Evolution of Civil War Weapons

A detailed Summary of Evolution of Civil War Weapons

The American Civil War brought many changes, especially in weaponry. On the battle field, officers sought to improve warfare strategies. At home, politicians attempted to reshape the political view of the war. Finally, in the industries, engineers worked to improve the performance and cost of the weapons they wished to sell to their respective government. Weapon changes occurred in two basic areas: firearms (also known as small arms, which are anything that can be carried by a soldier), and cannons/projectiles (artillery). Sword and bayonets, though were important, saw little action in the war. The relative importance of sound weaponry resulted in an accelerated evolution of weapons that sparked the dawn of modern warfare.

Firearms were perhaps the most basic unit of weaponry used in the civil war. There are five general categories of firearms used in the civil war: musket, smoothbore musket, musket rifle, carbine, and the revolver. Loading and firing these weapons, one of the most important lessons a soldier could learn, consisted of many steps: prepare to load, load, handle, tear and charge cartridge, draw rammer and ram cartridge, prime, shoulder arms, and fire. These firearms were usually

This original columbiad was reproduced again in 1844 and 1858, which eliminated the chamber in the breech and strengthened the gun. In 1861, the U.S. Ordnance Department used Thomas Rodman's innovative casting method to prevent cracks from forming. Alas, compared to the other artillery, columbiad saw very little action and became obsolete due to newly developed weapons that were more effective.

As the warfare became more modern during the Civil War, the need for ancient weapons such as the sword and bayonet shifted down in relative importance. The bayonet, a standard piece of equipment used during a charge, was rarely effective compared to firearms. As a result, swords and bayonets of this era became symbols of power and was embraced by the troops to an extent that far outweighed it practical value.

The American Civil War has been called the last of the ancient wars and the first of the modern wars (Ripley, 23). It was a war that introduced the first metallic rifle and pistol cartridges, the first repeating rifles and carbines, the first ironclad ships, and many other inventions that derived change in warfare. Despite these innovations, the military still relied on the old tried and trusted means of smoothbore muskets, paper cartridges, and troops marching in military precision across the battlefield towards the enemy. Yet, more innovation and experimentation occurred during the Civil War then during all previous wars combined. The Civil War era inventors and their inventions changed the face of war forever. Many of the basic principles developed or theorized during this era are still present today, thus, the Civil War weaponry evolution was truly the beginning of modern-day warfare.

Cannons can be divided into several categories according to their design, weight, barrel length, maximum effective elevation and range, and by the type of projectiles it fired. Although there is much deviation in these variables, they can be grouped into three general categories: guns and howitzers, mortars, and columbiads.

Mortars were stubby weapons which fired heavy projectiles in a high arc. When the shell exploded, it would send fragments weighing up to twenty pounds with tremendous velocity onto the

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Category: History