Aside from its political importance as the capital of the Confederacy, how important was Richmond as a rail hub and industrial center?

by WalkingOsteoclast
DBHT14

About half the total domestic production of artillery pieces (about 1k) were produced at the Tredeger Iron Works in the city. The works and the neighboring Richmond Arsenal were major suppliers of arms to the CSA. There were also about a half dozen rail lines into and out of the city. But just to the South was Petersburg which was an even greater rail hub for lines from the West and South converging then going to Richmond.