Civil War Tactics: Shooting as Many as Possible

This video is part of the series How We Became America: The Untold History. Made for students and teachers, but easy-to-consume by all, the series is designed to fill in the gaps and bring new stories to life.

[politics]

All valid and good points but a very simplified explanation as there were many other factors also involved. With Musket, Cannon And Sword is the best book I've ever read on this topic and it goes into great detail about the evolution of these tactics including the often importance of the impact on morale of mass volleys vs independent fire. While line formations dominated the wars of the 19th century there are exceptions and the French developed some interesting adaptions that played to their advantage in the Napoleonic wars. They realized that line formations while maximizing fire power had some glaring shortcomings. They were particularly vulnerable on their flanks and rough terrain would break up the advance of an extended line exposing lead elements covering clear ground to be greatly exposed while units traversing tougher ground would fall behind.

[Panz]

the fact that in medieval times they "prefered" the wedge formation is still up to debate for obvious reasons. Like the fact that the first in the wedge would be probably immediately killed by a good defensive formation.

[Sivvester]

Stuff like this is superb, makes me miss the heydey of PBS. This is EXACTLY like something I would expect to see on (modern) version of some of its historical shows. Love it!

[effen_aey_man]

Breach loading was the biggest game changer in firearms technology, you could reload from a covered position at the same speed you could standing up and that alone changed how fire arm tactics would be dictated, it lead into the repeating carbine, which lead into the bolt action rifle. Once war started being fought with a gun that could load itself the doctrine truly changed

[dns]

It really comes down to communications and command and control. When you are communicating based on signal flags, bugle, and messenger you can't employ complex tactics with smaller elements. You literally need to get on line just to keep everyone in the same direction

[fredericnicholson]

The argument is incomplete, as it looks only at the firepower, but not at the and protection. This in return will reduce the firepower during a longer fight, because the long line is also the formation that causes the most casulties. Basically, the opponent cannot miss if any bullet fired at the right hight will find a target. considering that a soldier could fire up to 3 rounds per minute, would be a well orchestrated line of 4 (50% smaller target with identical firepower) be better suited.

[a.N.....]

"No longer solely relying on handheld weapons" what you mean the musket, rifle, pistol, shotgun and bayonet? All handheld weapons

[jamesvondenhuevel]

I like the Battlefield trust a lot, I really do but the graphics guy might need educated on bullets and shell casings as they have full bullet, shell casing and all flying through the air!

[Ryanair-ghcg]

Oh yeah! This is such a good description of tactics and strategies, love the editors, they did such a well job!

[michaelnewton]

I wish the myth of 100 yard battles would be better researched. In the two major battles of Shiloh and Antietam I showed in my Master's thesis that the average distance was 66 yards in both battles. This was because the tactics and the Rifles had not caught up to each other. The video is a good lesson on how the war was fought but not at great distances. You learn quickly that you hit someone when they are closer.

[simplymadness]

There were so many casualties because there was so many men. The number of men engaged in the major battles of the civil war dwarfed the number of men engaged in battles during the revolution.

[bsamexican]

i dont think the question is why did they fight linearly, form ranks, and fire volleys... its more so, why did they fight linearly, form ranks, and fire volleys while equipped with rifled muskets accurate out to 300 yards at what was essentially point blank range, if i had seen all the men around me go down, i wouldnt want to do that ever again

[philspaugy]

Why a Hall flintlock breechloading rifle when talking about flintlock muskets?

[StuninRub]

0:50 and fire the whole damn cartridge? Whoever made this doesn't know anything.

[Audibope]

wait, what musket can fire the entirety of a 5.56 cartridge?

[unfortunateson]

I’ve never understood these moronic death lines lol

[nicolaibrynildsen]

Could you please start uploading videos on odysee?
Its a great free speech plattform

[Ureconstructed]

That’s a Hall Rifle you showed at the beginning. They were rifled, and very accurate.

[merrickkibler]

Please no hip hop beats on civil war videos PLEASE

[joepetto]

This comment section is proof only NPCs care about blacked history