P6+19th+Century+War+Tactics

19th Century War Tactics

Radical Theories by Christopher Whitehead The Prussian Army provided what was seen as radical military thought. In 1848, the "Needle Gun" was developed. This gun was the first quick firing, bolt action rifle of it's kind. Thanks to this the Prussians were able to swarm the enemy with smaller, more tactile groups rather than a long line of rifles. Through this led to the change of mass army tactics, and taking advantage of the terrain at hand. At this point in history, war was still line fire, thanks to these radical ideas military tactics evolved immensely over the century.

Works Cited "Civil War Tactics in Perspective." John's Military History. N.P. n.d. Web. 11 Jan. 2013 

19th Century War Tactics

Current Belief of 19th Century war tactics by Robert Giordano

The war tactics of the 19th century were mainly focused on increased infantry tactics. The straight line fighting of the British and other European war tactics were becoming obsolete with the first guns and the civil war. The muskets and hand-to-hand combat items, like swords, were becoming quickly outdated. Now pike men and horseback riders were common in the war tactics, however, the revolution of the small arm and rifles and much-improved muskets lead to increased range and damage. Cannons and other naval options were prevalent; the technology was quickly evolving for fights at sea. Following Napoleon, the French army still wore the traditional flashy uniforms and not tactical camouflage. The modern view of an average soldier of the time was more of a training regarding the warrior’s lack of fighting time. People before his century thought that military wasn’t that important, and that the training for their military wasn’t top notch. Mainstream thoughts of a soldier in the 19-century were radically different. People respected their soldiers, and in turn, fully backed them up giving them food, and shelter whenever they needed it.

Sources: Goodman, Ronald. "Military Strategy and Tactics." //Mollosa//. Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc., n.d. Web. 11 Jan 2013. . Goodman, Ronald. "Strategy and Tactics ." //Scholastic//. Scholastic Publishing, Inc., n.d. Web. 11 Jan 2013. .

19th Century War Tactics - Emerging Theories by Alex Biggs

The 19th century brought about major changes in the tactics of war. According to a website about military tactics, "the development of the machine gun late in the 19th century would have its most telling effect in World War I"(Goodman). In the late 19th century, the machine gun was invented. It would have major uses is the wars to come. It is much more powerful than the conventional guns used in the past. Another site about the 19th century Civil War, as well as other 19th century wars, states that "major tactical change in the mid 19th century was pioneered by the Prussian army"(Hamill). The Prussian army invented new and more powerful weapons in the 19th century. The 19th century was a huge turning point for war tactics and an advancement in the weaponry used in war.

Sources: E.M. Goodman, Ronald. "Military Strategy and Tactics."//The Molossian Naval Academy//. Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc.. Web. 11 Jan 2013. Hamill, John. "Civil War Tactics in Perspective." //John's Military History//. N.p.. Web. 11 Jan 2013.