Centreville Military Railroad facts for kids
The Centreville Military Railroad was a special 5.5-mile (8.9 km) long train track. It was built by the Confederate States Army between November 1861 and February 1862. This railroad was the first one ever built just for military use. It connected to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad near Manassas, Virginia. The track went across Bull Run and ended near Centreville, Virginia.
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Why Was This Railroad Built?
Setting Up Camp at Centreville
During the American Civil War, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston needed a strong defense. His army was spread out, and Union forces were larger. So, he moved his soldiers to the high ground around Centreville, Virginia. This area was easy to defend. Their main supply base was at Manassas Junction.
The Confederates built many forts and strong positions in Centreville. About 40,000 soldiers set up winter camps there. They needed a lot of supplies, like food and equipment.
Muddy Roads and Supply Problems
As winter came, the roads became very muddy. Wagons carrying supplies from Manassas Junction to Centreville got stuck. The main road was even covered with planks, but it still didn't help much.
By November 1861, it was clear that using ox teams and wagons was too slow and difficult. The animals ate too much food, making it hard to deliver supplies efficiently. A new way to move supplies was desperately needed.
How Was the Railroad Built?
Building a railroad seemed like a good idea. They planned to use spare parts and even captured materials. However, the Orange and Alexandria Railroad company did not want them to use their rails.
Despite this, construction began in December 1861. Soldiers worked hard, sometimes in shifts, to build the new line. Newspapers reported that it would take about two months to finish. The rails themselves came from a warehouse in Winchester, Virginia. They were originally from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, taken during earlier raids.
By early February 1862, the railroad was likely finished. It was built quickly, so it didn't have the usual gravel (ballast) under the tracks. The wooden ties were also spaced farther apart than normal. Still, it was ready for use by February 17, 1862.
What Did the Railroad Look Like?
The railroad line followed the old Centreville Road. It had gentle curves. It ran for about four miles (6.4 km) and then crossed Bull Run. A special trestle bridge was built for this crossing. After the bridge, the track went another one and a half miles (2.4 km) to its end point.
The tracks were likely the same width as the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. This allowed trains from that line to use the new military railroad.
How Did the Railroad Work?
Moving Supplies and Soldiers
Trains from the Orange and Alexandria Railroad started running on the new line in February 1862. The railroad was mainly used to bring supplies to the army.
At first, General Johnston did not want to use the trains to move sick soldiers. The locomotives were not strong enough for heavy loads. But later, larger trains were brought in. Johnston then allowed sick soldiers to be moved south to a hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. This helped many soldiers get the care they needed.
What the Union Army Thought
Union soldiers saw the strong defenses at Centreville. They believed the Confederate lines were too powerful to attack directly. Major General George B. McClellan, a Union commander, decided to find another way to attack. He planned to sail his army down the Potomac River and attack Richmond, Virginia, from a different direction. This meant he would avoid the strong Centreville defenses.
The End of the Railroad's Use
The Centreville Military Railroad was only used for a short time. On March 9, 1862, General Johnston decided to move his army south. He wanted to stop General McClellan's new plan.
On March 11, 1862, the Confederates quickly left Centreville. They tried to tear up the railroad tracks. They also destroyed the trestle bridge over Bull Run. Union troops arrived that same day. They took the remaining rails to use for other railroad repairs in Virginia.
What Happened After?
After the Confederates left, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&ORR) wanted their rails back. They said the rails used for the Centreville Military Railroad had been stolen from them.
However, the Union Army decided to keep the rails. They wanted to use them to fix other important railroads, like the Manassas Gap Railroad. This would help supply Union forces in the Shenandoah Valley.
The B&ORR president, John W. Garrett, protested this decision. He argued that his railroad needed the rails more to restore its own services. These services were very important for the Union Army's overall needs.
Finally, by the end of July 1862, the Union Army agreed. All the rails from the Centreville Military Railroad were returned to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Soon after, nature took over. The tracks were removed, and the area became overgrown. The world's first military railroad was quickly forgotten by most people.
