OT- War between the states. Part 2.

[Gun Smith]

Is it OK if I call these series of postings this? I sure don't want to create another war by my use of a title. Anyway, thanks for the positive comments.
I wonder if we may have also found a new off-topic . Our ancestor stories about the war, North or South.

Part 2.
The FIRST Modern War.
FIRST practical machine gun. (Was?).
FIRST repeating rifle used in combat. (Was?).
FIRST use of railroads as a major means of transporting troops and supplies.
FIRST mobile siege artillery mounted on rail cars.
FIRST extensive use of trenches and field fortifictions.
FIRST large scale use of land mines, known as "subterranean shells"
FIRST naval mines or "torpedoes".
FIRST ironclad ships engaged in combat. (Were?).
FIRST multi-manned submarine. (Was?).
to be continued.

The first superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, Commodore Franklin Buchannan, commanded the C.S.S. Virginia(Merrimac) in it's first engagement. On the first ship to surrender under the Virginia's guns was Buchannan's brother,an officer of the U.S. Navy.

At the age of 15 George Westinghouse ran away from home and joined the Union Army. Neither he, or Elias Howe rose to officer rank, but both are today in the Hall of Fame for their achievements. (For what?).

Losses K., M., W.
2nd. Bull run, VA. 8/30/1862 Union 7,800 Confederate 3,700.
Richmond, KY. 8/30/1862 4,900 750.
Harper's Ferry, VA. 9/12-15/1862 11,783 500.
Antietim, MD. 9/17/1862 12,469 25,899.

Cost of War to U.S. Government 1861-1865.
$727,000,000 to clothe and feed the Army.
$18,000,000 to clothe and feed the Navy.
$339,000,000 for transportation of troops and supplies.
$127,000,000 for cavalry and artillery horses.
$76,000,000 for the purchase of arms.
$8,000,000 to maintain and provide for Confederate prisoners.

More tomorrow.

[Ysabel Kid]

That's not chump change today, but can you imagine back then?

Keep these posts coming!

[gamekeeper]

Fascinating stuff. Thanks for posting.

Reenactment of the War between the States is very popular over here, you can buy nearly all the equipment and uniforms and see quite a few battles put on for the public.

I have a few books on the subject and have been known to wear a CSA kepi when I used to ride Quarter horses in the New Forest.

[Griff]

The more "historically accurate" of re-enactors still order their uniform cloth from the same mill in England that made it during the war.

[Doc Hudson]

The FIRST Modern War.
FIRST practical machine gun. (Was?).Union Repeating Gun, aka Coffee Mill Gun
FIRST repeating rifle used in combat. (Was?).Either the Henry Model of 1860 or the Spenser, not certain which got in the first shots.
FIRST use of railroads as a major means of transporting troops and supplies.
FIRST mobile siege artillery mounted on rail cars.
FIRST extensive use of trenches and field fortifictions.
FIRST large scale use of land mines, known as "subterranean shells"
FIRST naval mines or "torpedoes".
FIRST ironclad ships engaged in combat. (Were?).CSS Virginia (aka Merimac) and the USS Monitor
FIRST multi-manned submarine. (Was?).CSS Hunley, which was actually a privately owned vessel and was operated by Army personnel during most of its career.