In the category of artillery, both the union and confederacy enjoyed using the Napoleon which is a gun-howitzer. This gun could hit a target up to over 1,000 feet away. They also used cannons and rifles.

The small arms used by both the union and the confederacy were revolvers, Springfield rifles and muskets. The revolvers that the soldiers carried weighed between 2 and 4 pounds. The muskets were often enhanced with an angular type of bayonet.

Edged weapons that were carried by the soldiers in the civil war were the bayonet, the saber and knives. The bayonets came in various sizes. The average length was eighteen inches and some were 2 feet beyond the muzzle of the rifle. One of the most cherished sabers for both sides was the cavalry sabers. Finally, when the soldiers of the civil war carried a knife it was usually the Bowie knife.

Buford skillfully maneuvered his troops and took full advantage of the superior rate of fire from their breech loading carbines. This gave Union infantry under Maj. Gen. John Reynolds, the time they needed to come up and gain a foothold on the tactically superior Cemetery Ridge.

The importance of Buford’s leadership and tactical decision making on the first day of the battle can’t be overstated. His keen awareness of the tactical situation, readily knowing the strategic importance of the high ground south of town, combined with the tenacity of his heroic cavalrymen, were paramount in their contribution to this iconic Union victory.What’s 1 more click? Your boss isn’t watching… Gettysburg: The Great Reunion of 1913

The breech loading carbine rifle facilitated the change from 19th Century to modern warfare during the Civil War. The invention of rifling (grooves in the musket barrel) permitted spinning bullets to travel up to 900 feet increasing the range and accuracy of musket fire used for defense. One bullet was able to kill at a half a mile, produced 90 of the defensive battle wounds. Naval mines were developed by the Confederates to counterattack the Union’s blockade of Southern ports. Mines and later torpedoes were used to sink 40 Union ships.

Civil War soldiers also made good use of inventions such as a combination knife-fork and spoon arrangement, a water-filterer, steel-armor vests, and the Turkish fez.

Booth, John Wilkes – An actor who was also a Confederate spy. Wilkes shot Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865. The President died two days later.

Davis, Jefferson – A West Point graduate who was elected President of the Confederate States of America.

Grant, Ulysses S. – Union general who, despite several personal scandals, proved to be one of President Lincoln’s best men. Grant accepted the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army.

Jackson, Stonewall – Confederate general whose premature death from friendly fire helped to cripple the Southern forces.

Lee, Robert E. – Confederate general who is considered to be one of the greatest military men of all time.

Lincoln, Abraham – 16th President of the United States of America. He was assassinated six days after the close of the Civil War.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher – Author of the 1852 novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. This book’s graphic descriptions of the lives of slaves caused such a stir that, when Stowe meet Abraham Lincoln, he supposedly said “So you’re the little woman who started this war!”The hits keep comin’: Abraham Lincoln CUMPSTON, Iowa

“We may be annihilated, but we cannot be conquered.”- General Albert Sidney Johnston while accepting his command rank in August of 1861.

“Press on, press on, men.” – Stonewall Jackson

“War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over” – Union General William T. Sherman before beginning the March to the Sea

“The dead covered more than five acres of ground about as thickly as they could be laid.”
- Confederate soldier on the dead bodies of Union soldiers, 1864.Still bored? Click to continue: Youngest Spy!

A “cap” in today’s language most often refers to a casual hat with a brim to block sunlight from reaching the eyes. During the civil war, a “cap” was a small device that soldiers used to explode gunpowder inside the barrel of a projectile weapon, such as a pistol, rifle or cannon. Likewise, a “bummer” today is something that is slightly depressing, whereas a civil war soldier known to appropriate goods from citizens, most often without paying for those items, was termed a “bummer.” While that is slightly depressing, too, the notion that soldiers would just take things from their fellow citizens, it is certainly not the same thing.

Today, a “cartridge” most particularly refers to a video game, perhaps an old Nintendo or other product, insofar as today’s games are most often issued on compact disc. Still, during the civil war era, a “cartridge” referred specifically to a paper tube holding a bullet and gunpowder.

Language is always changing, and learning past uses of common words can be fun and enlightening.