Military Technology -- Civil War Leadership
What technological advances were used during the United States Civil War?
There were many technological innovations that were devised and used during the Civil War by both sides, and they are important aspects when researching the reasons that the Union Army defeated the Confederate Army. An article in Scientific American ("How Technology Shaped the Civil War") reports that first of all, the way the war was reported in the media was a major technological advance for the nation. In the 1830s and 1840s newspapers became "…tools of mass communication in the 1830s" because the rotary press was invented, and steam power was invented which made producing newspapers far quicker, cheaper to buy, and more efficient (Marten, 2012). Why would newspapers impact a war? Disseminating updated information to both sides of the war was in itself a big advance. Knowledge of strategies and weaponry was important to both sides.
"Hundreds of newspaper reporters traveled with armies from Virginia to Mississippi," which meant that families back home could find out about casualties, could be up-to-date on where the battles were fought, and what kinds of injuries were being sustained by the troops. Because of communication advances, the many men that were maimed by "improved arsenals of both armies" made an impression on certain entrepreneurs and they were motivated to innovate "new and improved prosthetic limbs" (Marten, p. 2). Granted, that is not a technological advance directly impacting the battlegrounds, but it is credited as an advance in technology that came about due to the war.
Also, the telegraph became an important tool for gathering and spreading news in America, and the "gradual knitting together of the nation by railroads…further hastened communication" (Marten, p. 1). The war also saw the use of "…armored ships…submerged warships and reconnaissance balloons" (Marten, p. 1).
Key strategic military advances that impacted the Civil War
In the History website the author delves specifically into weapons used in the Civil War. Prior to the Civil War soldiers had muskets that could only hold a single bullet at a time with an effective range of about 80 yards. But newer, more advanced riles had been invented that used bullets that traveled farther and were "more accurate"; moreover, the rifles with "Minie" bullets (named after the French army officer who invented them) were "quick and easy to load" albeit the soldier still had to load one bullet at a time (History, p. 2).
Better still than the Minie technology was the "repeater" rifle, known as the Spencer carbine, which could "…fire seven shots in 30 seconds" (History, p. 2). This was an enormously important advancement in warfare, but unfortunately for the Confederate Army, this carbine was only available to the Union Army troops because "…southern factories had neither the equipment nor the know-how to produce them" (History, p. 2).
Another weapon that was an innovation during the Civil War was the hydrogen-filled passenger balloons; a spy for the Union army could view the field a long way away and send reconnaissance information back to the commanders (History, p. 2). How did reconnaissance data get sent miles away to a general in the Union army? The telegraph was in full operation at that time and information was relayed that way.
Sea-going vessels -- known as "ironclad" warships -- moved freely up and down the east coast and effectively blocked many confederate ports. Indeed, these were an innovation uniquely linked to the Civil War, and instead of the old war at sea (with wooden ships and sails), these were vessels that had guns on board and were nearly impervious to musket fire (History, p. 2).
Steam-powered ocean-going vessels helped bring about what authors Millett and Masiowski call "the most important aspect of the sea war -- the blockade" (Millett, et al., 2012). The development of steam vessels was a major technological breakthrough during the Civil War; and in 1862, the U.S. Congress added the "Bureau of Steam Engineering" to the naval bureaus (Millett). New power plants were developed to design better steam-powered ships, and the fact that the Union navy was able to use those ships to blockade Confederate naval facilities at "Norfolk, Pensacola, and New Orleans," gave it a huge advantage, Millett explains.
That said, the South did utilize "…an array of technological innovations" to protect their harbors,...
In April of 1893, petty officers were reclassified and the ranking of chief petty officer was established. Until 1949 ranking badges were worn on the right or left sleeve, depending on whether the person in question was on the starboard or port watch. Since February 1948, all unique marks have been worn on the left sleeve between the shoulder and elbow (Navy Uniform History, 2010). The command at sea pin
Military History What is Military History? Military history is the oldest discipline within the broader discipline of history as it had a special pragmatic value for previous societies. The study of military history could make or break a society since civilization so heavily dependent upon military power. Today it is still one of the most popular subjects in history but most of the interest comes from outside academia. One of the most
The Past Present and Future of Warfare Impact of Technology and Strategy Introduction Military tactics and strategies are essential in warfare. Without the right tactics and strategy, it is impossible to win wars. By definition, military strategy is the planning, coordination, and implementation of military operations to meet some set objectives. Tactics can be defined as short-term military strategies in the field of operations in terms of the equipment to use, how
These elements of Black's argument represent the greatest contribution to military historiography in the book, because they highlight previously ignored aspects of military history that offer important insights into the development of military organization and practice. In many ways, downplaying the importance of technology leads naturally to a greater appreciation of the importance of political tasking, because it reveals that military history, contrary to popular assumptions regarding the single-mindedness
submerge him or herself in protecting the country as their job, they should also fully understand the interpretation of war and conflict as well. Due to this reason, the grasp on the professional education is very important. A person should be able to understand why the conflict and the war have ultimately taken place as well. It has been noted that the composition of this sort of education plays
Military The colonists' most revered military institution was the militia, a model inherited from their forebears in England. The philosophical underpinnings of the militia model are easy to understand: "fear of a standing army," (Millet and Maslowski 1). A standing army can turn against its people, staging what now would be called military coups one after the other. During and especially after Independence, the validity, effectiveness, efficiency, and relevance of the
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now