Invention of the Gatling Gun
Creator of the Gatling gun, Richard Gatling
The Gatling Gun was created in 1861 by American inventor Richard Jordan Gatling, and was patented on May 9, 1862, for use by the Union forces during the Civil War. Based off the Puckle gun, the Gatling gun featured ten barrels that rotated around a central point, allowing a very high speed of fire. The gun was crank operated and required a four man crew. The original Gatling gun used the Bruce feed system that would accept two rows of .45/70 cartridges. Although the gun was created in 1841 for use in the Civil War, it took the weapon a little bit of time for the gun to launch, since the government would not but the gun at first because it did not have a trigger and could not be deployed quickly in combat. They were first used by Union general Benjamin Butler when he bought twelve and used them to successfully defeat his enemies on the Petersburg front during the Civil War. It was then both sides acknowledged the weapon's power and effect in combat. From then on, it was used by both sides for the duration of the Civil War. However, the Gatling gun did not disappear after the Civil War. From there, it underwent many changes and was used on ,any different fronts. By 1876, the gun could fire approximately 1,200 rounds per minute, although 400 rounds per minute was a more reasonable and realistic number.
About Richard Jordan Gatling
Dr. Richard Jordan Gatling (September 12, 1818 to February 26, 1903) was born in Hertford County, North Carolina and died in New York City at age 84. Richard Gatling was best known by his peers as an inventor, although he was also a farmer. At age 21, Gatling created the screw propeller for the steamboat before learning the same invention had been patented two months previously by John Ericsson. At age 36, Gatling moved to Missouri, where he invented a rice-sowing machine and a wheat drill while working at a dry goods store. These machines greatly impacted the agricultural system in the country. In 1850, after contracting chicken pox for a short time, Gatling became interested in medicine and graduated from the Ohio Medical College with an MD, although he never practiced in order to pursue his inventor career.
By the outbreak of the Civil War, Gatling lived in Indiana. There he devoted his studies to the perfection of firearms. The same year as the war broke out, Gatling invented his most famous piece of work, the Gatling gun, and founded the Gatling Gun Company a year later.
The Gatling gun was invented after Richard noticed that most men in the Civil War were lost to disease instead of gunfire. In 1877, he said "It occurred to me that if I could invent a machine- a gun- which could by its rapidity of fire, enable one man to do as much battle duty as a hundred, that it would, to a large extent supersede the necessity of large armies, and consequently, exposure to battle and disease [would] be greatly diminished." (Paul Wahl and Don Toppel, The Gatling Gun, Arco Publishing, 1971)
The gun was based off Gatling's seed planter, and though it was created during the Civil War, it saw very little action. This is because Gatling was accused of being a copperhead due to his North Carolina roots, but this could nver be proven, for Gatling was never affiliated with the Confederate government or military and did not even reside in North Carolina during the time of the war. Although General Benjamin Butler and Admiral David Dixon Porter both bought Gatling guns, the US government did not officially start purchasing Gatling guns until 1866. In 1870 Gatling sold his patents to the gun to Colt.
By the outbreak of the Civil War, Gatling lived in Indiana. There he devoted his studies to the perfection of firearms. The same year as the war broke out, Gatling invented his most famous piece of work, the Gatling gun, and founded the Gatling Gun Company a year later.
The Gatling gun was invented after Richard noticed that most men in the Civil War were lost to disease instead of gunfire. In 1877, he said "It occurred to me that if I could invent a machine- a gun- which could by its rapidity of fire, enable one man to do as much battle duty as a hundred, that it would, to a large extent supersede the necessity of large armies, and consequently, exposure to battle and disease [would] be greatly diminished." (Paul Wahl and Don Toppel, The Gatling Gun, Arco Publishing, 1971)
The gun was based off Gatling's seed planter, and though it was created during the Civil War, it saw very little action. This is because Gatling was accused of being a copperhead due to his North Carolina roots, but this could nver be proven, for Gatling was never affiliated with the Confederate government or military and did not even reside in North Carolina during the time of the war. Although General Benjamin Butler and Admiral David Dixon Porter both bought Gatling guns, the US government did not officially start purchasing Gatling guns until 1866. In 1870 Gatling sold his patents to the gun to Colt.