chap 2

Telegraph - The telegraph brought the end to the Pony Express when the East and West coast of the US were connected in 1861, just in time for a major role in the Civil War. The military Signal Corps was first established in both the Union and the Confederacy as a tactical and strategic communication method for the armies.

In addition to the newly formed Signal Corps, civilian telegraph men were used. The importance of the ability to communicate quickly was rapidly utilized to provide intelligence and espionage messaging, as well as battlefield communications.

Union Field Telegraph Station, Wilcox, Virginia circa 1864, Library of Congress Prints and Photograph Division

Trains – The south was at a disadvantage during the Civil War in terms of train and rail infrastructure, however, as a developing nation the south was the third largest volume of railroad tracks in the world. However, when comparing the Confederacy’s 9,000 mile of tracks to the much more developed rail system of the Union the future failures of the southern line could be seen.

Rail usage had been steadily growing and the usefulness of trains for transportation of people and goods was apparent as an advantage in war. Unfortunately, the many southern rail lines didn’t link well, lack of funds for repairs and the concerted effort of Union forces to render rail line unusable reduced the effectiveness of trains.

Damaged Train Engine in captured Richmond, VA. 1865

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

As railroads were a tool of the war, the new reliance of using rails for moving supplies made them high priority targets. Tracks were ripped up, bridges destroyed and supplies were damaged.

Hot Air Balloons – The use of hot air balloons in b...

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...at were in the army at the start of the war wore a standard dark blue frock coat hanging to mid-thigh. High ranking officers including majors, lieutenant colonels, colonels, and generals wore double-breasted coats. Lower ranking soldiers wore single breasted frock coats.

General McClellan, Union Officer, 1861, Mathew Brady, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

The Rebel uniforms were listed as Gray, however, the dye used for uniforms resulted in a yellowish-brownish gray referred to a Butternut. The rebel soldier was lucky to receive any uniform or have one that wasn’t in tatters by war’s end.

The difference between colors can be seen on preserved uniforms in the Confederate Museum in Richmond and other CSA museums.

This photo of Robert E. Lee most closely represents the uniform style and color most associated with the Rebel Gray uniform.