The Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, constructed in the 1850s, played a crucial role in connecting the cities of Norfolk and Petersburg in Virginia. General William Mahone, a Confederate Army General during the Civil War, was instrumental in the construction of this railroad.
William Mahone was the President and Superintendent of the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad before the Civil War. When the war began, he was appointed Colonel of the 6th Virginia Infantry and served in the Norfolk area of Virginia where he helped construct Confederate defenses before the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff.
When the Union Forces occupied what is now the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, it was General Mahone that ran a train into Portsmouth at top speed with whistles and bells ringing loudly. He then backed the train up, quietly, and repeated the action many times. The Union forces were convinced train after train of Confederate soldiers were arriving to liberate the Shipyard and they fled to Hampton. The Shipyard was taken with no casualties.
The Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was an important transportation link, facilitating the movement of goods and people between the two cities. General Mahone’s involvement in the railroad industry extended beyond his military service. After the Civil War, during the period of Reconstruction, he became a prominent figure in the redevelopment and restructuring of the Southern railroads.
General Mahone’s contributions to the railroad industry included efforts to modernize and expand rail networks in the post-war South. He played a key role in rebuilding and reorganizing the railroads in Virginia, making significant contributions to the economic recovery of the region. His expertise and leadership in the field of transportation had a lasting impact on the development of the railroad system in the Southern United States.
The General’s wife, Otelia Mahone, is credited with naming the new stations along the route. She chose the names Windsor, Waverly, Wakefield and Ivor from the book Ivanhoe, and made up the name Disputanta one day when fighting with her husband.
Amtrak and Norfolk-Southern still use parts of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad tracks.
About the Author
History is always interesting, I find.
It expands the mind.