The major cause of casualties during the Civil War

Civil War- Reason for High Casualties

The American Civil War was a four-year battle between a divided country, early in 1861 as the Union tried to keep the country intact only pushing the Confederacy further and further towards the idea of succession from the Union. On April 12th 1861 the first shots were fired on Fort Sumpter starting the Four year blood bath that took the lives of more than 650,000 men. This Battle took Husbands from their Wives, Sons from their mothers, and Brothers from their Sisters. This War took a tremendous toll on family’s nation-wide, this changed people’s lives forever. In some area’s the population rate dropped by half, with some towns loosing 90% of the men. As the Civil War became fully involved by late 1861, New technology was coming into play. With faster shooting, higher capacity, and more accurate guns; Came larger death tolls. The induction of the new rifled barrel musket and “Minne-Ball”, Soldiers could now shoot over 750 yards accurately. Using this new technology, old field tactics now proved more deadly than successful. All great military men of that era had been trained at West Point, this means that every general used the same tactics. Could the Civil War’s High casualties be blamed on the old tactics while using new technology?

During the Civil War the doctor care was not near as advanced as today. After being shot and having an open wound it is very easy to get it infected. Considering the fact that when hit with a minne-ball your bone was most likely shattered. This was also a reason of the high casualty rate for the Civil War, not so much as being shot but the amputation that followed. I also found out that shooting glass shot was another way of mortally wounding someone. Possibly one of biggest losses during the Civil War was the loss of General Stonewall Jackson in May 1863.

The “Minne-Ball” was primarily similar throughout. It came in several sizes however the .58 caliber. The number is unknown butt if I had to guess that 9/10 rifles were this caliber which made getting ammo extremely simple. The .58 caliber chunk of lead weighs 480 grains and is about the size of the tip of your thumb. Almost 90% of deaths during the Civil War were from the Minne-ball, this means that it contributed to over 585,000 deaths. I believe that the bullets where designed to be extra deadly. Some soldiers even added their own little things such as carving an “X” in the top of the bullet or by making them explode. They made these exploding Minne-Balls by drilling a hole in the tip of the bullet, this was then followed by gun powder and a percussion cap.

I believe that if the south would have been able to get supplies the war would have continued for many more years and the casualty rates maybe double or triple. Losing 650,000 men to a war devastated this country, north and south both. I also believe that modern bullet technology focuses on flesh and not busted bones. The art of Weaponry has come a long way in 150 years.

Works Cited

Creative Element

For my Creative Element I have included a video of Loading and shooting a Musket. Enjoy!!!

Hickock, Andson. “1853 Enfield.” Nebraska, Lincoln, 7 July 2009.

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