Ancient Weapons in Civil War Combat

[rbortega]

I was watching a documentary about the deadliest ancient weapons used in warfare and wondered if any of them would have still be effective in Civil War combat. For example, what if the soldiers defending Cemetery Ridge against Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg had used multiple repeating crossbows? How much damage would the numerous arrows have done to the opposing force? Any thoughts?

 

[huskerblitz]

I've seen accounts of rock chucking. That has to be one of the oldest forms of projectiles.

 

[thomas aagaard]

they didn't because muskets was far, far easier to make.

 

[Burning Billy]

A musket with a bayonet attached is an improvised spear.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

One of the most effective "Ancient Weapons" was sheer numbers of human beings. If you showed up at Cemetary Ridge with a defensive force of 25,000 soldiers and your opponent charged up the hill with 100,000 soldiers.....you were going to die! Seriously though, what purpose does this hypothetical nonsense have on a page titled " Civil War Weapons and Ammunition?" I have noticed that some of the most brilliant Civil War arms scholars we have had are showing up here less and less. Did you ever wonder why?
J.

 

[UCVRelics]

It is a very off the wall question but as I used to tell my students when I was a US Army Instructor, "The only stupid question is the one you don't ask" If we get to the boiling oil being poured then I will beat my head.

 

[major bill]

Swords go back centuries.

 

[Burning Billy]

Joe Brown's Pikes:
Southern Cold Steel
in Close Quarters

by LTC (Ret.) Joe Griffith

At the outbreak of the Civil War the new Confederate government had no standing army, few arms, and no artisans or factories to supply them. To meet the urgent demand to arm the thousands of volunteers coming into service, even the old-fashioned squirrel rifles and double barreled shotguns in the hands of civilians were requisitioned into service. However, something more had to be done to meet the increasing arms demand.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Georgia Militia, Governor Joseph E. Brown took emergency action to arm his troops. He put the shops in the State to work making what came to be known as "Joe Brown's Pikes." In his book Reminiscences of the Civil War, General John B. Gordon described the pike as "a sort of rude bayonet, or steel lance, fastened, not to guns, but to long poles or handles, and were given to men who had no other arms."1

On February 20th, 1862, Governor Brown issued an executive letter addressed to the Mechanics of Georgia with a patriotic appeal to the artisans of the State (e.g., machine shops and blacksmiths) to make ten thousand Georgia pikes with a six foot staff, and an accompanying side knife with eighteen inch blade, weighing about three pounds.

Link to full article

No doubt to the great relief of Confederate soldiers from Georgia, they were never used in battle, but it is an interesting (and weird!) story about antiquated weapons in the Civil War.

 

[UCVRelics]

There were so few deaths and injuries reported because of the saber, swords and bayonets, that they were ultimately negligible. Of a reported 250,000 injured soldiers treated in Union hospitals during the war, only 922 were reported to have been injured by what was referred to as an "edged weapon."

 

[DixieRifles]

r, "The only stupid question is the one you don't ask"

I agree. And i say the same thing to visitors of my website who email me inquiries about WW2 info.
I think it is a good Q and it got me to thinking of an example, such as a chain shot. Not exactly primitive but that certainly wasnt a progressive idea.

Im sure there are some examples found in either naval or siege warfare.

 

[JOHN42768]

I believe Spiked wooden barriers have history

 

[Jobe Holiday]

You have all mentioned arms that could have actually been used, etc., and that is fine, but remember the point is that the original post was about "...repeating crossbows..."
J.

 

[major bill]

There are reasons these ancient weapons are no long used. Better weapons have been developed.

 

[FloridaCSA]

One of the most effective "Ancient Weapons" was sheer numbers of human beings. If you showed up at Cemetary Ridge with a defensive force of 25,000 soldiers and your opponent charged up the hill with 100,000 soldiers.....you were going to die! Seriously though, what purpose does this hypothetical nonsense have on a page titled " Civil War Weapons and Ammunition?" I have noticed that some of the most brilliant Civil War arms scholars we have had are showing up here less and less. Did you ever wonder why?
J.

The side with the biggest numbers doesn't always win but yeah I get what you're saying.

As far as repeating crossbows. Like has already been mentioned there's reasons why they were replaced by newer technology. Hypothetically I guess you'd have to study older wars to see the effects they had and compare it to what you know about civil war tactics. I don't know if that makes any sense I'm tired. Personally I'd take the musket and bayonet over a crossbow of any kind.

 

[John Hartwell]

The Chinese used repeating crossbows some 2000 years ago, but well before the 9th century they were no longer used. It was probably a combination of their difficulty of manufacture, weight, inaccuracy and unreliability (prone to jamming) that did them in. Besides, how many extra wagons would it it take to keep a regiment of "repeating-crossbowmen" supplied with bolts?

 

[gary]

An intact repeating crossbow was found in Xian. I wish the Chinese would reproduce and sell them here. C'mon killer rabbit.

 

[rebelatsea]

There are reasons these ancient weapons are no long used. Better weapons have been developed.

The crossbow in modern form was and still is used in clandestine warfare because it is silent, makes no visible light and it's bolt heads can constructed in such a way as to penetrate body armour that will stop bullets.,

 

[O' Be Joyful]

In my own view a simple request to a mod, such as @jgoodguy , @matthew mckeon , etc to move this to the What If Forum would be far more effective than ridiculing a fellow member for lack of interest in a particular forum or speculating on the lack of participation by experts. Respectfully & IMHO.

EDIT Hey @bdtex a little help please.

 

[zburkett]

There were lancers during the war and I read of one charge by them. It wasn't that successful.

 

[major bill]

There were lancers during the war and I read of one charge by them. It wasn't that successful.

Few lances and pikes were issued. I have only seen limited use of the lance and no combat use of the pike.