Mars Gets New Chariots

War chariots disappeared in antiquity when horsemen donned armored, and few nations copied Jan Ziska's effective but "heretical" war wagons in the 15th Century. When railroads appeared (ca. 1820), warfare changed considerably owing to trains' ability to transport large quantities of troops and supplies expeditiously. In addition to changing wartime logistics, railroads provided commanders with effective fighting vehicles. Koenig explains in detail how both sides used locomotives, rolling stock, maintenance-of-way vehicles, freight and special trains for tactical missions across the spectrum of military operations from 1861-65. The UN-Lincoln PhD also describes attacks on trains and railroads, fortifications, artillery, communications, and train hijackings, among other things. During his research, Koenig drew heavily from "The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion," regimental histories, archival sources, newspapers and various other sources. His follow-on manuscript, likely to appear in 2011, will examine Civil War ironclad trains and railroad artillery.