How did the armies attack during the Civil War?

Question

U.S. History

Answer 1

Face to face, sometimes as little as fifty feet apart. In a long rifle shooting a rifle from that era was used. A charge was used in the same way as back then. An area was drawn out, a circle six feet in diameter was drawn. The shot was fired, and missed. It took four shots before the target was hit. This was a crack shot, with a smooth bore rifle and minni ball of a .60 caliber shooting at a six foot circle.

On a field of battle it was written by the same person the wrote "Red Badge of Courage" in the Battle of Gettysburg.
Bystanders could see the "flash of rifle-sticks" flying through the air, that were forgotten to be taken out by the soldier.
Rifles were found with as many as ten charges in them with not one shot fired.

Many strange things happen on the battlefields in those days.

Answer 2

One of the greatest generals of the Civil War was William T. Sherman. There is a book derived from his memoirs 'From Atlanta to the Sea' covering his campaigns from 1864 to the end of the war. It will tell you all you want to know, written by one who was not only there, but in command. Obtainable from a good bookstore or library.

Answer 3

Generally speaking they took up positions on opposite ends of a large open area and began by swapping artillery salvos. Then one side or the other would mount an assault in between rifle loadings.

The officers stood behind the troops with senior officers behind them as they directed rifle and artillery fire. On occasion, primarily the confederates, would lay in wait and ambush the enemy or set up snipers. Both sides employed snipers specifically for getting the senior officers.

Some of the big battles were watched by civilians, some even making a day of it. They would sit in carriages and in lawn chairs and watch the battle from a high ridge.

Answer 4

Specifically they used neoplionic tactics until the battles in and around richmond, especially the siege of petersburg, then it was more remonicent of WW1 with trench warfare

Red badge of courage was the battle of chancllorsville