The most famous repeating rifle used during the Civil War was the Spencer Carbine. Initially opposed by the Union war department, the carbine wasn't implemented until the later stages of the war. Christopher Spencer had to personally demonstrate its superior capabilities to President Lincoln before it was given clearance for production.
Whereas standard muskets could fire 2-3 rounds per minute, the Spencer Carbine was able to fire 20 rounds. This created a massive tactical advantage for the North, as they were able to produce much more firepower than their southern counterparts. The South was never able to manufacture the weapons properly, therefore it was almost exclusively a Union weapon.
As one Union soldier said "I think the Confederate Soldiers are getting rattled; they are afraid of our repeating rifles...They say we are not fair, that we have guns we can load up on Sunday and shoot all the rest of the week" (Staff ). The impact this new weapon had on the North was a massive tactical advantage that had a heavy influence on the design of future weapons.
Sources
Armi Sport 1865 Spencer Carbine.mov. YouTube, 2013. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Staff, History Channel. "Civil War Technology." American Civil War. A&E Networks, 2010. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/wilsons-raiders-in-selma-alabama.22153/page-3
Whereas standard muskets could fire 2-3 rounds per minute, the Spencer Carbine was able to fire 20 rounds. This created a massive tactical advantage for the North, as they were able to produce much more firepower than their southern counterparts. The South was never able to manufacture the weapons properly, therefore it was almost exclusively a Union weapon.
As one Union soldier said "I think the Confederate Soldiers are getting rattled; they are afraid of our repeating rifles...They say we are not fair, that we have guns we can load up on Sunday and shoot all the rest of the week" (Staff ). The impact this new weapon had on the North was a massive tactical advantage that had a heavy influence on the design of future weapons.
Sources
Armi Sport 1865 Spencer Carbine.mov. YouTube, 2013. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Staff, History Channel. "Civil War Technology." American Civil War. A&E Networks, 2010. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/wilsons-raiders-in-selma-alabama.22153/page-3