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Civil War Rifles

Minie Ball

Civil War Weapons

Civil War Rifle

"They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." (General John Sedgwick, right before being shot and killed by a Confederate sharpshooter.)

Civil War Rifles were the main weapon used by both sides during the course of the war.

This one weapon accounted for most of the casualties during the entire war. No other weapon even came close to inflicting as much damage as the rifle.

They were far superior to the smooth bore muskets that were used previously in pretty much every conceivable way. You know, Apples and Oranges, it is like that.

Civil war ammunition is nothing like what we have today.

Back in dem old days they fired this thing called a minie ball.

This was a type of ammunition invented by a couple of French military officers.

It essentially looks like a bullet you would see today except for one drawback.

Gunpowder was sold separately.

You had to put the powder in the barrel first then the minie ball. This made loading the rifles a bit time consuming.

Firing three shots in a minute was about the maximum for the average soldier.

The minie ball would expand within the barrel of the rifle allowing it to be firmly gripped by the rifling, this made the minie ball spin in the barrel when the rifle was fired which gave great accuracy to the weapon.

A good shooter could hit a target up to half a mile a way.

This was unfortunate for the target.

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Feb 19, 2010, Advertising Disclosure

Advertising Disclosure. This site is my personal site. It accepts advertising and other forms of compensation.

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Dec 5, 2009, Civil War, American Civil War, Reconstruction

The Civil War was a horrific four years for the nation. When it was over, more than 620,000 Americans had died from battle and war-related causes. American had fought against American and in some cases, brother had literally fought against brother.

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Nov 9, 2009, Brass Band, Civil War Music, Civil War Bands

The brass band of the Civil War played a very important role for both armies. They played at recruitment rallies and their music often helped to encourage young men to enlist.

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Nov 9, 2009, Civil War Ships, Civil War Marines, Hunley, Civil War Ironclad ships, USS Monitor

Civil War ships played an important role during the war, more important than most people think

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Nov 9, 2009, Blockade Runner, Civil War Blockade, Civil War Ships

A Blockade runner was a ship that attempted to get through the Union blockade of Southern waters during the Civil War. One of the main goals of the North against the South was to starve them and cut off supplies and transports to and from the South.

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Nov 9, 2009, Belle Isle Prison, Civil War Prison Camps, Civil War Prisoners

Belle Isle Prison is located west of Richmond Virginia. It is a small island located in the James River that was used as a Civil War Prison for captured Union soldiers.

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Nov 5, 2009, Sherman's March, March to the Sea

Sherman's March to the Sea would set the south ablaze. The sea was the goal, the end result, for the Union leader. General Sherman was a rogue if only for a few months, the general of the Union army stationed in the heart of the Confederacy was on a rampage.

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