| The civil war weapons were essentially brought | | | | spiral grooves on the inner surface) and muskets |
| into utilization when the Union and the | | | | that were smoothbore. The muzzle loading |
| Confederate troops went to the first ever | | | | firearm called the Ferry Rifle and the spring field |
| modern war in history during the period | | | | Musket was used by both the sides engaged in |
| 1861-1865. | | | | the war. The Civil War rifled Musket was the |
| The civil war weapons may be distinguished into | | | | most accurate with a large range in the form of a |
| artillery, small arms, Minnie ball and edged weapons | | | | direct frontal deadly assault. Lightweight Spencer |
| to boot. In the artillery group, came those | | | | carbine, Sharps Carbine, Colt revolver, Remington |
| weapons which were larger than the smaller arms. | | | | New Model and Star Army Percussion, English |
| Basically, the two types of cannons were used in | | | | Enfield Rile and the French Le Mat revolver were |
| the war, the first was the riled cannon and the | | | | other small arms used as the civil war weapons. |
| second was the smooth bored cannon. The | | | | The Minnie ball (first developed by the French |
| artillery used during the civil war showed | | | | Captain in 1848) was a hollow bullet that can be |
| classification on the basis of siege artillery and the | | | | easily rammed into the bore and thus not only |
| tactical deployment (including sea coast and the | | | | revolutionized the civil warfare but also caused the |
| field). | | | | widespread deaths. Long distance targets were |
| A smoothbore two pounded gun, Napoleon, was | | | | suddenly within the reach and it was a real leap |
| the best artillery (the first to show in 1857) | | | | forward in the civil war weapons advancement. |
| among the civil war weapons. It was light and | | | | In the edged weapons category, came the lancer, |
| portable and most effective at 250 yards. The | | | | pikes, Bowie knives, short swords, sabers and |
| Ordnance and the Parrot rifles were the most | | | | bayonets. Sabers were the cavalry swords. |
| used rifled guns. They had a better and a more | | | | Bayonet attacks were also common. The other |
| accurate range (up to 2300 yards). Dahlgren and | | | | famous civil war weapons were the Ketchum |
| Rodman smoothbores were the highly powerful (a | | | | grenades and the Gatling gun. So, the American |
| 2000 yard range) and were able to target 45 and | | | | civil war weapons proved to be a big leap in all |
| 90 pounds respectively. Canister projectiles, solid | | | | the categories of the weapons. Not only were the |
| mast and shell were other artillery used. | | | | weapons made deadlier, their high standards of |
| A small arm category comprised arms smaller | | | | more accurate range, speed, better range and |
| than the usual cannon (like muskets). They were | | | | easier delivery were the key features that clicked |
| the handguns (including pistols and revolvers, short | | | | in making the weapons cause more deaths and |
| barreled rifles, carbines, shoulder guns (containing | | | | destruction. |