Montgomery and West Point Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Montgomery and West Point Railroad (M&WP) was an early 19th century railroad in Alabama
and Georgia
. It played an important role during the American Civil War
as a supply and transportation route for the Confederate Army
, and, as such, was the target of a large raid
by Union
cavalry
in the summer of 1864.
The Montgomery Railroad was chartered January 20, 1832, to build track from Montgomery, Alabama
, to the Chattahoochee River
at Columbus, Georgia
. In 1834, it was rechartered with the route going to West Point, Alabama
, instead of Columbus. It wasn't until 1840 when the railroad finally reached Franklin
, some 32.4 miles east of Montgomery. The railroad was sold under foreclosure
on July 9, 1842 and was then reorganized as the Montgomery and West Point Railroad on February 13, 1843. The railroad was completed to West Point on April 28, 1851. Three years later the Atlanta and West Point Rail Road
was completed connecting Montgomery to east coast markets. The M&WP then built a branch line from Opelika, Alabama
to Columbus which began operating in 1856.
During the Civil War, the railroad was raided in July 1864 by 2,500 Union cavalry troops under the command of Lovell Rousseau
. Staged out of Decatur, Rosseau's force managed to take or burn a large number of supplies at Opelika, and destroy 30 miles of track as well as burning railroad stations and warehouses at West Point and Montgomery by July 17.
After the war, the railroad was repaired and reopened for traffic. The M&WP was merged into the Western Railway of Alabama
in 1870.
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. It played an important role during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
as a supply and transportation route for the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
, and, as such, was the target of a large raid
Raid (military)
Raid, also known as depredation, is a military tactic or operational warfare mission which has a specific purpose and is not normally intended to capture and hold terrain, but instead finish with the raiding force quickly retreating to a previous defended position prior to the enemy forces being...
by Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
in the summer of 1864.
The Montgomery Railroad was chartered January 20, 1832, to build track from Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, to the Chattahoochee River
Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee River flows through or along the borders of the U.S. states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. It is a tributary of the Apalachicola River, a relatively short river formed by the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers and emptying into Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of...
at Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
. In 1834, it was rechartered with the route going to West Point, Alabama
West Point, Alabama
West Point is a town in Cullman County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 295.-Geography:West Point is located at .According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, instead of Columbus. It wasn't until 1840 when the railroad finally reached Franklin
Franklin, Alabama
Franklin is a town in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 145.-History and Educational Legacy:Franklin School was in operation as early as the 1890s teaching grades 1-11. By the mid 1930s it was downsized to grades 1-6...
, some 32.4 miles east of Montgomery. The railroad was sold under foreclosure
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
on July 9, 1842 and was then reorganized as the Montgomery and West Point Railroad on February 13, 1843. The railroad was completed to West Point on April 28, 1851. Three years later the Atlanta and West Point Rail Road
Atlanta and West Point Rail Road
The Atlanta and West Point Rail Road was a railroad in the U.S. state of Georgia, forming the east portion of the Atlanta-Selma West Point Route. The company was chartered in 1847 as the Atlanta and LaGrange Rail Road and renamed in 1857; construction was begun in 1849-50 and completed in May 1854...
was completed connecting Montgomery to east coast markets. The M&WP then built a branch line from Opelika, Alabama
Opelika, Alabama
Opelika is a city in and the county seat of Lee County in the east central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. According to 2010 Census, the population of Opelika was 26,477...
to Columbus which began operating in 1856.
During the Civil War, the railroad was raided in July 1864 by 2,500 Union cavalry troops under the command of Lovell Rousseau
Lovell Rousseau
Lovell Harrison Rousseau was a general in the United States and Union Armies during the American Civil War and a lawyer and politician in both Kentucky and Indiana.-Early life and career:...
. Staged out of Decatur, Rosseau's force managed to take or burn a large number of supplies at Opelika, and destroy 30 miles of track as well as burning railroad stations and warehouses at West Point and Montgomery by July 17.
After the war, the railroad was repaired and reopened for traffic. The M&WP was merged into the Western Railway of Alabama
Western Railway of Alabama
The Western Railway of Alabama was created as the Western Railroad of Alabama by the owners of the Montgomery and West Point Railroad in 1860. It was built to further the M&WP's development West from Montgomery, Alabama to Selma, Alabama. When the line was finally constructed in 1870, the M&WP...
in 1870.