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Six Ways the Civil War Changed American Medicine

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150 years ago, the historic conflict forced doctors to get creative and to reframe the way they thought about medicine

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After the American Civil War broke out between northern and southern armies in 1861, both sides of the conflict hoped to best their opponents with more efficient and deadly technologies.

As well as new inventions, existing tools and devices were repurposed during the conflict. From battlefield machinery to modes of communication, these inventions and innovations greatly impacted civilians' and soldiers' lives, and ultimately changed the way war was fought forever.

Here are 5 of the most significant technological advancements of the American Civil War.

1. Rifles and Minié bullets

Though not a new invention, the rifle was mass-produced instead of muskets for the first time during the American Civil War. The rifle differed from the musket in that it was able to shoot more accurately and for longer distances: groves in the barrel gripped ammunition and spun bullets in such a way that when they left the barrel, they could travel more smoothly.

The introduction of the Minié (or Minie) ball was another technological development that impacted the way battles were fought. These new bullets, when fired out of a rifle, were able to travel further and with more accuracy due to little groves that helped it grip onto the inside of the barrel.

Additionally, they did not require a ramrod or mallet to load, allowing for quicker fire. They had a range of half a mile and were responsible for the vast majority of battle wounds, as these bullets could shatter bone. The groves in these bullets allowed for bacteria to grow, so when the bullet entered a soldier, it was more likely to cause an infection - leading to a more devastating wound and, potentially, amputation.

2. Ironclad warships and submarines

Naval warfare was not new during the Civil War; however, there were several advancements that drastically changed the way war was fought on the sea, including ironclad warships and submarines. Previously, wooden ships with cannons were used in warfare. But Civil War-era ships were fitted with iron or steel on the exterior so that cannons and other fire by the enemy could not pierce them. The first battle between such ships occurred in 1862 between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads.

Another change to naval warfare came in the form of submarines, used primarily by Confederate sailors. Invented long before this war, they were implemented as part of the South's strategy to break up blockades at key southern trading ports, with limited success.

In 1864, the CSS Hunley sank the Union blockade ship Housatonic off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, by ramming it with a torpedo. It was the first submarine to sink an enemy ship. The use of submarines and torpedoes foreshadowed modern sea warfare as we know it today.

3. Railroads

The railroad greatly impacted both northern and southern war strategies: they were used to transport soldiers and supplies, so they served as important targets for destruction. The North had a more extensive railway system than the South, allowing them to move supplies more quickly to troops in battle.

Though the train was invented before this period, it was the first time the American railroads were employed for a large conflict. Consequently, railway stations and infrastructure became targets for destruction in the South, as the Union army knew the damage that could be done by cutting off critical supply lines at major railroad hubs.

4. Photography

Photography was invented just before the start of the Civil War, and its commercialization and popularisation during the war changed the way that civilians understood war. The public was able to witness and react to events happening far beyond their towns, impacting their opinions on their leaders and the war. Exhibitions in major cities showed the aftermath of grisly battles and were later reproduced in newspapers and magazines, reaching wider audiences.

More intimately, photography allowed for people to retain keepsakes of those who were off fighting. Photographers travelled to camps, taking pictures of battle aftermaths, scenes of military life and portraits of officers. They were even hired to help with reconnaissance missions.

The most utilised print inventions were the tintype, ambrotype and the carte de visite, which could quickly mass-produce photographs for a variety of uses. Though earlier conflicts had been photographed, such as the Crimean War (1853-1856), the American Civil War was more extensively photographed than any conflict that preceded it.

5. Telegraphs

Lastly, communication during war was forever impacted by the invention of the telegraph. Invented by Samuel Morse in 1844, it is estimated that 15,000 miles of telegraph cable were used for military purposes throughout the Civil War. Telegraphs carried vital communication about battle positions and plans to the frontline, as well as to the government and even the public through news reporting.

President Lincoln frequently used the technology to message generals, and the media sent reporters out to battle sites, allowing reporting on the war to occur more quickly than ever before.

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5 Key Technological Developments of the American Civil War

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After the American Civil War broke out between northern and southern armies in 1861, both sides of the conflict hoped to best their opponents with more efficient and deadly technologies. As well as new inventions, existing tools and devices were repurposed during the conflict.

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The Civil War was fought at a time of great technological innovation and new inventions, including the telegraph, the railroad, and even balloons, became part of the conflict. Some of these new inventions, such as ironclads and telegraphic communication, changed warfare forever. Others, like the use of reconnaissance balloons, were unappreciated at the time but would inspire military innovations in later conflicts.

The first battle between ironclad warships occurred during the Civil War when USS Monitor met CSS Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads, in Virginia.

The USS Monitor, which had been built in Brooklyn, New York in an amazingly short time, was one of the most magnificent machines of its time. Made of iron plates riveted together, it had a revolving turret and represented the future of naval warfare.

The Confederate ironclad had been built on the hull of an abandoned and captured Union warship, USS Merrimac. It lacked the Monitor's revolving turret, but its heavy iron plating made it nearly impervious to cannonballs.

A self-taught scientist and showman, Prof. Thaddeus Lowe, had been experimenting by ascending in balloons just before the Civil War broke out. He offered his services to the government and impressed President Lincoln by going up in a balloon tethered to the White House lawn.

Lowe was directed to set up the U.S. Army Balloon Corps, which accompanied the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula Campaign in Virginia in the late spring and summer of 1862. Observers in balloons relayed information to officers on the ground via telegraph, which marked the first time aerial reconnaissance was used in warfare.

The balloons were an object of fascination, but the information they yielded was never used to its potential. By the fall of 1862, the government decided that the balloon project would be discontinued. It's interesting to think how later battles in the war, such as Antietam or Gettysburg, might have proceeded differently if the Union Army had the benefit of balloon reconnaissance.

The Minié Ball

The Minié ball was a newly designed bullet which came into widespread use during the Civil War. The bullet was much more efficient than earlier musket balls, and it was feared for its awesome destructive power.

The Minié ball, which gave off a terrifying whistling sound as it moved through the air, struck soldiers with tremendous force. It was known to shatter bones, and it is the primary reason why the amputation of limbs became so common in Civil War field hospitals.

The Telegraph

The telegraph had been revolutionizing society for nearly two decades when the Civil War began. News of the attack on Fort Sumter moved quickly via telegraph, and the ability to communicate over great distances nearly instantly was quickly adapted for military purposes.

The press made extensive use of the telegraph system during the war. Correspondents traveling with the Union armies quickly sent dispatches to the New York Tribune, New York Times, New York Herald, and other major newspapers.

President Abraham Lincoln, who was very interested in new technology, recognized the utility of the telegraph. He would often walk from the White House to a telegraph office in the War Department, where he would spend hours communicating by telegraph with his generals.

The news of Lincoln's assassination in April 1865 also moved quickly via the telegraph. The first word that he was wounded at Ford's Theatre reached New York City late on the night of April 14, 1865. The following morning the city's newspapers were publishing special editions announcing his death.

The Railroad

Railroads had been spreading throughout the nation since the 1830s, and its value to the military was obvious during the first major battle of the Civil War, Bull Run. Confederate reinforcements traveled by train to get to the battlefield and engage Union troops who had marched in the hot summer sun.

While most Civil War armies would move as soldiers had for centuries, by marching countless miles between battles, there were times when the railroad proved important. Supplies were often moved hundreds of miles to troops in the field. And when Union troops invaded the South during the final year of the war, destruction of railroad tracks became a high priority.

At the end of the war, Abraham Lincoln's funeral traveled to major cities in the North by rail. A special train carried Lincoln's body home to Illinois, a trip that took nearly two weeks with many stops along the way.

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Inventions Which Changed the Course of the Civil War

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The Civil War was fought at a time of great technological innovation and new inventions, including the telegraph, the railroad, and even balloons, became part of the conflict. Some of these new inventions, such as ironclads and telegraphic communication, changed warfare forever.