The tactics at the beginning of the Civil War were left over from the smooth bore musket.  The advent of the rifled musket tripled the effective range of the infantry.  The artillery had to back up to move further away. 

There was much experimentation starting just before the Civil War with breech loading guns.  There were many models of breech loading carbines for the cavalry, but it wasn't until near the end of the Civil War that a serviceable metallic cartridge was made for a breech loading musket.

General Information on Civil War Guns

• History of Gunpowder
• History of Ammunition
• Civil War Carbines
• Civil War Revolvers
• Loading a Cap and Ball Revolver
• Making a Paper Cartridge
• Typical Paper Cartridges
• Common Mistakes Writers Make About Guns
• Safe Shooting of Civil War Guns

Common Guns in the Civil War

• 32 Colt 1849
• 32 S&W No. 2
• 36 Colt 1851
• 36 Colt 1862
• 44 Colt 1860
• 44 Remington
• 58 Springfield Musket
• 577 Enfield Musket
• Burnside Carbine
• Colt Walker & Dragoon
• Confederate Pistols, Carbines, & Shotguns
• Henry Rifle 1860
• Sharps Carbine
• Smith Carbine
• Spencer Carbine
• Less Common Guns of the Civil War
• Artillery

More on the Civil War

The National Park Service has added an excellent page on the Civil War Signal Corp at the website on the Battle of Antietam.

Let us know what you liked about our articles listed here and where you would like to see more information by contacting us.

More is available on the Civil War generally.