Burnside carbine - American Civil War rifles

The Burnside carbine was a breech-loading carbine that saw widespread use during the American Civil War.
The carbine was designed and patented by Ambrose Burnside, who resigned his commission in the U.S. Army to devote himself full time to working on the weapon. The carbine used a special brass cartridge, also invented by Burnside. Pressing the weapon's two trigger guards opened the breech block and allowed the user to insert a cartridge. When the trigger was pulled, the hammer struck a percussion cap and caused a spark; a hole in the base of the cartridge exposed the black powder to this spark. The unique, cone-shaped cartridge sealed the joint between the barrel and the breech. Most other breech-loading weapons of the day tended to leak hot gas when fired, but Burnside's design eliminated this problem.

Brunswick Rifle - American Civil War rifles

The Brunswick rifle was a large caliber (.704) muzzle-loading thumping rifle manufactured for the British Army at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield in the early 19th century.
The Brunswick had a two groove barrel designed to accept a "belted" round ball. There are four basic variants of the British Brunswick Rifle (produced in .654 and .704 caliber, both oval bore rifled and smooth bore). They are the Pattern 1836, the Pattern 1841 , the Pattern 1848 and the Pattern 1840 Variant. The weapon was introduced to replace the Baker rifle and weighed from over 9 to over 10 pounds without its bayonet attached, depending on the pattern.

Most important battles of the civil war

1. Vicksburg - Absolutely the most significant. The Union victory at Vicksburg split the south and sealed its eventual defeat. After Vicksburg the Union controlled the Mississippi River from it's headwaters in Wisconsin all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico.

2. Gettysburg - Lee's Army of Northern Virginia's high water mark. The loss of Lee's senior leadership was appalling and these men could never be replaced. Lee never went on the offensive again.

3. Atlanta - The victory came just before the election and ensured Lincoln a second term. With Lincoln reelected, and Democrat candidate George McClellan defeated, it was clear that no settlement would be reached. The war would be prosecuted to the end.