When the Civil War began the sheer mileage of railway lines of the North far outstripped those of the South. However, Mr. Black's book points out that several Confederate military operations in the South were made possible due to the ability of the CSA to concentrate at key points using "interior lines of communication." This was more obvious at the beginning of the war than towards the end, because the Confederacy was loath to place the control of the railroads under the government, unlike the North which recognized the need to to have control over the rails to support the war effort and created the U.S. Military Rail Road (USMRR). The various states backed the "property rights" of the myriad railroads and prevented (for the most part) the dismantling of minor lines in order to keep strategic ones open. But it was a doomed endeavor, as iron was almost impossible to find and the machinery needed to keep the railroads in safe working order were lacking.
Black's writing is very good and engaging. Illustrated with maps and photographs.
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