What was the first Modern War?

[scout1067]

I am thinking of narrow military tactical and strategic technology.  Telegraph, railroad, breech-loader, rifles, etc.  The methods and economy is best left to another debate entirely because there we are talking about societal transformation as well as military applications.  There are no factories on the battlefield.

[Wally]

I'm going with the Crimean war; 1st tactical use of telegraph and RxR. getting to closer to modern artillery. First photographed war, no, not to the extent of the AmCivWar but photos none-the-less. Assording to one article I read the use of steam-powered tractors (cat-type)... almost tanks. Advent of better med care (thx FN)... newspapers involved more, etc., etc.

Or you could consider it the last pre-modern war... since it was tha last that most all combatants used muzzle loaders (score for modern as most were rifled), though breech loaders were around.

[Aetheling]

After reading an article about the Gatling gun, I tend to agree that the first modern war is the American Civil War

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatling_gun


"an early rapid-fire weapons and a forerunner of the modern machine gun"

[DonaldBaker]

After reading an article about the Gatling gun, I tend to agree that the first modern war is the American Civil War

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatling_gun


"an early rapid-fire weapons and a forerunner of the modern machine gun"

And you would be correct.

[Wally]

The almost tank doesn't trump the almost machine gun???

"Richard Edgeworth invented the Caterpillar track in 1770. In the Crimean War a small number of steam powered tractors based on this design proved very successful in the muddy terrain."

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWtankdevelop.htm

[scout1067]

The Gatling gun is only a forerunner of the modern machine in being able to produce continuous repeating fire.  The principles of operation between the two are completely different.  That is the main reason the Gatling Gun is only used in specialist operations.  It is a very complex system that requires lots of maintenance.  I like this quote from the Wikipedia article which highlights why I generally dislike Wikipedia.

Developed following the 1851 invention of the mitrailleuse  by the Belgian Army, the Gatling gun was designed by the American inventor Dr. Richard J. Gatling in 1861 and patented in 1862.[2]  Gatling wrote that he created it to reduce the size of armies and so reduce the number of deaths by combat and disease, and to show how futile war is.

Yes the Gatling Gun was developed after the mitrailleuse , which was a French and not Belgian invention but other than the two weapons time of invention they have absolutely nothing in common.

I stick with my assertion that the Crimean War was the fist "Modern" War.  All the trappings of modernity will only exist in whatever the current war which is why I kind of defined what thought modernity was when I this thread started taking off.

I guess a better way of phrasing the question is what was the first war of the modern era?  I am speaking more of technology than anything else.  Technology is mainly why I pick the Crimean War, it was the first in which modern industrial methods were used to produce the weapons and also the first in which what are arguably the immediate forerunners of present day weapons were used.

[Wally]

....

I stick with my assertion that the Crimean War was the fist "Modern" War.  All the trappings of modernity will only exist in whatever the current war which is why I kind of defined what thought modernity was when I this thread started taking off.

I guess a better way of phrasing the question is what was the first war of the modern era?  I am speaking more of technology than anything else.  Technology is mainly why I pick the Crimean War, it was the first in which modern industrial methods were used to produce the weapons and also the first in which what are arguably the immediate forerunners of present day weapons were used.

I'll stand up for this too.

[Aetheling]

Technology ?!

I got the first modern war here : the dawn of humanity (everything is modern compared to before)

[Phidippides]

It's my understanding that the Maxim gun, which post dates the Gatling gun, was the first truly effective machine gun used in war on a broad scale.

Incidentally, when I was in college I knew a girl who was in the family of Richard Jordan Gatling and whose last name was Gatling.  I thought that was kind of cool.

[Wally]

So it was in 1893 at the Shangani River; Rhodes and the boys lost four to the heathen Matebele (1500 KIA) with Mr. Maxims invention. The satire by the liberals became the Chartered Company Volunteers' anthem...

"Onward Chartered Soldiers, on to heathen lands,
Prayer books in your pockets, rifles in your hands.
Take the florious tidings where trade can be done,
Spread the peaceful gospel --- with a Maxim gun.

Tell the wretched natives, sinful are their hearts,
Turn their heathen temples into spirit marts.
And if to your teaching they will not succumb,
Give them another sermon with the Maxim gun...

When the Ten Commandments they quite understand,
You their Chief must hocus, and annex their land;
And if they misguided call you to account,
Give them another sermon --- with a Maxim from the Mount."

[mudita]

I vote for the French Revolutionary Wars because:
    1. People were being urged to fight for an ideology.
    2. Conscription was used.

[scout1067]

I vote for the French Revolutionary Wars because:
    1. People were being urged to fight for an ideology.
    2. Conscription was used.

Mudita,

Please see  Here  for how I am trying to frame the debate.