I had always heard that this war also shaped the way warfare and war technology advanced, making this war a cornerstone for all future wars. Foner mentioned several ways. With the development of railroads, armies could receive more weapons, medicine, supplies, and troops, much quicker than previous wars like the Revolutionary War for example, or the Mexican War. Also, maritime war ships were introduced during the Civil War, which created floating ships of havoc up and down the rivers of the south. We've also seen the revolutionary technological advancement of the telegraph, which now enabled armies to hear of ambushes, and advancements, preparing them for "surprise" attacks. Gun advancements also revolutionized war combat, during the Civil War. The new "rifle" allowed soldiers to fire at long range, not short range, like previous muskets used in previous wars.