New Invention in Warfare

Barrycdog

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RICHMOND [VA] WHIG, December 12, 1864, p. 2, c. 3

New Invention in Warfare.

There is now on exhibition in the rotunda of the capitol of Alabama, what we would pronounce to be a very destructive breech loading battery of small arms, the invention of Mr. John H. Foreman, formerly of Holly Springs, Miss., but now of company D, State Artillery, at Mobile. We agree with the Mail that as one of the most dangerous arms ever brought to bear against cavalry attacks, it is probably without a competitor, and will undoubtedly be brought into general use as soon as its peculiar merits shall have become generally known. It has already been warmly endorsed by Gen. N. B. Forrest, the greatest cavalry leader in the Confederate States service, and is strongly recommended by Gen. Dabney H. Maury, commandant of the district of the Gulf at Mobile, by whose order the battery has been severely tested by the board of survey at that point, and by them fully approved and passed.
This destructive arm is composed of fifteen 30 inch barrels, calibre 57 (the same as the Enfield rifle), and at their base are screwed into a solid piece of metal.—Near the muzzle, these barrels are passed through another piece of iron, in such a manner that when fired the balls spread themselves over one hundred and twenty feet at five hundred yards from the point of discharge. It is loaded at the breech by a rapid movement, enabling the gunner to discharge his piece six times a minute. Simple in construction, it is not likely to get out of order, and can be cleaned instantaneously whenever it is needed. Triplicate breech-loaders accompany each battery.
The gun-carriage can be drawn by a single horse, and with but two men in charge of the battery, a whole squadron of raiders could be made to bite the dust, and in the meantime the battery could be moved elsewhere the moment its presence was perceived by the enemy.
The ingenious inventor of this destructive weapon, who is not only a refugee from home, but now a soldier in active service, deserves well of his country, and we hope will meet with such encouragement as his deserts demand. He has been at quite a heavy expense in getting up his gun, say not less than twenty thousand dollars, every dollar of which he has taken from his own pocket; but we have every confidence that the merits of his invention will ultimately reimburse him.—Memphis Appeal.
 
RICHMOND [VA] WHIG, December 12, 1864, p. 2, c. 3

New Invention in Warfare.

There is now on exhibition in the rotunda of the capitol of Alabama, what we would pronounce to be a very destructive breech loading battery of small arms, the invention of Mr. John H. Foreman, formerly of Holly Springs, Miss., but now of company D, State Artillery, at Mobile. We agree with the Mail that as one of the most dangerous arms ever brought to bear against cavalry attacks, it is probably without a competitor, and will undoubtedly be brought into general use as soon as its peculiar merits shall have become generally known. It has already been warmly endorsed by Gen. N. B. Forrest, the greatest cavalry leader in the Confederate States service, and is strongly recommended by Gen. Dabney H. Maury, commandant of the district of the Gulf at Mobile, by whose order the battery has been severely tested by the board of survey at that point, and by them fully approved and passed.
This destructive arm is composed of fifteen 30 inch barrels, calibre 57 (the same as the Enfield rifle), and at their base are screwed into a solid piece of metal.—Near the muzzle, these barrels are passed through another piece of iron, in such a manner that when fired the balls spread themselves over one hundred and twenty feet at five hundred yards from the point of discharge. It is loaded at the breech by a rapid movement, enabling the gunner to discharge his piece six times a minute. Simple in construction, it is not likely to get out of order, and can be cleaned instantaneously whenever it is needed. Triplicate breech-loaders accompany each battery.
The gun-carriage can be drawn by a single horse, and with but two men in charge of the battery, a whole squadron of raiders could be made to bite the dust, and in the meantime the battery could be moved elsewhere the moment its presence was perceived by the enemy.
The ingenious inventor of this destructive weapon, who is not only a refugee from home, but now a soldier in active service, deserves well of his country, and we hope will meet with such encouragement as his deserts demand. He has been at quite a heavy expense in getting up his gun, say not less than twenty thousand dollars, every dollar of which he has taken from his own pocket; but we have every confidence that the merits of his invention will ultimately reimburse him.—Memphis Appeal.
What happened to it? Was is invented so closely to the Gatling gun that it never gained favor?
 
This post reminded me of this, which is similar but only has five barrels.
machine gun 1863.jpg


From Scientific American, February 1863. The article explains how it is constructed and how it worked.
http://archive.org/stream/scientifi...-american-v08-n08-1863-02-21#page/n0/mode/2up
 
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