The weapons, which soldiers used during the Civil War, were crude but deadly. Some of the more common weapons were cannons, breech loading rifle, pistols, and swords. Guns were useful for short distance fighting but proved too inaccurate for long-range shooting. This due to the fact that the guns did not have grooves in the barrel in order to get the speed to kill.

The cannons were among the most dreaded weapons of all. These cannons shot out heavy balls of lead which were made to explode on impact. If some soldiers were crammed in a group, one cannon ball was usually more than enough to kill all of them in a single shot. Below are information and the weapons used.

The shoulder arms; the rifle, the smooth-bore, and the shotgun, were the most important weapons of the Civil War. Great technical improvements made to these weapons in the first half of the 19th century were tested and improved upon during the war years.

The rifled barrel improved range and accuracy, the breech-loading system made reloading faster, and the percussion lock increased reliability. These developments brought the shoulder arm into the modern age, and ensured that the War of Secession would be the bloodiest the nation had ever known.

In 1861, both sides were ill-prepared for a war. The Confederacy had only about 150,000 shoulder arms, most of which were really out-of-date. When the call for volunteers went out, young men, especially in the South, were urged to show up with their own weapons. And that they did, with anything they could get their hands on: shotguns, squirrel guns, and giant .75 caliber "smoke poles" which, it was said, would "kick farther than they would shoot!"

Artillery was an essential branch of the armed forces during the Civil War. A battery of booming cannons was a terrifying sight to an attacking regiment. Most guns had an effective range of about 1500 yards, although the newer rifled guns were accurate to well over a mile.

Artillery ranged considerably in size, firing distance, and power. Civil War artillery was designated by either the diameter of its bore or the weight of its solid ammunition. Field artillery was organized into batteries, each having four to six guns, and commanded by a captain. A lieutenant was charged with a section of two guns, and each gun had a crew of usually nine cannoneers who would load and fire the weapons. Each artillery piece was attached to a limber, which contained an ammunition chest and was hauled by a six-horse team. A caisson, which held two more ammunition chests, another limber, and a spare wheel, supported each gun.. The team had a driver for each pair of mounts.

The bayonet was a standard piece of equipment for both the North and the South. When used skillfully, the bayonet charge could be a very effective tactic, although it seldom resulted in prolonged hand-to-hand combat. When compared to firearms, bayonets accounted for very few wounds.

Toward the end of the war, the bayonet seemed a relic, used more in cooking and as a makeshift candleholder than in battle.

The sword was a symbol of strength and was embraced by the troops to an extent that far outweighed its practical value. To officers, the sword was an emblem of rank. Ornate and decorative sabers, never meant to be used in battle, were often given as gifts of esteem or distinguished service.

For the cavalry trooper, however, the saber was a weapon first and foremost, so it was plain and practical. A sword cut or a blunt hit at close quarters could inflict instant death or a nasty wound.