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The American Civil War is often called the first "modern" war because many new inventions and technological developments during that time changed the way war was fought and recorded.
One of the most interesting developments in Civil War inventions and technology was the use of the hot air balloon. Less than a week after the beginning of the Civil War, Professor Thaddeus Lowe made a flight on his hot air balloon and realized its potential in terms of aerial reconnaissance for the Union armies.
He persuaded the Union Army to use his hot air balloon.
During the Civil War, the South started to make submarines and use torpedoes to sink Union ships that were imposing a blockade. With the blockade, the South could no longer get manufactured goods from the North.
Both sides also built ironclads. Ironclads were steam-propelled war ships that were covered and protected by large plates of iron or steel to resist heavy shot.
Hand grenades, landmines, and machine guns also began to be used at that time.
It was during the Civil War that the telegraph, which had been invented in 1844, developed rapidly. During the conflict, 15,000 miles of telegraph cable were installed purely for military reasons. Mobile telegraph wagons reported and received communications from just behind the frontline.
The telegraph also contributed to the birth of modern journalism, helping journalists to report on the war very quickly.
Finally, the Civil War was the first war to use railroads. Railroads cut travel time by 90%. Trains allowed generals to transport their troops, supplies and armaments more quickly where they were needed. As a consequence, rail centres and railroad infrastructure became targets for attack.
