Of the five characteristics of Western Warfare, the emphasis on innovation best exemplifies warfare in the American Civil War. Throughout history, the combatant with the highest level of technology and innovation typically is victorious over numerically superior forces. For example, using new and innovative methods of constructing fortifications, in 1294 AD, the garrison of Harlech Castle in Wales, consisting of only 37 soldiers, was able to defend against a significantly numerically superior force. During the American Civil War, both sides used the emphasis on innovation to turn the three non-military technologies of the manufacture of interchangeable parts, railroads, and the telegraph, into weapons of modern Western warfare. During the early nineteenth century, gun smithing was an extremely skilled craft and most firearms were handmade, subsequently making them one of a kind . The bulk of the American industrial base was located in New England, and it was there that the “American system of manufacture” was born. As the demand for manufactured goods rose, many companies developed systems that would increase the overall output of their factories while decreasing the need for highly skilled tradesmen. The result was the ability to mass-produce nearly identical parts that could be used in any random selection of parts. The primary American army firearm of the day was the Springfield Musket. The armory at Springfield, Massachusetts, mass-produced the majority of these rifles using special machinery to make identical parts. During a tour of the Springfield Armory, the British Government was so impressed by this system of mass-production; they invested in the appropriate machinery to equip the Enfield Armory 1. As the American Civil war progressed, the demand for firearms increased as well. The Enfield Armory was able to meet the increased demand for