Advancements And Techniques Used In The US Civil War

The U.S. Civil War brought about the phasing out of older weapon systems and the introduction of many newer weapons systems in addition techniques. Because of this reason, the U.S. Civil War is "The Last Ancient War and The First Modern War". When individuals picture of the U.S. Civil War, most envision a battlefield that is full of cannons and howitzers. The main reason for this the short time period leading up to and during the U.S. Civil War, there where tremendous advancements in the weapons, ammunitions and techniques the Armies of the Civil War used. During the next few paragraphs, I highlight key advancements and differences in these technologies and techniques used in the Civil War.

Prior to the Civil War cannons and howitzers,

The most popular version of Napoleon Cannon was the 12 pounder. During this era designers or inventor’s name, year of major advancement in the weapon, the weight of the charge the weapon could safely fire was how people referred to most artillery weapons. The Napoleon Cannon was the cannon of choice because its safety, reliable and having devastating effects on enemy soldiers at close range. The Napoleon Cannon remained in service by both the Union and Confederate Armies throughout the war, although it began received modifications shortly after the war had begun. Modifications to the Napoleon Cannon included reinforcing the tube and adding rifling. The new rifling on the Napoleon Cannons used a design based on the Parrott Rifle. Although the Parrott Rifle initially received, acceptation as a better artillery piece because of its increased range and accuracy of the modified Napoleon Cannons, in addition to numerous ammunition choices, and its ability to fire much larger charges 10-30lbs. After the Parrots first few years of service however, the Parrott began to be dreaded on by artillerymen, due to it being unreliable and unsafe because of it short tube life. In 1862 under guidance from Brigadier

One of the first was the introduction of the first U.S. Field Artillery manual “The Artillerist” written in 1863 by General John Gibbon. With the introduction, “the Artillerist” brought modern Artillery formations and more guided rules concerning how the Field Artillery would support the Infantry. A great improvement over the Field Artillery serving as an extension of the Infantry, as it had previously. Toward the middle of the Civil War came advancements in foundering and casting techniques. These new techniques were the work of Thomas J. Rodeman, with these new advancements the Union Army was able the produce cannon tubes with bores ranging from 3-inchs up to 20-inchs in diameter. These feats accomplished by using pouring molten metal over a hollow cast, allowing the newly cast tubes to cool from all side, opposed to cooling just from the outside. The larger cannons never seeing much service pushed the capabilities of howitzers loads and range. Other advancements came under guidance from Confederate Major John Pelham who garnered attention for his “Flying Batteries”. Major Pelham armed only with a few howitzers, moved the howitzers between rounds using cover from terrain to give the appearance that his force was much larger than it was. In addition to making counter battery fire near impossible, because of the constant movement. Along with new techniques in the