From 1861-1865 the United States was torn apart as brother fought brother during the American Civil War. Whether you consider slavery or secession to be the cause the outcome was tragic but ultimately the country came back together stronger and better for the future. Many weapons companies came out of the war as the winners having developed some fine weapons throughout the course of the conflict. If you go back and look you will see names like Colt, Remington and Smith & Wesson making a mark in the war. Those same weapons manufacturers are still going strong today and have great reputations as well.
In this time many men were marksmen having grown up hunting for food. The rifle obviously was a dangerous weapon in the hands of these men on both sides. The Springfield Model 1861 became the main weapon of the American Civil War. The Springfield Model 1861 was about 40 inches long and weighed as much as 9 pounds. Over the course of the war there would be nearly 700,000 Springfield Model 1861 rifles manufactured and put into service. A good soldier could fire 3 rounds a minute with an effective range of 200-300 yards with this weapon on the battlefield. The 1853 Enfield rifle was used more by the Confederacy than the Springfield which was the primary weapon of Union forces.
Samuel Colt would gain a legendary name for his numerous pistols used during the American Civil War. The Colt Army Model 1860 would become the most popular sidearm of Union officers during the conflict. The Colt Army Model 1860 was a great weapon with the capability to fire 6 rounds of either .36 or .44 caliber ammunition. The Colt Navy revolver was the most commonly used pistol for Confederate officers. These weapons were often made and duplicated in former cotton mills. The most popular pistol among the soldiers may have been the Remington Model 1858. The soldiers were said to prefer this weapon because of faster reload times.
Some of the most feared American Civil War weapons were of larger and stationary nature. The Napoleon was the main artillery piece used by both Union and Confederate forces. The Napoleon was a 12-pounder that was favored because of it’s lightweight frame which made it easier to move around the battlefield. The ideal range for this weapon here was 250 yards but this cannon was known to be able to fire as far away as 2,000 yards. When the Napoleon was firing canister shot it became one of the most dangerous American Civil War weapons.
Near the end of the American Civil war the Gatling Gun had moved onto the battlefield and instantly become one of the most feared American Civil War weapons. The weapon was developed by Dr. Richard Jordan Gatling and was able to fire 300 .58 caliber rounds per minute. The cost of the weapon and the extreme use of ammunition were primary reasons why both sides got away from using the Gatling Gun more often. With a price tag of $1,000 the Confederacy would basically only have the weapon if they were able to capture one which was the case at Harper’s Ferry near the end of the American Civil War.
As you can see there were some very interesting American Civil War weapons back in the day. The weapons were primarily chosen for reload times, accuracy and overall cost. Many people say that the Union forces ability to purchase slightly better weapons had a direct impact on the battlefield. There are many other American Civil War weapons out there if you wish to further research on the subject.
