Transportation During the Civil War

The American Civil War was a time of instability, separation and confusion.  The Yankees of the North fought the Confederates of the South.  Battles were won and lost in cities across what was the country in the 1860s.  Whether you wore blue or gray, you had to find transportation to get you to the war or away from the battle zones.

Horses

The most popular form of transportation during the Civil War was horses.  Land owners had at least two horses or access to horses in order to travel nearby places.  Calvary rode to battles and fled from the enemy on horses.  Having a horse was essential to survival during the Civil War.

Foot

Because the man of the family usually had the horse, the rest of the family had to rely on their own two feet to get them wherever they needed.  From school to the mercantile and from the house to the creek, everyone walked, skipped or ran to their destinations.

Railroad

One of the key factors to winning the Civil War was the railroad.  The North had many more railroads than the South, and they were able to move people and supplies much more efficiently.  In fact, since the North had more control of the railroads, they were able to shut down certain plans for expansion and movement in the South.

Boats

As battles erupted near rivers and waterways, boats and steam engines became a popular form of transportation.  Boats were able to ship large amounts of supplies and people to various locations faster than foot or horse.