The Nashville & Decatur Railroad (variously known as the Tennessee & Alabama or Central Alabama before the war) ran 119 miles from Nashville, Tennessee, to Decatur, Alabama.  A short branch line of twelve miles ran to Mount Pleasant from the main line at Columbia.  The N&D intersected the Memphis & Charleston at Decatur, thus providing a second (though less direct) rail route between the strategic cities of Nashville and Chattanooga.

In response to the destructive effects of Tennessee military campaigns of 1863, General Grenville M. Dodge repaired the N&D in 40 days, including 182 bridges, and the main line remained in Federal use until the end of the war.  However, in 1864 the rails of the Mount Pleasant branch were removed for use in repairing heavy damage on the Nashville & Chattanooga.

Please click on the link below for a detailed listing of railroad facilities on the N&D as operated by the USMRR:
 
 

   Federal Railroads  |  Tennessee Civil War Railroads  |  Civil War Technology & Industry in Tennessee

Last update:   May 2, 2000