Re: Civil War - "First Modern War" question.Posted by James R. Reynolds on July 27, 2001 at 21:21:29: In Reply to: Re: Civil War - "First Modern War" question. posted by Bryan Howerton on July 27, 2001 at 13:39:50:
Concerning point 4. With the expanded use of rifled shoulder weapons, line of battle formations were no longer effecient. One could no longer march up to with 50 or 60 yards of the enemy, halt, aim and fire. The rifle extended the effective range out to hundred instead of tens of yards. Also, once the yanks got that "damned yankee rifle that can be loaded on Sunday and shot all week" (the Henry underlever-action repeater)the rate of fire was increased so much that men marching in "line of battle" really proved to be a casuality waiting to happen. This changed infantry tactics for all future wars.
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