Trivia 9/11/17 What am I?

[Trivia Master]

I served through the entire Civil War and beyond without taking sides. I was used by Privates all the way up to Generals. Though small in structure I was vital to the war effort and packed a bang when needed. What am I?

credit: @JOHN42768

 

[Cavalry Charger]

OK, I'm going to take a guess here 'cos that's all I've got...a percussion cap!

If I'm wrong, feel free to have a chuckle at my expense It is just a guess

 

[Schwallanscher]

could be anything from a percussion cap to a mk3 foldable outhouse

Edit - I would have liked to see a picture of the mk3 foldable outhouse.

hoosier

 

[SWMODave]

I kept going back and forth from cartridge box and the cap box. The cap box was smaller and packed the bang so I will go with it.

Moldy hardtack would have had more of a kick than a bang, so guess not

 

[Jimklag]

I served through the entire Civil War and beyond without taking sides. I was used by Privates all the way up to Generals. Though small in structure I was vital to the war effort and packed a bang when needed. What am I?

credit: @JOHN42768

Pure scientificwildassguess.

Answer: Percussion Cap

 

[Mike Serpa]

Percussion cap, handgun, musket, rifle, small cannon?

 

[Copperhead-mi]

I have no idea but I'll give it a stab. I was going to say a "prostitute" as my answer but then that would be along the lines of "who am I?" Only two things I can think of that fits the criteria would be a cup of coffee or a small arms cartridge.

 

[adisciu9]

rifle cartridge

 

[FarawayFriend]

Well, a bit more detail would have been helpful in this question!! But on the other hand this leaves us room for personal interpretation.
It will be one of these things, I guess:

The site that showed the above picture says: "Soldiers must carry everything they need for combat operations with them at all times. Individual load carrying equipment is designed to allow the Soldier to carry a basic load of ammunition, food, water, and first-aid gear."
https://www.armyheritage.org/75-information/soldier-stories/214-civilwarequipment

Most of these things were not used by privates AND generals, but canteens were and I guess cartridge boxes, holding 40 to 60 rounds of ammo were also.
As the word "packed" does not apply very well to canteens, I will go with a (leather) cartridge box, because it fulfills all the required points:

• used throughout the war
• small in size
  
• used by both Federals and Confederates
• used by all warriors from private to general officer
• vital to the war effort
  
• could be packed as needed.

www.okhistory.org/historycenter/forms/trunks/civilwartrunk.pdf

 

[kholland]

Are you a revolver

 

[DixieRifles]

Whiskey

 

[DBF]

Well since the question described something that "packed a bang", is slightly tricky - I thought of something medical and decided that the cone/sponge that delivered chloroform would be my answer. It did not take sides, served during the entire war, was small in structure, easily carried and administered by both armies, was used by all injured no matter the rank, was vital in the treatment and recovery in war wounds and packed a bang (as it knocked them flat on their backs) when used on the soldiers seeking treatment for their injuries.
http://www.history.com/topics/ether-and-chloroform
http://www.civilwarmed.org/anesthesia
https://www.cprcertified.com/medicine-in-the-american-civil-war

 

[JOHN42768]

Question credit

 

[Brenal]

Guessing here, you sound like a Percussion Cap?

 

[MRB1863]

Wild Guess: Derringers, pepper-box pocket pistols, and small revolvers like the Colt Baby Dragoon or teat-fire were often carried by enlisted men as a backup gun for close-quarters fighting

Source:

 

[amweiner]

I'm guessing this refers to percussion caps. A bang-up job on the question, if I may say.
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Percussion_cap&oldid=799470725

 

[Wallyfish]

I am going with a Cap Box. It is the smallest item typically carried by CW soldiers that could packed a bang. Other items I can think of are larger than the cap box so I am keying in on the small in structure clue for my answer.

 

[ikesdad]

A camp follower.

Edit - Welcome to the trivia game, ikesdad. You sure picked a tough question for your first time playing the game.

Hope you'll come back and play again. Next time, maybe you'll get a question that'll be easier to answer.

hoosier

 

[MC44]

a Minie Ball?

 

[nextcity]

Donkeys.