Even as we speak, there's a North Carolinian living in Indianapolis, Indiana, working on a machine that sounds remarkably like the ones described here.
His name is Richard G. Gatling (not to be confused with the
Gatlin Brothers!) His invention will look something like this:
For reasons not well understood, Gatling's machine will only be occasionally used and will not much effect this war's outcome. ![]()
The dominant attitude was a smaller rate of fire but aimed was somehow superior to throwing up as much lead as possible. The Unions had breech loading weapons available at the start of the war, for example, Sharps rifles. but retained the traditional muzzle loader.