Lincoln and the Tools of WarFascinated by mechanical gadgetry and technology, Lincoln introduced breechloaders and machine guns into warfare and promoted the use of incendiary weapons, ironclad warships, breechloading cannons, and aerial reconnaissance. Robert Bruce chronicles the President's struggle against bureaucratic red tape and his dealings with the colorful parade of inventors, ordinance experts, bureaucrats, military officers, and lobbyists who heralded a new era in warfare. |
Contents
CAPTAIN DAHLGREN | 1 |
GENERAL RIPLEY | 22 |
MEN WITHOUT GUNS | 37 |
NO TIME FOR NOVELTIES | 59 |
INVENTORS IN THE WHITE HOUSE | 75 |
RAMSAY AND THE ARSENAL | 89 |
BUREAUCRATS AND BREECHLOADERS | 99 |
THE COFFEEMILL GUN | 118 |
THE PRESIDENT PERSEVERES | 179 |
TRIAL BY COMBAT | 194 |
ADMIRAL DAHLGREN | 207 |
GUNNING FOR CHARLESTON | 228 |
RIPLEYS LAST STAND | 249 |
FAREWELL TO ARMS | 268 |
A PEAL OF ORDNANCE | 289 |
Notes | 301 |
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Common terms and phrases
2nd sess 38th Cong Abraham Lincoln Absterdam April Armory arms Army arsenal artillery Balch Benét Berdan Boston breech breech-loading rifles breechloaders bullet Butler Cameron cannon Captain carbines cartridge Charleston Chief of Ordnance Christopher Spencer Civil coffee-mill guns coln Colonel command Confederate Dahlgren Diary Dickson Diller Dingee Dyer Inquiry fire Frémont George Greek Fire H. A. Wise Halsted Henry hundred Ibid incendiary Inventions inventor Irregular Book James John June Letters Rec'd 1861 Letters Sent Lieutenant Lincoln Mss M. V. Dahlgren machine guns March McClellan Memoir military Misc mortar muskets muzzle-loaders Navy Yard Ordnance Department Ordnance Office Patent Potomac powder President Lincoln projectile Ramsay rebel regiment Ripley Ripley's rocket Scientific American Secretary Sharpshooters shells shot smoothbores Spencer rifles Springfield Springfield Armory Stanton thousand tion took trial troops Union War Department Washington Navy Yard Washington Star weapons White House Wise Mss wrote Yankee York