The Battle of Gettysburg saw the opposing armies using a variety of weapons. Bayonets, swords and revolvers were used, but the primary infantry weapon was the single-shot, muzzle-loading, rifled musket, measuring 4.7 feet long and weighing a little more than 9 pounds. The most common were the Springfield and British-made Enfield rifled musket.

They had a maximum effective range of 400 yards. Black powder, used as a propellant, was ignited by a percussion cap, sending a conical-shaped soft lead slug (or Minie ball) out of the barrel at high speed. The rifling inside the barrel caused the projectile to spin, giving it greater range and accuracy.