Civil War Battle Tactics Essay Research Paper

Civil War Battle Tactics Essay, Research Paper

A Bloody War Over 600,000 Americans died in the Civil War, and many more were left wounded. Although a large portion of these deaths is credited to diseases, such as dysentery, diarrhea, measles, malaria, and typhoid, the tactics of the Civil War were also a great influence to the number of casualties. New warfare was being introduced to the battlefield and new weapons were being implemented. These modern tactics and weapons resulted in the accumulation of considerable losses on both sides. The Civil War was a major turning point in the way of battle tactics. During the Civil War, both sides relied on three main units to succeed in battle: infantry, artillery, and calvary. There were three main battles which show us how these units were utilized to create such enormous amounts of casualties. These battles are Gettysburg, the most stereotypical Civil War battle, Antietam, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, and Chancellorsville, the battle which is said to have the most tactical value. The infantry, calvary, and artillery were incorporated into each of these battles, and because of the application of their tactics, many people were killed.To understand how and why the tactics of the Civil War caused so many deaths, one must first understand the units which fought on the battlefield. There are three specific combat troops which were utilized in the Civil War: infantry, artillery, and calvary. Each type of unit fought in its own separate way, and had a specific function on the battlefield. Infantry were by far the most numerous of all combat units. Their main function was to capture and maintain ground. Weapons back in the mid-19th century were not very accurate and took time to reload after each shot. (Cayton 327) Most basic muskets could be loaded at a rate of three times per minute. Because of this fact, different tactics had to be applied to defeat the enemy. By lining the soldiers up shoulder-to-shoulder, and having them march in a straight line towards the enemy, the infantry was able to focus their fire on a select area. This tactic was very dangerous and resulted in many deaths, but it was also proved to be the easiest way to seize an area. This type of marching was also the most feasible way to effectively move troops under fire. (Grimsley 1) The loudness and confusion of most battlefields was great enough to discombobulate even the most disciplined army. The infantry were guided and kept in order by two things as they marched: their colonel, who would yell commands to the troops, and the flag, which would be a visible guidance for the soldiers. If the soldiers could not hear their colonel or commanding officer s orders, the flag bearer was responsible for leading the troops in the right direction. One might ask why infantry did not directly sprint towards the enemy in order to take them over faster. The whole idea of the infantry formation was to have concentrated fire on the focus point or destination. If the infantry were to charge the enemy, the slower men would lag behind, dismantling the line. If the infantry were to spread out, the inaccuracy of the weapons would eventually force the soldiers to flee because of the overpowering fire of the enemy. Although the infantry did stay together, there were different speeds they were required to keep up with. After march , the base speed, quick time followed. At this rate, one covered 110 steps per minute. Under serious fire, infantry members were commanded to quicken to double-quick time , a rate of around 165 steps per minute. Once the infantry was a few dozen yards from the enemy, the infantry was told to simply run . This tactic relied solely on overpowering the enemy with shear numbers, and usually ensued with many deaths. A powerful and devastating weapon if used correctly, artillery was also an important part of Civil War combat. A group of artillery, called a battery, consisted of four to six cannons commanded by a captain. (Grimsley 2) Artillery had one of the most important functions. Generals would pick out weak spots or potential ground for a strong attack, such as a hill or a knob, in the enemy lines. Once the generals identified one of these spots, the artillery would go to work, lobbing shells and solid shot at that area, making the defense weak. The infantry would then assault that spot and seize it. Because of upgrades since the Revolutionary War, cannons were more effective than ever. (Cayton 327)Cannon barrels were made lighter and stronger for more powerful charges. (Grimsley 2) On top of that, cannons were also more accurate and had greater range because of new practical rifled fieldpieces . (Grimsley 2) Cannons also fired many types of shots at the enemy. Shells, which exploded on a time fuse, were effective for attacking infantry behind fortifications. Solid shot was used to batter down structures. Canisters exploded above troops, scattering musket shot in all directions. Canisters proved themselves to be the most deadly type of shot when used against masses of soldiers. Many men died as a result of them. Calvary units were quite sparse during the Civil War battles for two main reasons. Calvary members utilized horses as a means of transportation. Horses, at the time, were quite expensive, requiring ten times the monthly pay of a private . On top of the charge for the horse, there were additional costs for saddles, bridals, stirrups, and food for the horses. I