All of the 10 strange weapons on this list were available to us andor confederate soldiers. The production ability of northern industry, coupled with massive importations of arms by both sides, led to a surplus of civil warera small arms that existed well into the second decade of the twentieth century. Model 1832 foot artillery shortsword has a 6inch 15 cm solid brass hilt, a 4inch 10 cm crossguard, and a blade usually 19 inches 48 cm in length. Articles have featured research on slavery, abolitionism, women and war, abraham lincoln, fiction, national identity, and various aspects of the northern and southern military. There were old standbys like the famous bowie knife, as well as advanced weapons like the whitworth rifle. In this section you will find information about then new weapons, such as iron clad ships, the gatling gun, observation balloons. The weapons of the civil war artillery 6pounder smoothbore this popular workhorse of the mexican war era was regarded as superseded by the union artillery, but was still heavily employed by a confederate army that could not afford to pass up any opportunities. After a brief introduction to the conflict and a map showing the states involved in the war, the book describes the tools of warfare, detailing the things the men carried and what they wore. By december of 1864, arms were no longer in short supply. Students will collect pictures of civil war weapons and research the purpose of each. From the early battles that relied on muzzleloaded weapons, to the introduction of submarines, handguns, shoulder arms, edged weapons and more, this book chronicles the history. The american civil war was the bloodiest conflict in american history with military casualties totaling over 1.
Some of the new weapon technologies used in the civil war include rifled gun barrels, the minie ball and repeating rifles. David hacker, a demographic historian, questions the commonly held number of 620,000 total deaths, making a claim for a number up to 850,000a number that far exceeds the combined total of all. This title is filled with interesting tidbits about the civil war with a focus on the weapons, gear, and uniforms of the confederates and yankees. The american civil war 18611865 occurred during an age of industrial revolution, when some of historys wackiest inventions were made. Civil war books, periodicals about the men, battles, and.
However, the simple pike still had its purposes, as edged weapons were wielded alongside mortars, cannons, and muskets. Many weapons were used in the the civil war from knives to swords along with a variety of firearms, including rifles, pistols, muskets, and repeating weapons. War is a driver for technological change, and the evolution of weapons can be seen by studying the design of the civil war weapons cataloged in this attractive fullcolor reference book. Warmans civil war weapons offers civil war enthusiasts a listing of more than 100 weapons and military vehicles, featured in 400 stunning fullcolor photos. The seventeenthcentury english civil war witnessed the evolution of personal and portable firearms. See more ideas about war, american civil war and weapons. Civil war weapons main weapons in the civil war civil. Jack coggins accurately describes how the war was fought and with what. Those familiar with twentiethcentury records often assume that official records of some kind will enable the possessor of a particular colt.
Weapons, gear, and uniforms of the civil war by eric fein. The whitworth was invented in england prior to the war, but due to its cost it did not receive much use until the confederates began using it as a sniper rifle. Warmans civil war weapons ebooks free book library. During the war, a variety of weapons were used on both sides. Civil war sword you could say its somewhat like how a conductor uses their wand to lead an orchestra.
Infantry tactics at the time of the civil war were based on the use of the smoothbore musket, a weapon of limited range and accuracy. These weapons include edged weapons such as knives, swords, and bayonets, firearms such as, rifledmuskets, breech loaders and repeating weapons, various field guns such as artillery, and new weapons such as the early grenade. Armies and soldiers genealogy general government documents guides to records in the national archives laws maps military operations personal papers and other archival collections the list below is highly selective. The book details the pistols, revolvers, carbines, rifles, longarms, artillery, swords and edged weapons used in the conflict, and reveals fascinating stories and facts about each type. Weapons of the civil war by matthew kent, north carolina state university, 20 war is a driving force behind innovation and invention, and every change or advancement in weapons technology impacts the tactics and the style of warfare utilized at the time. In january 1864, the confederate states is on the verge of losing the civil war against the united states. Men with strange accents and oddlymottled clothing approach confederate general robert e.
Instruct students to locate web sites showing pictures of civil war weaponry and the functions of each. Even now, weapons from the era are occasionally discovered. I picked this up today at a gun show where i was hunting for a little childs. Civil war weapons showcases studio photographs of the weapons used to fight the war between the states, along with illustrations and beautiful color paintings.
List of weapons in the american civil war wikipedia. The use of newer, more efficient means of killing coupled with poor hygiene and worse nutrition brought about huge. Reference books on the civil war national archives. Author earl hess talks about the different infantry formations and maneuvers used during the civil war and when generals might have used them. The american civil war, fought between the union and confederate forces, took place from 1861 to 1865. Civil war infantry weapons army combat union confederate us. Below is a description of english civil war weapons. Edged weapons artillerymen were issued the model 1832 foot artillery sword, based on the roman gladius. One more type of weapon that was commonly used was the multibarreled. War deaths in thousands for example, 620,000 died in the civil war 3. Examples of civil war rifles sharps rifle spencer rifle springfield model 1861 henry rifle of all of the civil war weapons the rifled musket was the most widely used weapon of the entire war and in fact more than 90% of the casualties during the war were caused by rifles, this figure also includes civil war pistols youve seen the scene where hundreds or thousands of soldiers.
Within months of president lincolns inauguration, seven southern states began the secession from the union and declared the confederate states of america. Advances during the conflict included a transition from muzzleloading rifles to repeating breechloaders, as well as the rise of armored, ironhulled ships. The american civil war began in 1861, lasted until 1865, and was ruinous by any standard. This countrys bloodiest war, the civil war killed more americans than all other wars from the american revolution through the korean war. As they changed, the whole method of fighting would have to change with it.
Weapons there were many changes to the armament and science of war warfare that occurred during the american civil war. Weapons of the civil war timeline timetoast timelines. This model was the first sword contracted by the u. The civil war witnessed a technological revolution in weaponry. The american civil war, fought between the union and confederate forces, took place.
Guns of the civil war will be adlers thirtyseventh book. We use automatic guns now and there wasnt even automatic guns in the civil war during the civil war reloading your gun was not easy and was a pain. Not all the weapons used during the civil war were shiny new inventions, however. This essential overview of the legendary guns and armsmakers of the civil war era includes. Profusely illustrated with more than 500 drawings executed by the author, the book is a must for every civil war enthusiast. Civil war weapons 18611865 the american civil war divided the united states clearly along a single defined line, pitting brother against brother and involving a myriad of weapon types.
Feb 25, 20 explore nkisbestks board uniforms and weapons of the civil war. Considered one of the first modern and industrial wars, the american civil war saw a wealth of new technology and weapons come onto the battlefield. Weapons of the civil war timeline created by michaelsanderson. Lee at the headquarters of the army of northern virginia.
Its no surprise creative geniuses of the day tried to come up with outsidethebox methods of killing the enemy. Small arms of the civil war american battlefield trust. The book details the pistols, revolvers, carbines, rifles, longarms, artillery, swords and edged weapons used in the conflict, and reveals fascinating stories and facts about each type of weapon and the men who used them in the civil war. Describes weapons used during the american civil war, including those used by the cavalry, the infantry, and the navy, and examines the effectiveness of each weapon on the battlefield. More than three million americans fought in the civil war and over six hundred thousand men, or two war is a driver for technological change, and the evolution of weapons can be seen by studying the design of the civil war weapons cataloged in this attractive fullcolor reference book. Hand grenades civil war soldiers were known to make juryrigged explosives using assortments of fuses and gunpowder, but the conflict also saw advances in the design and manufacture of hand grenades. While the smoothbore musket had an accurate range of 50100 yards, in 1861 it had been replaced with the rifledmusket which had the capability of striking its target from 300 to 600 yards in the hands. They were nearly impossible to sink with conventional weapons and forever changed the way ships were used in battle. Model 1832 dragoon sabre the model 1840 light artillery saber was issued to mounted artillery model 1840 nco swords were issued to infantry sergeants. The union fielded forces of army, navy and marines that were at least twice the size of the enemys comparable units. Most of the rms used by federal forces were springfields supplied by the governments springfield armory.
Civil war history is the foremost scholarly journal of the sectional conflict in the united states, focusing on social, cultural, economic, political, and military issues from antebellum america through reconstruction. The hardcover of the weapons and strategies of the civil war. The most iconic weapon uniquely important to the american civil war 18611865 was the rifled musket rm. The civil war was fought all over the united states, although mainly in the south.
This is a detailed survey, replete with photographs and diagrams, of the field artillery used by both sides in the civil war. At the same time, the civil war introduced submarines into naval warfare. What is the difference between the weapons we use now and the weapons they used in the civil war. It is generally known in the south as the war between the states and is also called the war of the rebellion the official union designation, the war of secession, and the war for southern independence. These were ships that were protected by steel or iron armor plates. Northern and southern civil war strategies and weaponry 18611865 2. Either variety could hit a man at 300 to 500 yards. The civil war involved some of the deadliest battles in warfare history. The grooving of these weapons barrels and the use of the socalled minie ball, a bullet that expanded into the rifled grooves, increased the firepowerand decreased the life expectancyof the civil war soldier.
He also includes onthescene comments by union and confederate soldiers about the equipment and camp life in general. It is estimated that black americans responding to the call to arms in the north comprised about 175,000. The infantry in the civil war comprised footsoldiers who fought primarily with small arms, and they carried the brunt of the fighting on battlefields across the united states. In 1861, confederate arsenals held a total of 160,000 small arms to support an army that would grow from 750,000 to 1,000,000 men. More than three million americans fought in the civil war and over six. The battle marked the bloodiest oneday battle of the american civil warcasualties from both sides mounted to about 23,000. The civil war weapons also included handmade crude grenades which would detonate upon impact.
Search the librarys online public access catalog to find holdings of general books on the civil war era, including military histories, bibliographies, and guides. Musick the information most sought after in ordnance records is data on the issuance of arms by serial number. In paperback for the first time, the book provides technical descriptions of the artillery bore, weight, range, etc. Appendixes provide information on surviving artillery pieces and their current locations in museums and.
Firing lines that were much more than a hundred yards apart could not inflict very much damage on each other, and so troops which were to make an attack would be massed together, elbow to elbow. Give students a vocabulary list of terms related to civil war weaponry and military strategies. The civil war was the first major war that involved ironclad ships. This device is easy to manoeuvre and can be used by one man alone. This was highlighted by a changeover in shoulderfired weapons from smoothbore firearms that had to be loaded through the muzzle each time a shot was fired to rifledbarrel firearms, some of which loaded at the breech.