Essay On How Technology Changed The Civil War

Source #1: ("Invention and Technology" #).

Source #2: (Mountjoy #).

Source #3: ("Railroads" #).

Source #4: (Bates)

Source #5: ("Railroad in Civil").

Source #6: (Orr #).

Source #7: (McNamara)

Source #8 (Hochfelder).

How Technology Changed the Civil War

William VanderLoop

During the Civil War, thousands of miles of railroad tracks were laid out, and millions of messages were sent by telegraph. Throughout the Civil War, many different weapons and tactics were used. And many other ideas were changed. Although, nothing was as important as the technology used during the war. The technology used during the war completely changed how it was fought like the railroad and the telegraph.

After and even before the Civil War, the railroad system

Unsurprisingly, it was very useful during the civil war because of its ability to transport resources of use in a very short time compared to traveling on foot. Since the railroads were so impactful, the North and South had to find ways to counteract the use of rails. One of which was when bridges were destroyed or left extremely damaged so when a train went over, it would fall (Orr 21). Railroads shut down and left many troops without the resources to fight in the war. Another method of preventing trains from using the railroads was when troops left heavy and large tracks in the hope of damaging and possibly derailing an enemy train (Bates). This left a less devastating effect on the troops that destroyed their bridges. Since the railroads were fueling the goods for troops on both sides, camps were created every few miles on the track to stop and try to prevent the tracks from being damaged ("Railroads" 29). This would help them prevent the trains and the supplies in them from being damaged. Due to having to protect all of the railroads, a large portion of the army was just railroad-related ("Railroads" 28). This would use a large number of soldiers that could be

The telegraph was used for calling in troops ("Invention and Technology" 21). Calling in for troops let both sides be a little less worried about losing troops because they could call them in when needed. Abraham Lincoln made a command center using the telegraph “Lincoln took up the habit he followed for the rest of the war: he would often visit the War Department telegraph office, spending long hours sending dispatches and waiting for responses” (McNamara). The command center made it easy for lots of information to be shared fast and efficiently. The fast and easy communication of information allowed for real-time strategy on the battlefield. Telegraph messages were sent to generals throughout the war (Hochfelder). Soldiers could receive direct orders from generals which help lead to better decisions during the war. Messages were not only sent to generals. Sometimes really important messages were sent directly to Abraham Lincoln himself (McNamara). Lincoln sent many different direct orders. Troops on both sides were dependent on the telegraph, they were so dependent they made a mobile telegraph that could be set up practically anywhere (Mountjoy 23). This was used for the front lines and was very good for communication with generals. The telegraph was used so much throughout the war the materials used for them were depleting (Mountjoy