Top Ten Civil War Innovations-- Part 2: Sewing Machines, Standard Sizes and Weaponry

3.  SEWING MACHINES--  These were used for tents, uniforms and blankets.  This also led to coated fabrics like canvas tents and rubberized tarpaulins.

4.  STANDARD SIZES--  Before the war, if you needed shoes or something to wear, either it was made at home or, ion the case of shoes, a cobbler.  Things were made to the individual.  But with huge armies to uniform and provide shoes, it became necessary to start having standard sizes which would be then issued.

5.  WEAPONRY--  Both sides used newly-developed  bored rifles that gave bullets a spinning motion.  This caused effective range to be extended from 100 yards to 500 yards.  Minie balls were fired from them, which flattened on impact, shattering bones and tissues.  The old musket  balls generally passed right through the body, causing much less damage.

--Old Secesh