Civil War Weapons
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Civil War Weapons
description
Civil War Weapons. Preface. Civil war means “ war between organized groups within a single nation state ” American Civil War broke out in late December, 1860, at Fort Sumter in South Carolina The United States suffered more casualties during this war than any other before or since. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Civil War Weapons
Civil War Weapons
Civil war means “war between organized groups within a single nation state”
American Civil War broke out in late December, 1860, at Fort Sumter in South Carolina
The United States suffered more casualties during this war than any other before or since
Preface
Developed in 1849 with the minie ball Muzzle loading rifle (load the gun through
the barrel) Fired by percussion lock (hammer hits a fuse) Weighed about 11 Lbs Accurate up to about 600 yards, and can
penetrate 4” of soft pine at 1000 yards
Minie Rifles
Springfield Model 1861
Loading action for Minie rifle
Unfortunate victim of Minie rifle
Used during sieges to weaken bombardments from afar
Designed to fire explosive shells over walls of fortification to destroy buildings within
Had effective ranges between 800 and 900 yards
Many could fall within 40 yards of the target
Mortars and Siege Artillery
Federal battery with 13-inch seacoast mortars, Model 1861, at siege of Yorktown
Breech at Fort Pulaski
Rail-mounted Federal mortar
Model 1841 during siege of Charleston Harbor
Steam-propelled warship protected by steel or iron plating
First ironclad battle was between the CSS Virginia and the USS Monitor in March, 1862
Had the ability to ram other ships The Monitor had a rotating cannon for 360
degree scope
Ironclads
CSS Virginia
Lever-action (reloaded with a lever near the trigger), breechloading (rounds loaded in the back) rifle
Firing rate of 20 rounds per minute, 1000% faster than most other rifles
Manufactured in the north for the Union Army
Most powerful cartridge of any repeating rifle
Spencer Carbine / Repeating Rifle
Muzzle loading type of artillery The 20-pound-class size was the largest gun
used during the war The barrel alone could weigh over 1800 Lbs, but
the 10-pound class size was used more Could penetrate 6 inches of brick at 3500
yards away Patented in 1861
Parrott Rifles
“…equal to the united blows of 200 sledge hammers weighing 100 pounds each, falling from a height of ten feet and acting upon a drill ten inches (254 mm) in diameter
200-pound Parrott rifle, Morris Island, SC
3-inch Parrott rifle
