Gatling, Richard J.

Richard J. (1818-1903), an American inventor. He was a native of North Carolina. He was possessed of unusual mechanical ability. Among his inventions are a machine for sowing rice, a wheat drill, a hemp brake, and a steam plow. He is known best, however, as the inventor of the Gatling gun. It was used for the first time during the peninsular campaign conducted by General Butler on the James River. It consists essentially of ten gun barrels fastened in a parallel position to a central shaft. They are turned by a crank. Cartridges are set into the breech through an electrical arrangement called a hopper. The Gatling gun is a terribly destructive piece of ordnance. As high as 1,200 shots can be fired per minute. By swinging the muzzle slowly to right and left the horizon may be swept by a veritable leaden hail. See Cannon