following the C&O canal route. I repeat 188 miles for emphasis. And even if the B&O RR had developed extensively, it was frequently disrupted during the war:
http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Baltimore_and_Ohio_Railroad_During_the_Civil_War
In the 1850s and 1860s Ohio river steamboat captains were steaming to the upper Missouri River and places the railroads would not reach for twenty years. That history should be made known.
I also found a website on Confederate RRs which indicated that the RR system in the south was not a benefit to their war effort. Iron U-rails were used on some lines which were non standard. The number of steam locomotives which were all manufactured in the north was limited . Railroad beds were not properly graded. Ties were not treated wood requiring more frequent replacement. Labor shortage required for maintenance were unavailable, etc. For a variety of reasons the rails in the south ceased to function without direct war action. Too many unsolved problems to provide an efficient transport system.
Due to the naval superiority of the Union, the river lines of support could not be challenged by the south.
Even in PA the construction of railroads was strange. “The superstructure will be formed by two parallel lines of mud sills, twelve inches wide and six inches thick…” It also describes the rails = 6 inches square = and how they would be spiked. That railway bed was to become the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railway. The Penn Central Transportation Company made a big profits transporting troops, but I yet to find the miles of track in 1860. Over 50% of the troops the Penn Central transported were at the end of the war => troops going home.
In my opinion, the capabilities of the RRs were overrated and the steamboats understated during the Civil War. Think about that for a few moments.