How We Built the Union Pacific Railway, and Other Railway Papers and Addresses

by Grenville Mellen Dodge

The major recollections of Major-General Grenville M. Dodge as chief engineer of the Union Pacific Railway. In addition to the main section, the book prints various speeches of Dodge about railway matters, his speech before Congress in 1868 upon the Union Pacific, his recollections of Harriman, and the problems of the civil engineer during the Civil War and upon the frontier.

196 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Grenville Mellen Dodge (April 12, 1831 – January 3, 1916) was a Union army officer on the frontier and pioneering figure in military intelligence during the Civil War, who served as Ulysses S. Grant's intelligence Chief in the Western Theater. He served in several notable assignments, including command of the XVI Corps during the Atlanta Campaign.

He later served as a U.S. Congressman, businessman, and railroad executive who helped direct the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. Historian Stanley P. Hirshon suggested that Dodge, "by virtue of the range of his abilities and activities," could be considered "more important in the national life after the Civil War than his more famous colleagues and friends, Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan."

Reviews

[Hikmet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, first hand description of the Union Pacific's development, by chief engineer Grenville Dodge. Very personable.