Torpedoes (mines) General Gabriel J. Raines tinkered incessantly with explosive devices. Finally, at Yorktown in
1862, he demonstrated thier usefulness as a means of impeding enemy forces and destroying enemy morale. As soon
as General James Lonstreet discovered Raines' activities, he immediately ordered them halted as unmanly warfare.
Raines not to be dissuaded, took the argument to the then Secretary of War, George W. Pandolph. Randolph, in a
moment of political dancing, declared that it was not permissible in warfare to indiscriminately take a life. However, if
taking that life served a true military purpose (like killing a general), then it was acceptable. Randolph then offered
Raines the opportunity to move away from the tactical infantry matters and go to the riverine areas, where torpedoe
operations were clearly admissible. Raines left immediately for the rivers.
1862, he demonstrated thier usefulness as a means of impeding enemy forces and destroying enemy morale. As soon
as General James Lonstreet discovered Raines' activities, he immediately ordered them halted as unmanly warfare.
Raines not to be dissuaded, took the argument to the then Secretary of War, George W. Pandolph. Randolph, in a
moment of political dancing, declared that it was not permissible in warfare to indiscriminately take a life. However, if
taking that life served a true military purpose (like killing a general), then it was acceptable. Randolph then offered
Raines the opportunity to move away from the tactical infantry matters and go to the riverine areas, where torpedoe
operations were clearly admissible. Raines left immediately for the rivers.
Double-barreled cannon Built In 1862 by John Gilleland, dentist, builder and
mechanic, It was cast in Athens, Georgia, for a cost of $350. The two barrels have
a divergence of 3 degrees, and the cannon was designed to shoot simultaneously
two cannon balls connected with a chain to "mow the enemy down like scythe cuts
wheat".Gilleland's invention was a failure. First tested on 22 April 1862, and aimed
at a target of two upright poles, uneven detonation of the powder and casting
imperfections in the barrels gave the connected balls a spinning movement in an
off-center direction, with witnesses reporting that on it first firing it "plowed up about
an acre of ground, tore up a cornfield, mowed down saplings, and [then] the chain
broke, the two balls going in different directions.
mechanic, It was cast in Athens, Georgia, for a cost of $350. The two barrels have
a divergence of 3 degrees, and the cannon was designed to shoot simultaneously
two cannon balls connected with a chain to "mow the enemy down like scythe cuts
wheat".Gilleland's invention was a failure. First tested on 22 April 1862, and aimed
at a target of two upright poles, uneven detonation of the powder and casting
imperfections in the barrels gave the connected balls a spinning movement in an
off-center direction, with witnesses reporting that on it first firing it "plowed up about
an acre of ground, tore up a cornfield, mowed down saplings, and [then] the chain
broke, the two balls going in different directions.
| As the breeding ground for modern warfare, the Civil War has long been known for its "firsts." It has been credited with: A workable machine gun, A steel ship, Successful submarine, A "snorkel" breathing device, Press correspondents in battle areas, Conscription, Bread lines, American President assassinated, Aerial reconnaissance, Antiaircraft fire, Army ambulance corps, Blackouts and camouflage under aerial observation, Cigarette tax, Department of justice (Confederate), Electrically exploded bombs and torpedoes, Fixed ammunition, Field trenches on a grand scale, Flame throwers, Hospital ships, Ironclad navies, Land-mine fields, Long-range rifles for general use, Military telegraph, Military railroads, Naval torpedoes, Photography of battle, Railroad artillery, Repeating rifles, Revolving gun turrets, The bugle call, "Taps", The periscope, for trench warfare, Telescopic sights for rifles, Wire entanglements and Wide-scale use of anesthetics for wounded. |
Gatling and Ager gun Was capable of firing continuously, it
required human power to crank it. Each barrel fired a single shot
as it reached a certain point in the cycle.This configuration
allowed higher rates of fire without the problem of an overheating
single barrel. Some time later, Gatling-type weapons were
invented that diverted a fraction of gas from the chamber to turn
the barrels.The original Gatling gun was designed by the
American inventor Dr. Richard J. Gatling in 1861 and patented in
1862. He wrote that he made it to reduce the size of armies and so
reduce the number of deaths by combat and disease.
required human power to crank it. Each barrel fired a single shot
as it reached a certain point in the cycle.This configuration
allowed higher rates of fire without the problem of an overheating
single barrel. Some time later, Gatling-type weapons were
invented that diverted a fraction of gas from the chamber to turn
the barrels.The original Gatling gun was designed by the
American inventor Dr. Richard J. Gatling in 1861 and patented in
1862. He wrote that he made it to reduce the size of armies and so
reduce the number of deaths by combat and disease.
Military rockets. Rockets declined in importance due to the
deadly accuracy of conventional artillery, most notably weapons
with rifled barrels and breech loading. However, both sides in the
Civil War remembered how well rockets served armed forces during
the Mexican War two decades earlier. But, it was quickly discovered
that Hale, and even Congreve, rockets that had been stored for
long periods of time were rendered useless because their
deadly accuracy of conventional artillery, most notably weapons
with rifled barrels and breech loading. However, both sides in the
Civil War remembered how well rockets served armed forces during
the Mexican War two decades earlier. But, it was quickly discovered
that Hale, and even Congreve, rockets that had been stored for
long periods of time were rendered useless because their
gunpowder charges failed to remain properly bonded to their casings.This forced both sides to develop new rockets.
The resulting rockets were considered primitive, even by the standards of the day. A variety of rockets were used
during the Civil War by both sides. On July 3, 1862 Confederate forces under the command of Jeb Stuart fired
rockets at Union troops during the Battle of Harrison's Landing.
The resulting rockets were considered primitive, even by the standards of the day. A variety of rockets were used
during the Civil War by both sides. On July 3, 1862 Confederate forces under the command of Jeb Stuart fired
rockets at Union troops during the Battle of Harrison's Landing.
Gabriel developed what came to be known as the “Rains Patent,” a mine that
could be used both on land and water. These early torpedoes were made of sheet iron,
and each had a fuse protected by a thin brass cap covered with a beeswax solution. If
pressure were exerted on that cap, the torpedo would explode. Rains used these bombs
with significant success both in the water and on the land. In the spring of 1862, while
Gabriel was still leading a brigade, he turned his “sub-terra explosive shell,” known today
as a landmine. In May, during the Peninsula Campaign, theUnion Army of the Potomac
was pressuring Confederate forces retreating from Yorktown in the outskirts of Richmond,
Virginia, the Confederate capital. Part of the Rebel rearguard. loaded 8- and 10-inch
could be used both on land and water. These early torpedoes were made of sheet iron,
and each had a fuse protected by a thin brass cap covered with a beeswax solution. If
pressure were exerted on that cap, the torpedo would explode. Rains used these bombs
with significant success both in the water and on the land. In the spring of 1862, while
Gabriel was still leading a brigade, he turned his “sub-terra explosive shell,” known today
as a landmine. In May, during the Peninsula Campaign, theUnion Army of the Potomac
was pressuring Confederate forces retreating from Yorktown in the outskirts of Richmond,
Virginia, the Confederate capital. Part of the Rebel rearguard. loaded 8- and 10-inch
Columbiad artillery shells equipped with sensitive fuse primers in a broken-down ammunition wagon near Richmond.
Rains planted these shells inches beneath the sand beaches “simply as a desperate effort to distance the men from
pursuing Union cavalry,”
Rains planted these shells inches beneath the sand beaches “simply as a desperate effort to distance the men from
pursuing Union cavalry,”
Caltrop (also known as caltrap, galtrop, cheval trap, galthrap, galtrap, calthrop, crow's
foot[1][2]) is an antipersonnel weapon made up of two or more sharp nails or spines
arranged in such a manner that one of them always points upward from a stable base.
They may be thought of as the landmines, useful to shape the battlefield and force the
enemy into certain paths and approaches, or to provide a passive defense as part of a
defensive works system. Caltrops serve to slow down the advance of horses
foot[1][2]) is an antipersonnel weapon made up of two or more sharp nails or spines
arranged in such a manner that one of them always points upward from a stable base.
They may be thought of as the landmines, useful to shape the battlefield and force the
enemy into certain paths and approaches, or to provide a passive defense as part of a
defensive works system. Caltrops serve to slow down the advance of horses
UNUSUAL
WEAPONS
WEAPONS
In October 1862, partially as a result of
General Raines' run-in with General
Longstreet over the use of sub-terra shells
in the war, Confederate Congress passed a
law creating a secret service organization,
the Navy's Submarine Battery Service and
the Army's Torpedo Bureau. The General
seperation between the navy and the army
units was water and land. However, when it
came to riverine warfare, the lines were not
so distinct. As it worked in practice, there
some inter-service rivlary, but, for the most
part, military units worked together to the
common end.
At Charleston, SC, and Mobile, AL, both
types of units worked in the defenses.As the
fortune of the Confederacy waned, the
expertise of the torpedo organizations i
General Raines' run-in with General
Longstreet over the use of sub-terra shells
in the war, Confederate Congress passed a
law creating a secret service organization,
the Navy's Submarine Battery Service and
the Army's Torpedo Bureau. The General
seperation between the navy and the army
units was water and land. However, when it
came to riverine warfare, the lines were not
so distinct. As it worked in practice, there
some inter-service rivlary, but, for the most
part, military units worked together to the
common end.
At Charleston, SC, and Mobile, AL, both
types of units worked in the defenses.As the
fortune of the Confederacy waned, the
expertise of the torpedo organizations i
mproved. By late 1863, both torpedo organizations were rapidly mining land and sea locations much to the detriment
of Union forces.
of Union forces.
Hand grenades. These were normally small, about six pounds,
with a modified weapons shell. Some of the grenades were just a
round about 2.5 inches in diameter with a paper fuse. They also
stole some of the Union's ideas for hand grenades. The
Ketchum Grenade resembled a lawn dart and was thrown in an
arcing motion. The Rains and Adams Grenade was the same
as the Ketcham Grenade except with a light cloth streamer and
a modified head. There were also larger rampant grenades, which
were rolled down hills. The grenades of this era were normally not
dangerous to handle, due to ineffective fusing.
with a modified weapons shell. Some of the grenades were just a
round about 2.5 inches in diameter with a paper fuse. They also
stole some of the Union's ideas for hand grenades. The
Ketchum Grenade resembled a lawn dart and was thrown in an
arcing motion. The Rains and Adams Grenade was the same
as the Ketcham Grenade except with a light cloth streamer and
a modified head. There were also larger rampant grenades, which
were rolled down hills. The grenades of this era were normally not
dangerous to handle, due to ineffective fusing.
The Ager gun like the Gatling was similar as rate of fire , used primarily by the confederate Troops it too like the
Gatling saw limited action due to department heads not giving it approval mainly because they thought it too barbaric.
Gatling saw limited action due to department heads not giving it approval mainly because they thought it too barbaric.
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