The Unfinished Railroad
Evidence of the unfinished railroad
bed can be seen here in the Conway as well as in the Battlefield. Planned by
Edward Carrington Marshall in 1850, the Manassas Gap Railroad was intended to
link the Orange and Alexandria lines to the Manassas Railroad and lead into the
Shenandoah Valley. A lack of funding halted work on the railroad in 1858.
Four years later in the Second Battle of Manassas, the railroad found a new purpose. Robert E. Lee directed “Stonewall” Jackson’s forces to take on heavy fire along the railroad while he and reinforcement troops headed up the flank of the Union and Pope’s army. Using the railroad bed as cover, Jackson’s troops successfully withstood several attacks from Union forces. This gave Lee the time he needed to move into position and launch his attack. The resulting battle, one of the bloodiest of the war, ended in a Confederate victory.
Four years later in the Second Battle of Manassas, the railroad found a new purpose. Robert E. Lee directed “Stonewall” Jackson’s forces to take on heavy fire along the railroad while he and reinforcement troops headed up the flank of the Union and Pope’s army. Using the railroad bed as cover, Jackson’s troops successfully withstood several attacks from Union forces. This gave Lee the time he needed to move into position and launch his attack. The resulting battle, one of the bloodiest of the war, ended in a Confederate victory.