Tactics

Three types of soldiers characterized most Civil War army units: Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery

Tactics

• A host of drill books and manuals-of-arms written in the 1850’s strictly defined the movements and maneuvers of each type of soldier. Generally, each unit’s capabilities and limitations dictated its style of combat.

Three types of soldiers characterized most Civil War army units: Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery.

• Infantry

  Lined up side-by-side at barely an arm’s length apart and two rows deep, infantry soldiers rested their guns on the shoulders of the soldiers in front of them for increased fire power.

• Cavalry

  Less often used for combat action, cavalry troops primarily served for protection of the army and courses of travel during advancements.

• Artillery

  One of the most versatile groups, artillery soldiers and their horses were strong forces in defending their fellow soldiers and occupied territory.