The Nashville and Decatur in the Civil War
History of an Embattled Railroad
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About the Book
The Nashville and Decatur Railroad was in operation five months before the start of the Civil War and 17 months before the Federals took control of Nashville and the railroad. Running through Central Tennessee to Alabama, the highly contested line passed through Confederate-held territory, where rebels and their sympathizers continually sabotaged bridges, trestles and track. This first full-length work on the N&D Railroad emphasizes its importance in the Western Theater and brings to light the four key men who kept it open for the duration of the war. Significant military activities in the region are described, along with the contraband camp, military complex and other features surrounding the railroad’s only tunnel.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
Walter R. Green, Jr.
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 256
Bibliographic Info: 42 photos, maps, appendices, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2022
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8852-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4651-0
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments vii
Preface 1
Introduction 3
1. Going Home to Michigan 5
2. Harnessing the Iron Horse 7
3. Innes and the 1st Michigan Build Their Reputation 29
4. Raids and Stockades 46
5. Dodge and Boomer Rebuild Trestles and Bridges 61
6. U.S. Colored Troops, Contraband Camps and Tunnel Hill 81
7. Relying on Merrill’s and Innes’ Blockhouses 91
8. Forrest Comes Calling 103
9. Hood Looks for a Fight 121
10. The Battles of Franklin and Nashville 135
11. Chasing Hood: The Battle of Bridge Builders 145
12. In the Wake 160
13. After the War 164
Appendices
A—Early History of the Three Railroads Composing the N&D 177
B—Civil War–Era Railroads, Communications and Pontoon Bridges 185
C—Locating the Crossings and Fortifications in Mid–1864 193
D—Troops Protecting the Railroad 212
E—The Southern Claims Commission 219
F—The 1901 Franklin, Tennessee, L&N Passenger Depot 224
Chapter Notes 227
Bibliography 235
Index 239
