Technology and Development - American Civil War

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Minie balls were battlefield revolution
When it comes to weaponry, the Civil War is best described as the first modern war. Unfortunately, for the troops, the conflict was fought with tactics dating back to Napoleon Bonaparte. The era's fighting methods didn't take into account the small arms evolution, which began with a twist imparted by spiral rifling grooves cut into the bore. For 200 years, the smoothbore musket - fast to load, but inaccurate - had been the standard weapon for soldiers. Their range was 100-200 yards, but in reality they were only reliable at 40 yards. "You might fire at a man all day from a distance of 125 yards without him ever finding it out,' Gen. U.S. Grant wrote.
by murfreesboropost :: 2007-01-15 :: Technology and Development - American Civil War

How telegram technology helped win the Civil war
After his victory at Vicksburg Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's thoughts turned toward Mobile, Ala. But then he got a telegram from Lincoln. Tom Wheeler quotes from that telegram in his book, "Mr. Lincoln's T-Mails." - "I see by a dispatch of yours that you incline quite strongly towards an expedition against Mobile. ... This would appear tempting to me also, were it not that in view of recent events in Mexico..." Wheeler contrasts Lincoln's use of the telegraph with Jefferson Davis' "The Union leader had little military experience and was cursed with lesser military leaders... Lincoln grew into his relationship with his generals and the telegraph played a major part in that growth."
by seacoastonline :: 2006-11-06 :: Technology and Development - American Civil War

Breaking The Confederate Code (137 Years Too Late)
Dr. Kent D. Boklan: In the spring of 1999, I received a catalogue for a sale of Fine Books and Manuscripts, lot 79 was: "A letter of intelligence, partially written in confederate code. The first 11 lines of this document are in undeciphered code, but the last paragraph provides pertinent information regarding the Union army and its movements." I visited Sotheby's and expressed my desire to break the code. I realized that accurately transcribing the very deliberate penmanship of the cipher clerk was going to be a challenge. Not only had a few letters faded but there was a very unusual looking character that resembled a spermatozoon.
by rz1 :: 2006-06-06 :: Technology and Development - American Civil War

Gunpowder : Cave-dwellers had big impact on Civil War
Greenbrier County hole in the ground had something vital for the Confederate prosecution of the Civil War. Locals knew as far back as the American Revolution that Organ Cave had lots of nitrates in the soil. And nitrates in the soil mean saltpeter, and saltpeter means gunpowder. Owner of the 45-miles of underground passages that make up Organ Cave, said a clandestine saltpeter mining process went on inside the cave from 1861 until 1863, when pressure from Union forces shut the operation down. Legend holds that about 1,100 Confederate soldiers camped inside the massive cave system day and night, producing saltpeter for gunpowder that was shipped to Atlanta.
by sundaygazettemail :: 2006-05-15 :: Technology and Development - American Civil War

Henry rifle is currently the best-known Civil War-era rifle
Of the cartridge repeating rifles used in the American Civil War the best known is the colorful Henry with its yellow receiver. Total production of Henry rifles was tiny compared to quantity Spencer rifles and carbines. Total production of Henry rifles was only about 12,000. Some states purchased Henry Rifles for their militias. The Henry Rifle had another advantage that unlike a muzzle loader it could be rapidly loaded by a soldier crouched down behind something, or even lying down. To the Confederate Soldier the Spencer and Henry were both known as "the damn Yankee rifle you loaded on Sunday and shot all week."
by carthagepress :: 2006-05-08 :: Technology and Development - American Civil War

Dog tags created during Civil War
When did the United States armed services start issuing "dog tags?" Dog tags were first created by Civil War soldiers when heavy casualties and grim battle conditions made making body identification difficult. Until then, soldiers often printed their name and address on a handkerchief or a piece of paper and pinned it on their uniform before going into battle.
by mailtribune :: 2006-04-08 :: Technology and Development - American Civil War

American Civil War in the News is a edited review of American Civil War related news and articles, providing collection of hand-picked 1861-1865 era history.