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Post by Aurelia on Sept 12, 2019 12:31:14 GMT -5
The American Civil War (and the Victorian Era in general) was known for it's many scientific and technological innovations - many of these advancements created a distinctive departure from wars of the past. The battle fields of the ACW almost became a sort of proving ground for new weapons and tactics that would soon become standard for modern warfare.
Just a few examples of these innovations I can think of would be: the ironclads; use of railroads for moving men and supplies; some of the first breech-loading rifles and cartridges (though perhaps too few and introduced too late to make a distinct impact); a shift in tactics to favor massing firepower ...
What do you think were the most important innovations of the American Civil War? Were there any that you view as responsible for creating the extremely high casualties rates seen in certain battles?
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generalpl4gue
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Post by generalpl4gue on Sept 12, 2019 14:06:40 GMT -5
The American Civil War (and the Victorian Era in general) was known for it's many scientific and technological innovations - many of these advancements created a distinctive departure from wars of the past. The battle fields of the ACW almost became a sort of proving ground for new weapons and tactics that would soon become standard for modern warfare. Just a few examples of these innovations I can think of would be: the ironclads; use of railroads for moving men and supplies; some of the first breech-loading rifles and cartridges (though perhaps too few and introduced too late to make a distinct impact); a shift in tactics to favor massing firepower ... What do you think were the most important innovations of the American Civil War? Were there any that you view as responsible for creating the extremely high casualties rates seen in certain battles? I'm a naval enthusiast, so I will say that the most important contribution to war tech was in shipbuilding industry. The modern use of Dreadnoughts was stablished. Using metal sheets and other fortifications, Dixies threw over the first modern ships that could be thought of as dreadnoughts. made with USS Merrymack wrecks. With crude firepower, many turrets, and large size, the dreadnoughts reigned over the seas until World War I. CSS Virginia wrecked the wooden union ships in Hampton Roads battle. About CSS Virginia, the first Dreadnought, said Stephen Mallory, Confederate Naval Secretary:
The behavior of the men and officers of the endowment […] reflects an unquenchable honor towards themselves and the navy. The report will read with keen interest, and its details will not fail to arouse the ardor and tempt the arm of our airy sailors. It will be remembered that Virginia was a shipbuilding innovation, quite unlike any other boat that has sailed; their guns were also innovations; that his driving force and docility to the helm were never seen; that his crew and his officers, the nervousness and professional ability of his captain Buchanan and his underlings, have, in all sorts of difficulties, won the most admirable victory in the annals of naval history.
Respondig to it, Union launched the USS Monitor, with simillar armor and gunnery.
Watching this silent revolution in shipbuilding, Cpt. John A. Dahlgren said that "Now the iron kingdom comes, and the armored boats will take the place of the wooden ones".
CSS Virgínia
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Post by Windischer on Sept 12, 2019 14:21:33 GMT -5
I think they started using trenches as a means of cover in the Civil War. That increases casualties for the attackers.
I also heard they didn't use bayonets as much as in Europe, but I'm not sure how true that is? Bayonet charges actually reduce casualties.
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generalpl4gue
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Post by generalpl4gue on Sept 12, 2019 14:28:32 GMT -5
WOW, I almost forgot.
The first operational submarine used in a war was CSS Hunley, that wrecked USS Housatonic. So, the first operational military submarine was created annd used in ACW, and the first sinking by submarine atack ocurred as well, in february 1864.
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generalpl4gue
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I'm about to cross the Rubicon. But i don't have an only legion!
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Post by generalpl4gue on Sept 12, 2019 14:34:47 GMT -5
I think they started using trenches as a means of cover in the Civil War. That increases casualties for the attackers. I also heard they didn't use bayonets as much as in Europe, but I'm not sure how true that is? Bayonet charges actually reduce casualties. Yes, Widischer. The weapons were better during the ACW, the repeating rifles revolutionized the way that battles ocurred. |
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Post by Aurelia on Sept 13, 2019 8:33:40 GMT -5
I always was impressed by how Ericsson, who designed the Monitor, had something like 40 new, patented inventions just put into that one ship alone. The rotating gun turrets seemed impressive... I think they were the first of their kind. Apparently he also had a heating and ventilation system that the Confederate ship lacked... even at that is would reach over 130 degrees under the deck (the metal plating tended to concentrate the heat inside).
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Post by Aurelia on Sept 13, 2019 8:56:24 GMT -5
I think they started using trenches as a means of cover in the Civil War. That increases casualties for the attackers. I also heard they didn't use bayonets as much as in Europe, but I'm not sure how true that is? Bayonet charges actually reduce casualties. From what I've read, bayonets were issued, but rarely used in battle. They became more of an all purpose tool (used for breaking up hardtack, cutting food, etc) than a weapon. The range of the rifles the average soldier carried usually mowed down the enemy before they could get close enough to use bayonets. Though one of my favorite officers did famously order a bayonet charge in one of those epic, tide-turning moments of the war - it was an outdated tactic... and he probably considered it because he was a rhetoric professor following his Hardee's tactics booklet to the letter. No one saw it coming... |
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Post by Windischer on Sept 13, 2019 12:38:27 GMT -5
The chaps from Maine at Gettysburg? Marvelous action. I don't think it was completely outdated by then. Bayonet charges, when deployed at the right moment, clear the field. Few units have the guts to withstand one. The bayonet is foremost a psychological weapon. Two lines of men standing oposite of each other, blasting salvos until one backs off or noone's standing anymore will result many more deaths than rushing in with some cold steel after the first exchange of salvos. |
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Post by Aurelia on Sept 13, 2019 13:44:29 GMT -5
The chaps from Maine at Gettysburg? Marvelous action. I don't think it was completely outdated by then. Bayonet charges, when deployed at the right moment, clear the field. Few units have the guts to withstand one. The bayonet is foremost a psychological weapon. Two lines of men standing oposite of each other, blasting salvos until one backs off or noone's standing anymore will result many more deaths than rushing in with some cold steel after the first exchange of salvos. In terms of the psychological impact of the bayonet, it definitely was a means of routing the enemy... though just based on the percentages of bayonet wounds (out of 250,000 Union wounded, there were only 922 who were bayoneted ... less that 1%) it seems like bayonets didn't see loads of action in the ACW. In the Mexican War, they were used quite a bit... but that was when they were using smooth bore muskets. Americans didn't adapt quickly enough to the technology jump - they were using Napoleonic tactics and their experiences in the Mexican War. By having such a advantage in fire power, they were not reaching the enemy intact (but they were also using thin, linear formations)... I think bayonets were only getting used in extreme circumstances due to the inability to keep up with how rifling changed fighting style. I do love those Chamberlain brothers (Joshua receiving most of the attention, but there were 3 brothers who were all very notable soldiers)... but his charge really was an act of desperation. Having been told to hold his position "to the last", he was running out of ammunition. The success of that wheeling right charge was partially because his B company (thought all dead, but having taken cover down the hill) came in and made the Confederates think they were surrounded. |
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Tomatolake
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Post by Tomatolake on Sept 13, 2019 19:15:13 GMT -5
Definitely the Ironclad. At a stroke they made all the worlds navy's obsolete
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