Introduction
The American Civil War was one of the first military conflicts where armies started using industrial technology and weaponry to gain an advantage. Some innovations included railroads, telegraphs, Gatling guns, modernized naval ships, and other machines. Both sides utilized the new technologies, but arguably, the North gained a more substantial advantage in the conflict. While the South was still relying on the slave traditions and manual labor, the Union needed to adapt to the change and start using innovations. Ultimately, the current essay argues that innovative technologies had a substantial impact on the American Civil War, affecting military conduct and helping the North win.
Non-Military Technology Impact
The industrial revolution implied the development of military and non-military technologies, and the latter was subjectively more significant. The construction of railroads and the invention of telegraphs allowed the armies to communicate more efficiently (McNamara, 2019). Although these inventions are non-military, they helped to advance the combat capabilities of the armies by improving logistics. As a result, these innovations drastically changed military conduct and shaped the development of the war.
Railroad Impact
The impact of railroads cannot be underestimated as it significantly decreased the time needed to supply the armies. Most experts agree that the North had a substantial advantage in logistics as “there were 22,000 miles of railroad track in the North and just 9,000 in the South” (“Civil War technology,” 2018, par. 9). Moreover, the Union railroads and trains were superior to the Confederates’ machines, and it made a significant difference particularly closer to the end of the war in 1865 (McNamara, 2019). In summary, railroads were pivotal to the outcome of the Civil War, helping the North achieve a military advantage.
However, at the start of the war, the difference between the sides was less noticeable. For instance, in the Battle of Bull Run – one of the first major battles in the conflict – the South used railroads to replenish its troops and win the fight (McNamara, 2020a). This event demonstrated the significance of technology in industrial warfare and shaped the latter stages of the war. Moreover, the generals of both armies were relatively inexperienced at that time, and they kept inventing new strategies to use in combat (McNamara, 2020a). As a result, innovative technologies changed military conduct, and armies needed to adjust to industrial warfare.
Telegraph and Communication Means Impact
Another significant invention that shaped the development of the war was the telegraph. In combination with newspapers to spread information and air balloons to observe the enemy’s movements, the new communication instruments drastically changed military conduct (Apfeldorf, 2021). Both sides utilized the strategy of scouting with hot air balloons and transmitting the acquired intelligence via telegraphs (Apfeldorf, 2021). Moreover, the telegraph helped to spread information faster compared to the previous communication instruments. For instance, when Fort Sumter was first attacked at the beginning of the war in 1961, the armies distributed this information, producing “patriotic waves” on both sides (McNamara, 2020b, par. 21-22). As a result, the invention of the telegraph, with the combination of other communication devices, drastically changed how the North and the South perceived the war.
Military Technology Impact
In addition to railroads and telegraphs, the American Civil War paved the way for numerous military technology inventions. Some of them were the Gatling gun, ironclads (innovative naval ships), landmines, and bullets, such as a minie ball (“Civil War technology,” 2018). Most of the acquired technologies made the war even deadlier with a higher number of casualties and wounded. For instance, minie ball bullets were a new type of ammunition that shattered the bones of soldiers on impact, and amputation was the only reliable method to save fighters’ lives (McNamara, 2019). As a result, non-military technologies improved the logistics aspect of warfare, while military inventions significantly increased the number of casualties, making the American Civil War the deadliest internal conflict in the United States.
Naval Battles
The mass production of innovative naval ships enabled both sides to a new way of military conduct. The North and the South adopted ironclads or armored warships that substituted the previously built wooden navy (Hickman, 2019). In 1862, during the Battle of Hampton Roads, the Confederate army with the first ironclad CSS Virginia attacked the Union’s port and destroyed several traditional ships with heavy gunfire (Hickman, 2019). The innovative armored warship proved to be highly effective in naval warfare, and the South gained a significant advantage at sea. Nevertheless, due to the lack of intelligent tactics, the North held the blockade at the port and reflected the attack at the Battle of Hampton Roads (Hickman, 2019). It suffered significant casualties, but the difference between the ironclad and the North’s navy would have been even greater if the attack were thoroughly planned.
In the initial stages of the war, the South had a considerable advantage over the North at sea. The Confederates built the first submarine in 1864, and it enabled the South to win crucial battles in naval warfare (“Civil War technology,” 2018). However, the Union adopted the new technologies and dominated the sea closer to the end of the war (“Civil War technology,” 2018). It allowed the North to occupy the ports and disturb the trade routes, which was a significant contribution to the eventual victory.
Engineering Volunteers
Lastly, it is essential to discuss the difference between the engineering efforts of the North and the South. Experts note that the technological advantage of the Union was particularly noticeable by the third year of the war (Smith, 2017). Some of the reasons for this development were the outdated labor policies of the South and the modernized systems of the North. Namely, the Union established educational and industrial institutions that stimulated the inflow of competent engineers and volunteers (Smith, 2017). Moreover, since the invention of new technologies required creativity, slave labor in the South could not compensate for educated professionals who continually discovered innovative ways of manufacturing. It was the primary reason why the North had such a notable advantage in technologies in the second part of the war, helping the Union to eventually win.
Conclusion
Industrial military and non-military technologies drastically changed the art of warfare during the American Civil War. The Union and the Confederates adopted innovative weaponry, navy, and logistics methods to gain combat advantage. However, as the current essay has shown, the North had a more substantial benefit from industrial manufacturing and engineering, allowing the Union to win the Civil War. Implementation of new institutions increased the number of competent engineers who created innovative technologies and improved the outdated machines. The significant advantage in railroads and navy superiority were particularly notable in 1865, making it nearly impossible for the South to maintain its logistic chains. As a result, new technologies drastically changed military conduct during the American Civil War and played a vital part in its outcome.
References
Apfeldorf, M. (2021). Civil War aeronauts: Exploring the 19th century technology innovation with photographs, manuscripts, and newspapers. Social Education, 85(2), 111-115.
Civil War technology. (2018). History. Web.
Hickman, K. (2019). American Civil War: Battle of Hampton Roads. ThoughtCo. Web.
McNamara, R. (2019). Innovations in technology during the Civil War. ThoughtCo. Web.
McNamara, R. (2020a). Battle of Bull Run: Summer of 1861 disaster for the Union army. ThoughtCo. Web.
McNamara, R. (2020b). The attack of Fort Sumter in April 1861 began the American Civil War. ThoughtCo. Web.
Smith, M. A. (2017). Engineering victory: How technology won the Civil War. Civil War Book Review, 19(1).