Good morning!
My ACW infantry company has "expanded it's horizons" and a member purchased a Gatling in 45lc. this summer. We got to use it this past Oct. at a small local event utilizing BOTH cartridge and hand loaded BP rounds. We currently have four 20rd cartridge magazines and one 40rd. We also have 160-80 BP rds that use shotgun primers for ignition. These just get dropped in utilizing a magazine as well.
The gun that WE have, uses firing pins need to be switched out depending on the rds being used. That can take 30-45min under optimal conditions (and imagine will get faster we we get used to servicing the piece).
I can attest that our successful firing rate utilizing the BP rounds was approx 63% fired. Note: these rounds WERE loaded in the field & not in optimal conditions & could improve w/ addtl. testing etc. Our firing success utilizing cartridges was 99.5%.. The smoke was heavy and the sound was incredible. It was also a LOT of fun!!!
We are looking for a reason to bring this out & still maintain authenticity. Sadly living here in the East, there aren't may battles that allow us to do so even though OUR Company itself was stationed predominantly in the Western Theatre of the war. We are considering a "secondary impression" utilizing the Mississippi Marine Brigade as I read that they also had one...?
MMB LEADERSHIP: These album pages from the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) Massachusetts Commandery collection document the men who led the Brigade. U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center.
"Houts, one of Crandall's early recruits, signed up on Jan. 14, 1863, and joined Company A, commanded by Capt. Isaac D. Newell. Houts and his fellow Marines received shell jackets with brass shoulder scales or cloth epaulettes and Germanic wheel-hats with leather visors trimmed with green bands and white facings."
Action around Vicksburg:
"Days later, Houts and Company A participated in another unconventional action. On May 30, Ellet's fleet landed at Snyder's Bluff, along the Yazoo River several miles north of Vicksburg. Ellet sent Company A off to help secure a supply of fresh water located opposite the Confederate-held city and its bristling defenses. Armed with Spencer and Henry rifles supplied by the Navy at Ellet's request, Company A protected crewmembers and Black laborers as they dug rifle pits behind a levee, and then gathered water for thirsty Marines.
By this time, enemy observers got wind of the activity and soon lobbed shells in their direction. Houts and his pards put their rifles to good work as they harassed Vicksburg's defenders, who retaliated with a more directed fire on their position. No one was reported injured. The water gathering continued for some days, during which Company A and its rifles were replaced by a Gatling Gun that kept up a steady and effective fire on the works & a Parrot Rifle into the city until Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton surrendered the city on July 4."
Is this doable? Would this only be practical if reenacting a "Vicksburg Event/Specific Scenario"?
Secondly, I believe that there were in- fact effective according to Confederate reports.
"Ellet assigned the task of building a second fleet of seven landing crafts for the Marines to his quartermaster, Capt. James Brooks. These vessels were outfitted with oak planks dotted with musket loopholes, iron-plated pilot houses, cranes that lowered a generous gangplank to deploy men, horses and equipment, and hoses capable of spraying scalding jets of boiler water on enemies that attempted to board."
"On April 26, 1863, at a place where the Duck River empties into the Tennessee, elements of the 6th Texas Cavalry watched and waited for an opportunity to strike enemy targets. When Ellet's Marines steamed into range, the rebel troopers opened fire with four field cannon and raked three of the vessels with iron. The Texans looked on with evident pleasure at the effects of their handiwork. Their satisfaction turned to shock when the supposed "cattle boats" returned the compliment and fired back. Then, the Union crews pulled the vessels up to the riverbank, lowered the drawbridges and released charging blue knights.
One of the Confederate veterans later recalled it was "the worst his command was ever sold out." The Marines broke off their pursuit after a 12-mile chase. They returned to their boats, but not before pillaging local farms and a smokehouse. The day's casualty list included two dead Marines and another wounded, and nine Confederates killed. Two of Ellet's Rams, the Switzerland and the Lancaster, then ran the gauntlet of Confederate guns in early 1863."
"Another incident about a month later started under similar circumstances. The Marines were on the way to Vicksburg when their trailing supply vessels came under guerrilla fire near Austin, Miss. Ellet landed 200 cavalry and infantry in the face of surprised villagers. The Union cavalrymen mounted up and dashed off after the enemy—about 800 Arkansas and Mississippi partisan troops armed with artillery. After an 8-mile pursuit, the federals caught up to the Confederates and fought them for two hours until elements of the Marine infantry arrived and forced the enemy to retreat. The Brigade suffered two dead and 19 wounded in the action."
Did their success outweigh their "headaches"? Probably not, HOWEVER, I truly believe that if they were under "Local Command" rather than that of Stanton in Washington City, things probably would have played out much more favorably.
Just wanted to share and get your opinion.
Cheers,
Capt.Bluker