New Weapons of the Civil War
The Minie Ball
The Minie ball replaced the less accurate lead ball. The minie ball has grooves ingraved on it that match grooves in the gun; this causes the bullet to spin as it leaves the barrel. The spinning gives it more accuracy and range.
Grooved Barrels
Having a grooved barrel help the gun maintain accuracy and increase range. The gun was most affective with a Minie Ball bullet.
Canisters
A Civil War canister was the equivalent as a grenade today. The canisters where filled with sharp things, bullets, rocks, and anything that would make for good shrapnal. They were set with charges and fired out of cannons.
Cannons
Civil war cannons were the only artillery of that time. The cannons had grooves to increase accuracy and range of the balls. Canisters were fired out of cannons as well.
The Railroad
The railroad was the fastest form of transportation during that time. Troops and supplies were transported for the first time on a railroad during the Civil War. The North had twice the amount of tracks than the South.
The Telegraph
Telegraph-a system for transmitting messages from a distance along a wire, esp. one creating signals by making and breaking an electrical connection.