Actually the War allowed funding and legislation for the Trans-Continental Railroad to be passed. Of course they used it at 1st Bull Run and extensively in the West for supplies and such. They are as important as the rivers are to the war. Many major battles happen because of the existence of railroads in the objective plan.
Bull Run was about a railroad hub. Atlanta was railroad too. The only real quick connection between the East and West over the Appalachians.
So you get the idea. Railroads are lifeblood of supplies and goods.
I am sure you have heard of Herman Haupt. Absolute genius and master of the rails. An unsung hero of the war. Also, the US Railroad came into being in that it created regulated standards for track size and all sorts of stuff needed to bring the many companies whom were in business together for the war effort and they helped control those compaines.
<center>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[url="http://www.scott-ludwig.com/"]<b>Brigadier General Scott Ludwig</b>[/url]
Commanding Officer
[url="http://scott-ludwig.com/ACWGC/ANV"]Army of Northern Virginia
[/url]CSA
[url="http://www.scott-ludwig.com/ACWGC/index.html"]Personal Command Tent[/url]
For the Glory of Virginia!!</center>
