Vital Rails: The Charleston & Savannah Railroad and the Civil War in Coastal South Carolina
"Vital Rails is an excellent study that expertly connects the importance of the Charleston & Savannah Railroad to the Confederacy's overall war effort. Rich with detailed information, maps, and images, Stone's book is a must-read for all those interested in truly understanding the crucial logistical and military operations in the South Carolina lowcountry during the Civil War."--Stephen R. Wise, curator, Parris Island Museum, and author of Gate of Hell: Campaign for Charleston Harbor, 1863"H. David Stone breaks new ground in his thoughtful study of the Charleston & Savannah Railroad. The C&S;'s conception, construction, Civil War operations, and economic collapse at the end of the war describe in microcosm antebellum southern railroad development. The Confederate defense of the railroad against Union raiders offers new insights into this nearly forgotten aspect of the Civil War. A well-researched history, Vital Rails should attract the interest of economic, military, railroad, and southern historians as well as those interested in the histories of Charleston and Savannah."--John E. Clark, Jr., author of Railroads in the Civil War: The Impact of Management on Victory and Defeat