In the U.S. civil war did the soldiers usually have bayonets on their guns?

Question

this has to do with an essay for history class..

Answer 1

Yes, they were nasty things in the shape of a triangle.  

Answer 2

All sodiers were issued a bayonet weather they were put on their guns or not would depend weather they were given the order to and that order would not be given unless an assault was made. I know this is not a yes or no answer but maby it will give you differant view.

Answer 3

They did have them. But there was a strong opposition not to use them on their fellow brothers.  

Answer 4

My father has an antique rifle from the Civil War era and it has a bayonet on it.

Answer 5

Generally, no.  Bayonets throw off the balance of a rifle, make the whole thing heavier, and tend to get caught on things.

They usually carried them and attached them on command before an assault ("fix bayonets").

Answer 6

you bet your *** they did..   Close quarters combat, since the rifle they had only was good for one shot, unless they reloaded, which took about 30 seconds if they were fast and not nervous

Answer 7

Absolutely! The guns were loaded veerry slowly. There was a necessity, a gun with out a bayonet was a useless one in many circumstances in the civil war. I guess the answer simply is yes. It gave each soldier a better chance to fight on/protect themselves if they weren't reloaded in time.