Final answer:
The North had approximately 22 thousand miles of railroad track during the Civil War, while the South had only about 9 thousand miles, giving the Union a significant logistical advantage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The railroad was considered one of Lincoln's hidden weapons during the Civil War due to its wide-ranging strategic and logistical advantages. The North's extensive railroad system played a pivotal role in its ability to mobilize troops and supplies efficiently.
When comparing the railroad infrastructure between the North and the South, there were significantly more miles of track in the North, which gave the Union a substantial logistical advantage over the Confederate states.
During the Civil War, the North had about 22 thousand miles of railroad track, which was a considerable amount more than the South, which had only around 9 thousand miles of track.
This disparity in infrastructure contributed to the Union's ability to sustain and conduct a long and extensive war effort, while the Confederacy faced greater logistical challenges due to its shorter railroad system and the resultant limitations on troop and supply movements.