Military Technology in the Civil War
The onset of the bloodiest war in American history brought on a wave of military innovation that led to the development of highly efficient and lethal weaponry. Weapons such as the Sharps rifle, the Colt pistol, the Gatling gun, ironclad warships, and the Howitzer artillery unit played crucial roles during the war, determining tactics and underscoring economic differences between the two sides. They served to usher in a new age of modern warfare, an era of unmatched death and destruction. As weapons developed and grew more brutal during the Civil War, the atrocities of later world wars were foreshadowed. However, in the end, one should always keep in mind the words of Confederate General Robert E. Lee:
“It is well that war is so terrible – lest we should grow too fond of it.”
“It is well that war is so terrible – lest we should grow too fond of it.”
Colt 1860 Army Revolver
The Colt Army Model 1860 was the most common revolver of the civil war. More than 200,000 units were produced in the United States during the civil war and reconstruction period, with the majority going to the U.S. Army. It fired a small lead ball, which meant its power paled in comparison to the rifles of its time. This, combined with the fact that it had an agonizingly slow reload time, made the Colt Army Model 1860 not the best choice for dealing death. However, its unmatched ability to be mass produced made it a technological marvel of its time. It was also able to fire an unprecedented 6 bullets in one reload, thus making up for its slow reload time. It demonstrated the industrial prowess of the United States, and foreign countries, especially Great Britain, began to take notice of the emerging giant.
Sharps Carbine Rifle
The Sharps rifle embodied the military superiority of the Northern States. Unlike the Springfield rifle, the common standby of the South, the Sharps was a breech loaded rifle, allowing rapid reload and maximum lethality. The Springfield rifle could, in capable hands, fire at most two rounds per minute, while its northern rival, the Sharps rifle, was capable of firing up to ten rounds per minute. While this did lead to much wasted ammunition, its tactical potential was undeniable. Union marksmen armed with Sharps rifles were cited as one of the key reasons as to why the North began winning the late civil war battles, such as the Battle of Gettysburg.
Ironclads
While ironclad warships may not have been invented during the civil war, they gained significant popularity during it. The widespread use of ironclads had a significant impact in many naval battles of the Civil War and heavily influenced the rest of the world as well. With Robert Fulton’s invention of the steam engine, the inevitable development of steam powered iron warships soon followed, signifying the dawn of a new age of naval warfare. For example, when the confederate states needed to break the union blockade on their ports, they turned to these ironclad, steam powered warships to do so. These new warships became such dominant forces at sea that they ended the age of wooden warships and forced the North to build ironclads of their own. A significant battle of the ironclads is the USS Monitor vs. the CSS Merrimack, in which the two behemoths fought to a stalemate, as their guns could not pierce the iron hide of the other.
Gatling Machine Gun
The Gatling gun was invented by Richard Gatling in 1861. It could fire 250-650 rounds per minute, based on how fast the gunner was able to turn a crank. This was revolutionary for its time, as previously, militiamen could only use slow loading rifles to kill the enemy. Now, they were able to use a whirling machine of death to slaughter their enemies by the hundreds. The invention of the Gatling gun marked an important step for the development of machine gun warfare, leading to countless more death and destruction in wars to come. Armies could no longer simply charge at the enemy, as they would be decimated by the immense firepower of weapons such as the Gatling gun. This was demonstrated in both the futile Pickett’s charge by the South and the horrendous Union charge at Fredericksburg.
Howitzer
The Howitzer cannon marked an important step on the path to modern field artillery. Used by both the North and the South, it provided enormous destructive power from distances up to 1700 yards. It was also highly portable, in contrast to the burdensome cannons of previous wars, meaning artillery was made easily accessible to most battles. Forts were crushed by its high power and infantry cowered in its thunderous wake. Soon after, armies the world over would begin to use mobile, long range artillery, and the warfare of the past would disappear forever.
Citations
"Gatling Gun History Civil War Pictures." Gatling Gun History Civil War Pictures. The Battery Gun Compny, 2010. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
Hickman, Kennedy. "Sharps Rifle." About.com Military History. About.com, 2013. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
McNamara, Robert. "The Historic Clash of Ironclads." About.com 19th Century History. About.com, 2013. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
"Mountain Howitzer Specifications." Mountain Howitzer Specifications. N.p., 24 June 2008. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
"The Price of Freedom: Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver." The Price of Freedom: Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver. Smithsonian National Museum of American History, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
Hickman, Kennedy. "Sharps Rifle." About.com Military History. About.com, 2013. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
McNamara, Robert. "The Historic Clash of Ironclads." About.com 19th Century History. About.com, 2013. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
"Mountain Howitzer Specifications." Mountain Howitzer Specifications. N.p., 24 June 2008. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
"The Price of Freedom: Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver." The Price of Freedom: Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver. Smithsonian National Museum of American History, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.