From the April 7th Duquesne Duke student newspaper.
No fighting occurred in the city, but Pittsburgh became a major producer of arms and war materials as well as an importing shipping route due to river and railroad transportation.
The Fort Pitt Foundry produced the Union's largest cannons as well as iron plate for ironclads.
Pittsburgh was also the only major Union city with a direct river route to the Mississippi (what about Cincinnati?)
Duquesne archivist Tom White said, "Most of the city, most of the industrial base and every industry gearing for war. The city was very involved in the war effort just like it was later in World War I and World War II.
The site of Duquesne University was also important. The Administration Building is on the site of a former Union hospital which took care of both Union and Confederate soldiers who could not return South for care.
Pittsburgh also was a center for medical care because of river access.
During the war, 29,430 Allegheny County men served in the Union Army and Navy. Of those, 4,000 were killed in action, died from wounds or disease.
More to Come. --Old Secesh
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