| Civil War Sabers, Swords and Bayonets | | | | different than those of Navy officers. |
| Some of the most dramatic cinema footage you | | | | Military Cutlery |
| will see of Civil War battles features these | | | | That is the term used to refer to a number of |
| sharp-edged weapons. In fact, there were so few | | | | small, hand-to-hand weapons used by soldiers |
| deaths and injuries reported because of the | | | | when their firearms were and things got a little |
| sabers, swords and bayonets, that they were | | | | too close for comfort. Items that were very |
| ultimately negligible. Of a reported 250,000 injured | | | | popular, such as the Bowie Knife (named for |
| soldiers treated in Union hospitals during the war, | | | | Texas folk hero Jim Bowie ), actually became |
| only 922 were reported to have been injured by | | | | more of a hindrance as soldiers realized the |
| what was referred to as an "edged weapon." | | | | weight of such weapons and how little they were |
| Edged weapons actually include any of the | | | | used. According to several different sources, |
| following:o Bayonetso Swordso Saberso Military | | | | although the Bowie Knives were popular, it is |
| cutlery (Bowie Knives, etc.)o Pikes and Lances | | | | believed that most military cutlery was avoided |
| Aside from pikes and lances, which we will discuss | | | | when the actual hand-to-hand close combat took |
| a little later, most of the edged weapons were | | | | place. |
| considered "prestigious.'" Officers carried them, as | | | | Pikes and Lances |
| did many of the mounted soldiers. They | | | | Though little information is available about these |
| symbolized the authority of an officer, but were | | | | weapons, evidence suggest that both pikes and |
| very rarely unsheathed. Edged weapons were | | | | lances were actually used to a greater degree |
| also presented to soldiers for an increase in rank, | | | | during the Civil War than were the others. These |
| or as rewards for valiant effort on the battlefield. | | | | were not weapons of prestige, tending usually to |
| Skilled cavalrymen were able to make the sword | | | | be carried by companies of soldiers who were |
| a dangerous weapon, but because of the close | | | | lacking more modern weapons. |
| combat necessary to make a kill, they preferred | | | | Primitive as it might seem for armies with |
| a skirmish type of tactic that allowed the use of | | | | repeating weapons and revolvers to be carrying |
| revolvers and carbine rifles from the perimeter. | | | | around something more often associated with the |
| The Civil War Bayonet | | | | Knights of the Round Table, pikes and lances |
| This was the fixed edge on the end of a musket, | | | | proved effective weaponry for skilled horsemen. |
| and was used when Union and Confederate lines | | | | The pike, depending on the size, could be thrown |
| merged on the battlefield as a close combat | | | | at the enemy, or used to ward off cavalry |
| weapon. Bayonets had been used since the | | | | attacks. The horses could not penetrate through |
| musket had been invented, mainly because a | | | | a few rows of the pikes, thus making it difficult |
| soldier could likely only get off a couple of shots | | | | to break through lines. |
| before they were embroiled in hand-to-hand | | | | The lance was similar to the pike, but it typically |
| combat. This would still allow the soldier to | | | | had a more blunt end, used more to batter than |
| continue fighting with a dangerous weapon. Still, | | | | to impale. It was also very effective when arms |
| very few casualties or injuries were reported as | | | | were in short supply. This was the case with the |
| a result of the bayonet, relegating it to the role of | | | | army of the Confederacy, who passed an act |
| colorful but probably unnecessary accessory for | | | | that set up two companies in each regiment with |
| the musket. | | | | pikes and lances. |
| Civil War Swords | | | | The South had little choice but to use the |
| As we mentioned earlier, the sword was primarily | | | | resources they had to build whatever weapons |
| a 'prestige' item, worn by officers and members | | | | were necessary, because iron was in short supply. |
| of the cavalry. It was a sign of authority because | | | | Twenty regiments of Southern pikeman had been |
| it was given out for promotions or efforts on the | | | | formed by the end of the Civil War. |
| battlefield. The sword is probably best known | | | | Chevaux-de fries |
| from the typical charge at the climax of a Civil | | | | Resembling a series of lances/pikes strung |
| War movie, where the general draws his sword | | | | together, Chevaux-de fries were made up of |
| and calls upon his army to charge the opposition. | | | | 10-to-12-foot logs that had sharpened wooden |
| One interesting thing about the swords and | | | | stakes attached to them. They were used in |
| sabers used in the military, was that they differed | | | | much the way that barbed wire would be used in |
| in style, length, and curvature depending on the | | | | subsequent wars, and were effective in fending |
| branch of the military. Those of officers were | | | | off large scale incursions and cavalry attacks. |
| different than those of the cavalry, which were | | | | |