Comments on: Railroad’s Critical Role in the Civil War http://www.historynet.com/railroads-critical-role-in-the-civil-war.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:47:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Steve Shaffer http://www.historynet.com/railroads-critical-role-in-the-civil-war.htm#comment-15070 Steve Shaffer Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:39:46 +0000 #comment-15070 Lt Col Koenig -- Not wanting to wait until the your book comes, I wish that you will forward to me those materials as you stated above. I recently found a map the legend of which reflected 4X32 pdrs on platform cars located proximal to the rail yards of New Bern. This map prepared by a Union topo officer on the Confederate defenses at New Bern. Steve Shaffer Lt Col, USAF (Ret) Lt Col Koenig –

Not wanting to wait until the your book comes, I wish that you
will forward to me those materials as you stated above.

I recently found a map the legend of which reflected 4X32 pdrs on
platform cars located proximal to the rail yards of New Bern. This
map prepared by a Union topo officer on the Confederate defenses
at New Bern.

Steve Shaffer
Lt Col, USAF (Ret)

]]> By: EJ Nash http://www.historynet.com/railroads-critical-role-in-the-civil-war.htm#comment-15069 EJ Nash Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:32:01 +0000 #comment-15069 I'm looking forward to your book. Please fell free to use any useful info from my website on the subject: http://www.firstmdus.net/Rail%20cars.htm Just give me and my sources credit. I’m looking forward to your book. Please fell free to use any useful info from my website on the subject:
http://www.firstmdus.net/Rail%20cars.htm
Just give me and my sources credit.

]]> By: Katie http://www.historynet.com/railroads-critical-role-in-the-civil-war.htm#comment-14006 Katie Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:54:27 +0000 #comment-14006 Your article was very much enjoyed! The Civil War era is a favorite of mine and am intrigued by your writing style, your knowledge as well as your humility! Kudos! Your article was very much enjoyed! The Civil War era is a favorite of mine and am intrigued by your writing style, your knowledge as well as your humility! Kudos!

]]> By: Steve Shaffer http://www.historynet.com/railroads-critical-role-in-the-civil-war.htm#comment-13413 Steve Shaffer Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:09:14 +0000 #comment-13413 During my research about the Battle of New Bern, I discovered a description of “a fort on wheels” described by Colonel Bolton in his journal entry for 15 March describing the participation of the 51st Pennsylvania Regiment in the Battle of New Bern: “On our rounds we found a fort on wheels. An eight wheel car truck on which was mounted a gun, the sides of the platform having been iron plated with loop-holes inserted at intervals for the use of muskets. We found out from the prisoners that the intention was to run it down the track about sunrise [of 14 March] the morning before (as the 51st bivouacked along the railroad that night) and give us a surprise, but we were all too early for them and they never had a chance to put it into use.” (Dr. Richard A. Sauers, Editor, The Civil War Journal of Colonel William J. Bolton, 51st Pennsylvania, April 20, 1861 – August 2, 1865, Combined Publishing, PA, 2000, p. 51) I have NOT been able to prove this sighting nor discovered any supporting evidence that such a "monitor car" was present in New Bern at the time of the battle and was intended by the Confederates to employ same against the attcking Union forces. A colleague here would like to generate local interest in producing a full-scale model of a monitor car as he opines that it may well have been manufactured here. The rail yard was very well-equipped, etc. Regards. Steve During my research about the Battle of New Bern, I discovered a description of “a fort on wheels” described by Colonel Bolton in his journal entry for 15 March describing the participation of the 51st Pennsylvania Regiment in the Battle of New Bern:
“On our rounds we found a fort on wheels. An eight wheel car truck on which was mounted a gun, the sides of the platform having been iron plated with loop-holes inserted at intervals for the use of muskets. We found out from the prisoners that the intention was to run it down the track about sunrise [of 14 March] the morning before (as the 51st bivouacked along the railroad that night) and give us a surprise, but we were all too early for them and they never had a chance to put it into use.” (Dr. Richard A. Sauers, Editor, The Civil War Journal of Colonel William J. Bolton, 51st Pennsylvania, April 20, 1861 – August 2, 1865, Combined Publishing, PA, 2000, p. 51)
I have NOT been able to prove this sighting nor discovered any supporting evidence that such a “monitor car” was present in New Bern at the time of the battle and was intended by the Confederates to employ same against the attcking Union forces. A colleague here would like to generate local interest in producing a full-scale model of a monitor car as he opines that it may well have been manufactured here. The rail yard was very well-equipped, etc. Regards. Steve

]]> By: LTC Alan R. Koenig, USAR (Ret) http://www.historynet.com/railroads-critical-role-in-the-civil-war.htm#comment-11242 LTC Alan R. Koenig, USAR (Ret) Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:42:41 +0000 #comment-11242 PS "Burnside's Monitor" included a heavy artillery piece in a heavily armored car in front and a "Railroad Monitor," basically an armored, light artillery boxcar with riflemen coupled behind for close-in protection. It scouted almost to Kinston during the summer of 1862 and then the Confederates ripped up the tracks from Batchelder's Creek back to Kinston. At least the RR Monitor continued to serve to escort trains and to delay a Confederate attack in early Feb. 1864. Confederates had one or two "RR Merrimacks" at Kinston, but Yanks knocked one out with artillery and apparently captured it or another in Dec 1862 during a raid/offensive. They burned the car before retiring to New Berne. So, "Burnside's Monitor" served in an armored recon role, it's car in escort duty, and for armored support during a fair-sized battle. Similar situations occurred on the B & O, and one monitor in the West had a revolving turret. I'm guessing the Feds had about a dozen or so RR Monitors and a few RR batteries, but the Confederates focused more on RR batteries. out, Al Koenig PS “Burnside’s Monitor” included a heavy artillery piece in a heavily armored car in front and a “Railroad Monitor,” basically an armored, light artillery boxcar with riflemen coupled behind for close-in protection. It scouted almost to Kinston during the summer of 1862 and then the Confederates ripped up the tracks from Batchelder’s Creek back to Kinston. At least the RR Monitor continued to serve to escort trains and to delay a Confederate attack in early Feb. 1864. Confederates had one or two “RR Merrimacks” at Kinston, but Yanks knocked one out with artillery and apparently captured it or another in Dec 1862 during a raid/offensive. They burned the car before retiring to New Berne. So, “Burnside’s Monitor” served in an armored recon role, it’s car in escort duty, and for armored support during a fair-sized battle. Similar situations occurred on the B & O, and one monitor in the West had a revolving turret. I’m guessing the Feds had about a dozen or so RR Monitors and a few RR batteries, but the Confederates focused more on RR batteries.

out,

Al Koenig

]]> By: LTC Alan R. Koenig, USAR (Ret) http://www.historynet.com/railroads-critical-role-in-the-civil-war.htm#comment-11241 LTC Alan R. Koenig, USAR (Ret) Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:33:31 +0000 #comment-11241 Steve, Thanks for your kind words on my article, which I wrote from my doctoral dissertation at UNL (Lincoln). Have published "Mars Gets New Chariots" and will soon publish "Ironclads on Rails: America's First Armored Fighting Vehicles," which covers the New Berne operations in no little detail. "Burnside's Monitor" was not yet in operation by mid-March 1862, but it appears that it was by May of that year, and it soldiered on for at least two years if not more. If you don't want to wait for the book to come out, get in touch with me for more info. Aim High! Al Koenig (Kaynig) Hector, MN Steve, Thanks for your kind words on my article, which I wrote from my doctoral dissertation at UNL (Lincoln). Have published “Mars Gets New Chariots” and will soon publish “Ironclads on Rails: America’s First Armored Fighting Vehicles,” which covers the New Berne operations in no little detail. “Burnside’s Monitor” was not yet in operation by mid-March 1862, but it appears that it was by May of that year, and it soldiered on for at least two years if not more. If you don’t want to wait for the book to come out, get in touch with me for more info. Aim High!

Al Koenig (Kaynig)
Hector, MN

]]> By: Lt Col Steve Shaffer, USAF (Ret) http://www.historynet.com/railroads-critical-role-in-the-civil-war.htm#comment-178 Lt Col Steve Shaffer, USAF (Ret) Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:18:08 +0000 #comment-178 Very interesting article - thoroughly enjoyed. Request any info re the intended use of a "monitor" railroad car at the battle of New Bern, NC, 14 Mar 1862. Thank you. Very interesting article - thoroughly enjoyed. Request any info re the intended use of a “monitor” railroad car at the battle of New Bern, NC, 14 Mar 1862. Thank you.

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