Congress passes the Railways and Telegraph Act
January 31, 1862, Washington, District of Columbia.
- Date
- January 31, 1862
- Where
- Washington, District of Columbia
- What happened
- Built
- Event
- 20 of 174
The act authorized President Lincoln to take control of the railroads and telegraph for military use and led to the U.S. Military Railroad. Daniel C. McCallum became Military Director and Superintendent and Herman Haupt chief of construction in Virginia. The system began with 7 miles of the Washington and Alexandria Railroad and grew to more than 2,000 miles, with 419 locomotives and 6,330 cars bought, built or captured.
Nearby
- 0 miWashington supply depotsUnion · Depot, Washington, District of Columbia
- 0 miLincoln proclaims a blockade of the Southern portsApril 19, 1861, Washington, District of Columbia
- 2 miWashington Navy YardUnion · Naval works, Washington, District of Columbia
- 3 miWashington ArsenalUnion · Arsenal, Washington, District of Columbia
- 3 miGiesboro cavalry depotUnion · Depot, Washington (Giesboro Point), District of Columbia
- 6 miAlexandria rail yard and shopsUnion · Rail shops, Alexandria, Virginia