The American Civil War cost more than 600,000 lives. This was a war in which families were torn apart with family members fight for different sides, the Union or Confederacy. The American Civil War is often called the first truly "modern" war, because that conflict experienced the tremendous impact of drastic scientific and technological changes associated with the Industrial Revolution which flowered in America during the nineteenth century. This was the first time that repeating weapons were used. No longer would wooden ships rule the waves - ironclads became the key to naval superiority. Many times old technology fought against new technology with a devastating outcome. The Civil War witnessed the introduction of new weapons and other industrial technology that would change warfare forever and make this conflict the bloodiest in our nation's history.
             Over 600,000 Americans died in the war, with disease killing twice as many as those lost in battle. 50,000 survivors returned home as amputees. The losses sustained during this war currently exceed the total of all American casualties in all other wars combined. Just the first major battle, Shiloh, exceeded the number of losses for America in all other wars up to April 1862.
             Historians generally agree that the reason for this was because this was a time of transition for the military. Armies and Navies were still using tactics which dictated massing forces together in large formations in order to bring the greatest possible firepower to bear on an enemy. At the same time, weapons were being developed which were accurate and lethal well beyond any arms of the earlier conflicts. As a result of these two conditions many more casualties were sustained. Add to that the lack of medical knowledge of disease and infection and the numbers truly began to grow.
             Military developments during the American Civil War included: rifled muskets, breach loaders, cartridge rounds, repeatin
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