The american civil war 18611865 is one of the most important events in the history of the united states. Civil war uniforms some interesting uniform variations and facts from the civil war. There are many strange and interesting facts and bits of trivia which came out of the american civil war this is not an exhaustive list, rather, it is a work in progress. The main cause of death during the american civil war was not from battle wounds but rather from disease. 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. As result, if you want to learn more about the civil war, it may be hard to know where to start. Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. The more voracious civil war reader will find little new material to justify the purchase. Information and articles about civil war weapons used during the american civil war many weapons. It is about a girl named emma simpson and her and her family get attacked by the yankees. Civil war recipes a sampling of what both soldiers and civilians ate during the war. The american civil war, fought between the union and confederate forces, took place from. Aug 04, 2011 civil war weapons showcases studio photographs of the weapons used to fight the war between the states, along with illustrations and beautiful color paintings. This book has interesting facts and one of my favorite chapter civil war critters talks about interesting facts with their mascots.
Nevertheless, the war remains one of the most misunderstood events in american history. Musket, bayonets and cannons werent the only deadly weapons to haunt. Jan 06, 2017 the civil war was known by more than 25 names, including the brothers war, the war to suppress yankee arrogance, the war for the union, and the war of the rebellion. It is the site of the bloodiest battle of the civil war and one of the most visited places in the united states, but gettysburg is still plagued by misinformation. The civil war was fought all over the united states, although mainly in the south. It followed shortly after the end of the irish war of independence. The american civil war 18611865 occurred during an age of industrial revolution, when some of historys wackiest inventions were made. The civil war profoundly shaped the united states as we know it today. For example, the failed confederate sabotage plot to burn new york city with incendiary devices failed in part because most of the conspirators were unfamiliar with the greek firefueled fuses.
These donations will go directly to the national park foundation and the civil war trust, two nonprofit organizations actively involved in maintaining and preserving civil war sites and lands. He has written and edited many books on military technology and history, including. Its estimated that over 3 million soldiers fought for both the union and confederate forces during the civil war. It also gave the world a number of strange secrets and intriguing mysteries. This fight went down in history as the civil wars bloodiest confrontation. One of the important weapons during the war was the cannon. Civil war sword you could say its somewhat like how a conductor uses their wand to lead an orchestra. Jan 10, 2016 a look at some of the less commonly known facts about the civil war. Hunley, first submarine to sink a ship only six miles away from the launching point of the civil war, fort sumter, captain john crosby stood at the helm of one of the unions prized battleships. Mark oliver 8 comments the us civil war was a horrible, brutal war. Beginning after the unsuccessful attack of the city of petersburg by ulysses s. The american civil war was fought between the united states of america and the confederate states of america. Nov 01, 2017 while the american civil war only lasted a mere four years, resulting in a victory for the north, the death toll was staggering. What is the most interesting, little known fact about the.
These soldiers used different weapons in battle to. Seven days battles june 25july 1, 1862, series of american civil war battles in which a confederate army under general robert e. These statistics only apply to soldiers from both the north and the south and most of these deaths are attributed to disease, not to being killed on a. Topics covered include slavery, the impact of the civil war on civilians, major battles, a soldiers life and women in the civil war. Interesting weapons of civil war the american civil war was a civil war fought from 1861 to 1865, to determine the survival of the united states of america. The standard rifle of civil war, the model 1861 springfield gained its name from the fact that it was originally produced at the springfield armory in massachusetts. 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. The civil war was about bringing the rebellious confederate states back into the union. Here, mykael ray looks at some of the most important swords at the time of the us civil war and how they were used. The american civil war, fought between the union and confederate forces, took place from 1861 to 1865. 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. A helpful teachers resource teaching civil war for kids. Submarine stories of danger, failure, and success, in civil war submarine development.
However, the cause of the south was not a lost one. A drummer for the 49th pennsylvania regiment, charley king, died of wounds suffered at the battle of antietam when he was only years old. Onethird of the soldiers who fought for the union army were immigrants, and nearly. The union army of 2,100,000 soldiers was nearly twice the size of the confederate army of 1,064,000. 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. One exception may be the chapter dealing with the rains brothers, gabriel and george, who were the confederate explosives experts. The american civil war saw a dramatic shift in tactics from wars in the past, including the first real combative operations of such as the rifled musket. While many people who arent comic book aficionados know a lot more about the character than they did before the popular marvel films, there are a number of interesting and. Thousands of soldiers and citizens died from diseases like typhoid, tuberculosis, mumps, measles and dysentery. During the war, a variety of weapons were used on both sides. The first english civil war was the initial conflict between charles and parliament, which ended in charles defeat and agreement to make concessions to parliament. They were, in fact, made on the exact same machinery. Arms and equipment of the civil war jack coggins on. But, since there was a slight gap, its classed as two wars.
Their genius with explosives, especially the torpedo and coal bomb is an amazing story and is welltold. It was probably just an elaborate marketing stunt to sell more books. Interesting facts about the weapons of the civil war. The weapons of the american civil war the civil war, also called the war between the states, was one of the bloodiest wars in american history.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to find a staggered flip chart organizer and timeline to use during your study of the civil war. 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. Once the civil war began, about 5,000 slaves tried to escape each month. It boasted three newspapers, two institutes of higher learning. I read a book entitled, when will this cruel war be over. By the end, 625,000 people had diedmore american casualties than world war i and world war ii combined. In addition to these important areas, hughes includes a fascinating section about the civil war online. Davis, the author of several history books, takes the little stories and factoids he has collected in research and put them all here in small episodes.
Civil war facts continue to fascinate people of all ages, from kids to adults. Greek fire, the legendary weapon of the ancient world, was revived during the civil war. This is the only recording of actual veterans doing the yell. Seven obscure facts you didnt know about the civil war amid the vast literature of the civil war, its easy to lose sight of some of the stranger facts, coincidences and quirks of character. Civil war weapons the belief that the union navy would be critical in determining the outcome of the war was not misplaced. Grant which was aided by the arrival of army of the. Civil war swords and sabres history of civil war swords and sabres. The parliamentarians were capable of defeating the cavaliers. Could have had an impact on the civil war but didnt. The civil war was such a bloodbath because the technological advances were so far superior to the tactics of the infantry, that the weapons virtually obliterated. 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 fatalities in americas history.
That slavery ended in the aftermath was just icing on the cake. Mcclellans union forces and thwarted the northern attempt to capture the confederate capital of richmond, virginia. The hoosiers of the 45th illinois were pinned down in a crater that june 25, 1862, the result of a union mine used in an attempt to blow up a section of the rebel works at vicksburg. In the 1930s the smithsonian recorded confederate civil war veterans reenacting the rebel yell battle cry.
Its no surprise creative geniuses of the day tried to come up with outsidethebox methods of killing the enemy. Which is a selected area book about the history of warriors and soldiers thru the ages. List of weapons in the american civil war wikipedia. Here are some of the most interesting and iconic civil war weapons. To learn more about this campaign, visit us online at. This countrys bloodiest war, the civil war killed more americans than all other wars from the american revolution through the korean war. The american civil war, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, forced military leaders to rethink standard tactics. Here are some interesting weapons that are featured on our civil war invention page. This book is simply a collection of offbeat facts about the civil war. Civil war for kids teaching our rich history to our kids. The english civil war, fought 400 years ago, introduced new types of weapons and technology. Jul 02, 2018 the threeday battle of gettysburg was a badlyneeded win for the north. Men raised their weapons against their countrymen, and they slaughtered one another in one of the most violent and devastating conflicts in us history. Anything that you think might make a good addition to this list of strange and interesting facts about the civil war would be very welcome.
May 23, 2018 the american civil war is the most studied and written about episode in the history of the united states. Capture and battle field pickup of small arms remained an important supply source for the. The bayonets attached to the guns were an important force multiplier during the war. There were close to 100,000 manufacturing plants in the north to 18,000 in the south and a 30 to 1 superiority in arms production. Photography was invented not too long before the war. That fact, along with the special training requested by banks, suggests they may have been. A leader in military and general history book publishing. The last living american civil war veteran, albert woolson, was alive to see the beginning of the civil rights movement. The emancipation proclamation was not issued until the middle of the civil war. The two bombs killed an estimated 200,000 peoplemany. The other one was pretty much immediately after the first. All of the 10 strange weapons on this list were available to us andor confederate soldiers. A canon in a cemetery at gettysburg national military park.
Be the first to ask a question about civil war weapons. For most of the war, the union troops used 10pound. Jun 26, 2019 however, civil war battlefields were extremely dangerous places, and drummers were known to be killed or wounded. Gatling gun the first reliable, usable machine gun. The battle of naseby was the decisive battle of the 1st english civil war. Battle of marston moor is one of the important battles during the english civil war. Seven obscure facts you didnt know about the civil war. One of the many ways they aided the war effort was by working as spies. Also known as the battle of pittsburg landing, it was fought on april 67, 1862 between the confederate army of mississippi led by generals albert sidney johnston and pierre g. 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 during the civil war. 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. Around 9 million people lived in the southern states at. These weapons include edged weapons, like knifes and swords. Small arms and ammunition essential civil war curriculum.
There were around 210,000 soldiers killed in action and 625,000 total dead. Colt revolvers and springfield muskets were the civil war s most popular firearms, but the era also gave rise to some of the earliest machine guns. Despite the title, these strange and fascinating facts may interest civil war buffs, and not many others. You learn alot of interesting facts about the civil war. Well written with a timeline, maps, step by step civil war projects, as well as photos.
The diamond trade had negative consequence when it was used by the people who lived in a country with conflict to fund the war. Even so, they still had a vital place in some situations. Aug 31, 2018 musket, bayonets and cannons werent the only deadly weapons to haunt the battlefields of the 1860s. In fact, when they were bombarded with ketchum grenades during.
Here are 25 interesting facts about american civil war. An illustrated history of the development of the worlds military firearms during the 19th century. American civil war weapons refers to weapons during the american civil war by both the union and confederate soldiers during the early years of 18611865. The irish civil war took place from 28th june 1922 until 24th may 1923. Essay about civil war weapons and atrillery 2943 words. Tweetemail tweetemail studying the american civil war can be fascinating.
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. Please feel free to add your own facts in the comment section. Interesting american civil war facts strange and interesting facts from the civil war. Rifles were by far the wars deadliest weapons, but deadlier still was disease.
Feb 08, 2019 explore 10 surprising civil war facts, brought to you by the authors of the sevenday scholar. An immediate study of the southern coast was undertaken and included the largest cannons in the military that guarded the american shores with its numerous, well situated forts. Civil war weapons main weapons in the civil war civil war. The north had 70 percent of the rail networks and a small but efficient army and navy. The battle of shiloh was one of the most significant early battles of the american civil war. According to the book women during the civil war, women spies often gathered information about the enemy. African america men were not permitted to join the union army until 1863. The minie ball emerged as the most deadly bullet of the war.
In 1861, as armies massed, men once protected from contagion by isolation marched shoulder to. His latest book, small arms at gettysburg, is scheduled for a fall 2007 release. Most historians believe that more than 620,000 americans lost their lives during the civil war, though some have argued the number may be higher. Know more about it through these 10 interesting facts. Here are ten basic facts you need to know about americas defining struggle.
The consequences of the civil war can still be felt today, although it was fought 150 years ago. In 1861, as armies massed, men once protected from contagion by isolation marched shoulder to shoulder and slept side. Feb 15, 2017 any talk of weapons that won world war ii begins and ends with the atomic bombs dropped on hiroshima and nagasaki in august of 1945. Although the exact number isnt known, it is believed that hundreds of women served as spies during the civil war.
The model 1861 rifle musket was the classic arm of the civil war infantry soldier. The american civil war was fought from april 12th, 1861 to may 9th, 1865 between the confederate states and the union. Civil war weapons showcases studio photographs of the weapons used to fight the war between the states, along with illustrations and beautiful color paintings. In fact, according to the library of congress civil war desk reference, over 70,000 books have been published on various aspects of the civil war and more are being published every day. One of the most interesting facts about civil war is that this was the first war to be extensively documented with photographs. Over 600,000 people died on the battlefield, and more perished from. Perhaps its the photographs of the soldiers that draw us in and make us want to learn more about civil war.
Income tax history income taxes and the irs both originated in the civil war. The diamonds are called as blood diamonds after the civil wars in various countries such as sierra leone, ivory coast, and. The roles of women in the civil war varied greatly. Most believe it was about ending slavery, but thats a myth. Civil war soldiers were known to make juryrigged explosives using. Thirty percent of all southern white males between the ages of 18 and 40 died in the war.
Interesting statistics the city council of chico, california, once issued an edict banning nuclear weapons from the city. Civil war soldiers were known to make juryrigged explosives using assortments of fuses and. Many weapons were used in the the civil warfrom knives to swords along with a variety of firearms, including rifles, pistols, muskets, and repeating weapons. Its four years of combat and chaos killed 750,000 soldiers, abolished slavery, and shaped the fate of the entire nation. For any history buff or oddfact enthusiast, this is a fun read. The english civil war wasnt just one conflict, but actually three separate wars that happened between 1642 and 1651. The town of gettysburg, population 2,000, was a town on the rise. Repeating rifles were mostly available to union troops and gave them a distinct advantage over the south near the end of the war. Before the civil war, approximately 5,000 slaves tried to escape each year. During the war a variety of weapons were used on either sides. Apr 05, 2014 here are 25 interesting facts about american civil war.
In this lesson, learn about how both sides used old as well as new weapons to try to win the war, and. Grooved barrel weapons, minie balls and other new armaments produced such an alarming. War is a driver for technological change, and the evolution of wea. 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. A compilation of important data and other interesting and valuable matter relating to the war between the states, 18611865 new orleans, c1900, ed. These weapons, more accurate than the smoothbore weapons. By the 1860s swords played a lesser role in war than they did in earlier periods. As always, please feel free to leave comments and suggestions below. I recommend this book if you like to know more about the civil war. Civil war weapons main weapons in the civil war civil. The battle of petersburg aka siege of petersburg was a series of battles around the cities of richmond and petersburg, virginia, fought from june 15, 1864, to april 2, 1865, during the civil war.
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