Muuskets During The American Civil War
During the American Civil War many advancements in weapon technology were made. However many older stratagems and newer weapons were still being used by both the Union and Confederate forces. This combination of more accurate, faster-firing weapons and outdated tactics would result in the highest amount of casualties of any American war. The Battle of Gettysburg alone, for example, resulted in approximately 50,000 casualties. The improvements of military and civilian technology also aided both sides of the war, from telegrams and railroads to artillery and rifles.
The most widely used personal firearm of the American Civil War were rifled muskets. However many Revolutionary period muskets were still in use, these muskets were very inaccurate …show more content…
The American Civil War was the first war in which the participants communicated by telegraph, transported supplies and troops by train, and used ironclad warships, submarines, and mines in naval combat. A famous technology, the Minié ball came to prominence for being very easy to put down the barrel of a long rifled gun. The Minié ball was designed to expand while traveling along the rifle barrel, it increased muzzle velocity as well as providing spin to the bullet, expanding its accuracy and range. New personal weapons such as repeating rifles and hand grenades were also first used during the war. By 1863, repeating rifles, or weapons that could fire more than one bullet before needing a reload were invented. The most famous of these guns, the Spencer carbine, could fire seven shots in 30 seconds. Naval warfare was still an important aspect of the Civil War. Ironclads, a relatively new design of warship were used by both sides during the war, this was the first time that ironclads were seen in action. Confederate sailors tried to sink these ironclads with submarines. The first of these, the Confederate C.S.S. Hunley, was a metal tube that was 40 feet long, 4 feet across, and held an 8-man crew. Naval mines were also used by the Confederates to sink Union
The most widely used personal firearm of the American Civil War were rifled muskets. However many Revolutionary period muskets were still in use, these muskets were very inaccurate …show more content…
The American Civil War was the first war in which the participants communicated by telegraph, transported supplies and troops by train, and used ironclad warships, submarines, and mines in naval combat. A famous technology, the Minié ball came to prominence for being very easy to put down the barrel of a long rifled gun. The Minié ball was designed to expand while traveling along the rifle barrel, it increased muzzle velocity as well as providing spin to the bullet, expanding its accuracy and range. New personal weapons such as repeating rifles and hand grenades were also first used during the war. By 1863, repeating rifles, or weapons that could fire more than one bullet before needing a reload were invented. The most famous of these guns, the Spencer carbine, could fire seven shots in 30 seconds. Naval warfare was still an important aspect of the Civil War. Ironclads, a relatively new design of warship were used by both sides during the war, this was the first time that ironclads were seen in action. Confederate sailors tried to sink these ironclads with submarines. The first of these, the Confederate C.S.S. Hunley, was a metal tube that was 40 feet long, 4 feet across, and held an 8-man crew. Naval mines were also used by the Confederates to sink Union