Ebook: Civil War: Weapons and Equipment

The American Civil War remains the nation's central national epic, having changed the fledgling "Union" into the "United States". The scars of that devastating internecine conflict of a century and a quarter ago have long since disappeared, but there remains a seemingly insatiable desire to learn more of the circumstances and the detail of the war. This beautifully illustrated book provides that detail in respect of the tactical deployment of forces in the field and the fighting methods employed by the infantry, artillery and cavalry forces. Fighting Skills of the Civil War follows the soldier, gunner and cavalryman from his enlistment, through formal training, to his eventual deployment in the field. When war broke out some men had already served with volunteer units of varying professionalism, others were experienced hunters, while some were just ill-prepared youths. At first many officers and men were bewildered by their drill. Even the simplest exercises left green officers at a loss. They were also unfamiliar with their new weapons. By the end of the war many of these men had become highly experienced soldiers with an expert knowledge of field-craft, tactics and weaponry. Each chapter will chronicle these changes and the impact on the three million men who went to war from 1861-65. This work also includes features on the weapons of the war from the infantryman's simple rifle-and-bayonet through a plethora of officers' swords and sabres and pistols and revolvers, to the mighty artillery pieces.