The Union had a substantial advantage over the Confederacy during the Civil War because of their advanced military technology. The Union had access to the latest weapons produced, while the Confederate States used older forms of weapons.
When it came to war, muskets were commonly used (). Muskets weren’t very useful when it came to aiming, so armies had to be fought relatively close together (4). The rifle could shoot much farther and could also aim better than the musket (4). The problem with the musket was that it took too long to reload-the bullet had to be pounded in with a mallet (4). In 1848, a French officer named Claude Minie invented a bullet that was cone-shaped and had a diameter that was less than that of the rifle’s barrel (4). The “Minie ball” was now in use and much more deadly than the previous bullet (4). Approximately 90% of the casualties from the Civil War are said to be caused from the Minie ball and rifle (4).
The North had access to the telegraph, which allowed for fast communication from the battlefield (4). The telegraph was a very important device used to communicate through a code or a series of electric pulses (4). Over 15,000 miles of cable for telegraphs was laid in the North for communication (4). Unfortunately, the South didn’t have access to this technology and the messages sent weren’t up to date (4). Without this technology, the South couldn’t construct carefully thought out military strategies that worked at the time because the conditions were constantly changing.
Both the North and South had factories to manufacture weapons, textiles, gunpowder, etc. (4). While the North had a steady supply of weapons, the South relied on everything their factories made (4). In the South, the most depended on state for manufacturing was Georgia (4). The North knew this and decided to take advantage. In 1864, General William T. Sherman led 60,000 soldiers from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia (16). Their plan was to subjugate the industries that produced weapons so the Confederacy would become weaker (16). Along with doing this, they also stole food and livestock and burnt buildings (). This was known as Sherman’s March to the Sea (16). Sherman’s March to the Sea effected the South drastically, the Southerners became less enthusiastic, causing them to fight less confidently (16).
General Winfield Scott thought of a plan after Fort Sumter was bombed (1). His plan was to isolate the South from the rest of the world so that eventually they would run out of food and supplies (1). Unfortunately, his plan was rejected because other generals wanted to destroy the Confederate army as soon as possible, and Scott’s plan, the Anaconda Plan, was too slow (1).
The Battle of Antietam was the South's first attempt to invade the North and the single bloodiest day in American history (9). There were approximately 3,500 soldiers killed and nearly 23,000 casualties total from both sides (9). This battle resulted in a draw but was enough of a victory for Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. After the Battle of Antietam, Commander Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy decided to invade the Union again, in Chancellorsville, Virginia (3). This was the Battle of Gettysburg. The Confederate soldiers were unsuccessful, and Robert E. Lee blamed their loss after the battle on himself (3). There were around 50,000 casualties after the Battle of Gettysburg, 28,000 of them being from the Confederacy (3).
The Civil War was the bloodiest was fought on American soil, with about 620,000 deaths. The battles explained above are two of the most memorable and significant. Although not all of them were used, some plans from the North were better planned than those of the South. Technology rapidly increased, mainly in the North.
When it came to war, muskets were commonly used (). Muskets weren’t very useful when it came to aiming, so armies had to be fought relatively close together (4). The rifle could shoot much farther and could also aim better than the musket (4). The problem with the musket was that it took too long to reload-the bullet had to be pounded in with a mallet (4). In 1848, a French officer named Claude Minie invented a bullet that was cone-shaped and had a diameter that was less than that of the rifle’s barrel (4). The “Minie ball” was now in use and much more deadly than the previous bullet (4). Approximately 90% of the casualties from the Civil War are said to be caused from the Minie ball and rifle (4).
The North had access to the telegraph, which allowed for fast communication from the battlefield (4). The telegraph was a very important device used to communicate through a code or a series of electric pulses (4). Over 15,000 miles of cable for telegraphs was laid in the North for communication (4). Unfortunately, the South didn’t have access to this technology and the messages sent weren’t up to date (4). Without this technology, the South couldn’t construct carefully thought out military strategies that worked at the time because the conditions were constantly changing.
Both the North and South had factories to manufacture weapons, textiles, gunpowder, etc. (4). While the North had a steady supply of weapons, the South relied on everything their factories made (4). In the South, the most depended on state for manufacturing was Georgia (4). The North knew this and decided to take advantage. In 1864, General William T. Sherman led 60,000 soldiers from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia (16). Their plan was to subjugate the industries that produced weapons so the Confederacy would become weaker (16). Along with doing this, they also stole food and livestock and burnt buildings (). This was known as Sherman’s March to the Sea (16). Sherman’s March to the Sea effected the South drastically, the Southerners became less enthusiastic, causing them to fight less confidently (16).
General Winfield Scott thought of a plan after Fort Sumter was bombed (1). His plan was to isolate the South from the rest of the world so that eventually they would run out of food and supplies (1). Unfortunately, his plan was rejected because other generals wanted to destroy the Confederate army as soon as possible, and Scott’s plan, the Anaconda Plan, was too slow (1).
The Battle of Antietam was the South's first attempt to invade the North and the single bloodiest day in American history (9). There were approximately 3,500 soldiers killed and nearly 23,000 casualties total from both sides (9). This battle resulted in a draw but was enough of a victory for Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. After the Battle of Antietam, Commander Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy decided to invade the Union again, in Chancellorsville, Virginia (3). This was the Battle of Gettysburg. The Confederate soldiers were unsuccessful, and Robert E. Lee blamed their loss after the battle on himself (3). There were around 50,000 casualties after the Battle of Gettysburg, 28,000 of them being from the Confederacy (3).
The Civil War was the bloodiest was fought on American soil, with about 620,000 deaths. The battles explained above are two of the most memorable and significant. Although not all of them were used, some plans from the North were better planned than those of the South. Technology rapidly increased, mainly in the North.