It was the mid-nineteenth century and it was America. There was a war on. It was the perfect time to develop technologies on both sides of the Civil War, particularly in terms of the action behind the scenes. The Charleston & Savannah Railroad was perfectly situated to provide its relatively new technology to the cause of the South, which was spared by it from moving troops and materiel over a hundred miles of swamp and rice fields. The railroad served well, keeping Savannah for the confederacy until 1865. Enthusiast Stone includes interesting period photographs and illustrations in his account of a railroad that survived only five years but managed to keep Charleston and Savannah in touch. He also details how the railroad became a communications pipeline upon the Union capture of Port Royal, and how the local planters and merchants continued to support the line until the war was over. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)