The Civil War And The First Modern War - 1632 Words

The Civil War clash is often remembered for the carnage caused when army tactics failed to load rifles and muskets, and the tantalizing scene of lost and submerged warships. The revolutionary introduction of ships and railroad networks were just developing at the same time. Day after day, more cadavers lay under the scorching sun than any other life time. People fought everything they had, until nothing but the remains were left. From that era onwards, technology evolved, which provided us with abundant quantities of everything. Historians mostly agreed that the Civil War was the first modern war; the first in which technological strength played a huge role. However, technology also differentiated the two sides in war, with different†¦show more content†¦Weaponry plays a very large role in the war. While the soldiers were on their last legs, the nation decided to set foot and make a decision to improve the industry. The most common problem faced by all soldiers was the load ing of guns. Soldiers typically carried guns that held one bullet at a time. A soldier who was trying to aim and shoot the target would have to stand much closer, as the weapon’s range was only about 80 yards. Hence, battles were fought relatively at a closer range. Rifles, were used for long range shooting, and were very accurate as the bullet could travel up to 1,000 yards. However, it was impossible to use the guns in battle since it took a very long time to load. Fed up with the trouble caused with the guns, Captain Henri Gustave Delvigne and Claude Etienee Minnie developed a cone shaped lead bullet called, â€Å"Minnie Balls†. When fired, the bullet expanded, and the lead would grip tightly against spiraled rifling groves. This would take a spin on the elongated bullet, leaving the muzzle at a higher velocity and following an accurate trajectory causing it to travel three-four times farther. The innovation of the rifle and Minnie Ball were just a few of the hund reds of weaponry inventions. Weapons fell under three categories—small arms, artillery, and edged weapons. These were developed after the society wanted to see a difference in the nation. They were placed under these categories based on their caliber (size of the