Weapons of the war
Ironclads
As the war continued the Union Army devised a plan called the Anaconda Plan or Union Blockade that was used to block out any supplies coming in or out the south. They wanted to take control the Mississippi river then force the Confederates inward and "squeeze" them from every direction. The Confederates needed a way around this problem due to the fact that the blockade gave them no ocean access so the made an Ironclad. The Ironclads were army warships that were made out of iron armor that were used to deflect cannonballs that enemy ships would fire. This was a huge advancement in the civil war. This allowed ships to last even longer in battle and easily defeat other wooden ships.
Railroads
The expansion of railroads allowed goods and people to be able to travel to places quicker than ever. In the war this was very useful for transporting injured solders, war information, and supplies needed areas. The north in addition, had more of an advantage due to their ownership of more railroad tracks than the south. ( 21,000 miles : 9,000 miles)
Minié ball
The Minié ball is an new improved bullet that is cheep and easy to mass produce. This bullet was compatible with various types or rifles used in the war. This was the most common weapon of the war. It loaded faster and fired very accurately even at longer ranges. The Minié ball caused 90% of the wars deaths due to its immense power in it shot.
Swords
Despite the advancements in guns during the civil war various swords were still widely used in the civil war. These sword shapes varied depending on its model. Most however had a shielded handle at the bottom then had a long sharp blade leading to the top.
Cannons
Cannons were of great use in the civil war. Many newly built models were more lightweight and easier to maneuver. Most were very reliable and good to use at a closer range. The makeup of cannon consist of the gun itself with a fuse on top and then two big wheels used for maneuvering the cannon.
Sources
Information |
Pictures |
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/civil-war1.htm
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/warfare-and-logistics/logistics/railroads.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/ http://www.decidedlygrim.net/sightseer/?p=118 http://www.relicman.com/weapons/zArchiveWeaponSwordArmyOfficerNCOModel1840.htm http://ebrigantticannonibec5.blogspot.com/2011/01/cannons-in-1800s.html |
http://www.history.com/interactives/civil-war-150#/home
http://users.wowway.com/~jenkins/ironclads/ironintr.htm http://www.historynet.com/civil-war-weapons |