One of the more interesting weapons used during the Civil War was the Gatling gun. A drawing of one is above. It's unusual in that it was fired by turning a crank, and could fire about six hundred rounds a minute. It actually saw battlefield use only during the seige of Petersburg, Virginia, in 1864.

 

The Springfield rifle was the most frequently used firearm during the war. It had interchangeable parts, making repair easier. Its barrel was grooved, or "rifled," which permitted better accuracy.

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