DER GATLING GUN-MYTHOS
The Death-Dealing Machine That Never Won the West
But Still Exist as Today’s Multi-Barrel Weapons System
von MICHAEL STEMMER
Open Fire!
(…) and a tower built over the humped shape of the water cistern, with a Gatling gun mounted there which could sweep the interior of the prison and two of the walls, as well as the gateway, with soft-nosed .45/70 slugs at the rate of 350 per minute.” — Gordon D. Shirreffs, Judas Gun, zitiert nach: Gold Medal Book k1476, Chapter Three (dt.: „Lohn der Hölle”)
Buchcover: Hughes (2000)
Michael Stemmer informiert in seinem umfassenden Beitrag ausführlich über die Gatling Gun. Gegliedert in drei Hauptabschnitte, zunächst einmal einen allgemein gehaltenen Teil, gefolgt dann von selektiven Filmografien sowie einer Auswahlbibliografie. Für die Webfassung habe ich folgende Aufteilung vorgenommen (K. J. Roth)
Gatling Gun per definitionem ~
Gatling Gun und ihr Erfinder ~
Vorgang in der Gatling Gun beim Schuß ~
Ladeeinrichtung der Gatling Gun ~
Gatling Gun und der Sezessionskrieg ~
Gatling Gun in Good ol‘ Germany ~
Gatling Gun „Made in Russia“ ~
Gatling Gun contra Bisons ~
Gatling Gun am Großen Fluß ~
Gatling Gun im Genozid ~
Gatling Gun vs. Hotchkiss Gun ~
Gatling Gun im Krisenherd Kanada ~
Gatling Gun landet auf Kuba ~
Feuerpause für die Gatling Gun ~
Gatling auf hoher See ~
Gatling is back! ~
Gatling Gun im Wildwestroman ~
Gatling Gun aus Gummi ~
Gatling Gun ertönt im Radio ~
Sound der Gatling Gun ~
Gatling Gun als Kultgegenstand ~
Fabrikzeichen der Gatling Gun ~
Gatling Gun im Modell ~
Gatling Gun und ihr Resümee ~
Ein letztes Wort zur Gatling Gun ~~
Teil 2: Filmografie ~
Teil 3: Bibliografien
Gatling Gun im Genozid
Tatsache ist: Im Fortlauf der Verdrängung der indigenen Völker durch die Siedlungsaktivität des Weißen Mannes und daraus resultierenden blutig-brutalen Auseinandersetzungen mit den Indianern – heute treffender formuliert: Native Americans –, nach Abschluß des Sezessionskrieges (1861 bis 1865) durch die Kapitulation des Südens, setzen die Truppen der Eindringlinge dieses Schießeisen, unter dem Blickwinkel der Waffenkunde jener Epoche zwischen 1866 und 1890 betrachtet, nur vergleichsweise sporadisch ein. Angeblich, so meldet die Geschichte, sollen um 1876 quasi sämtliche 100 Garnisonen, unabhängig von deren Größe oder strategischen Bedeutung, vorsorglich mit ihnen ausgerüstet sein, um sie im etwaigen Abwehrkampf der wichtigen vorgeschobenen Grenzforts zum Indian Territory zigfach Tod und Verderben speien zu lassen. Dazu würden schätzungsweise die Außenposten Ft. Abraham Lincoln, Montana; Ft. Laramie, Wyoming; Ft. Union, New Mexico; Ft. Elliott, Texas; Ft. Lapwai, Idaho; sowie Ft. Robinson, Nebraska; etc. gehört haben. Relativ unwahrscheinlich, zumindest was die anderen Befestigungswerke anbelangt, bezieht man das Vorhandensein von insgesamt gerade mal 25 Waffen dieser Art mit in die Berechnung ein!
All das sind, zumindest aus heutiger Sicht betrachtet, längst schon keine militärhistorischen Entdeckungen oder gar Geheimnisse mehr. Jene Schießinstrumente aus der großen Waffenstadt Hartford werden im taktisch anzunehmenden Fall auch auf einigen Feldzügen gegen die Urbevölkerung des aufstrebenden Nordamerikas bewiesenermaßen mitgeführt, bleiben seitens des Offizierskorps, namentlich der U.S. Cavalry, der
Überlieferung zufolge, eher kritisch beäugt. Der militärische Nutzen gilt dabei als begrenzt, die psychologische Wirkung kann aber enorm sein. Der Schutz durch die ‘Langmesser’ bedeutet letzten Endes die notwendige Sicherheit im entbehrungsreichen Pionierdasein der Home Stetter und damit wesentliche Ingredienz der zivilisatorischen Landnahme, mündend in Unterwerfung und quasi kultureller Auslöschung.
Sowohl Gatling Guns, als auch Feldartillerie, wie 10-Pdr. Parrott Rifles, Hotchkiss 1,65 in. (42 mm) Guns oder 12-Pdr. Mountain Howitzers (Gebirgshaubitzen) bringt man gegen ein letztlich dem Untergang geweihten Volk, das um seine heimischen Jagdgründe und um seine Lebensweise kämpft, u.a. bei folgenden Gefechten und Scharmützeln in Feuerstellung:
Sunday, August 30, 1874. - Mulberry Creek/Palo Duro Canyon (Texas).“As settlers moved west after the Civil War, Army garrisons in forts along the frontier housed Gatling guns. Gatlings were also attached to cavalry expeditions. A Gatling detachment under Lieutenant James W. Pope accompanied General Nelson A. Miles’s campaign into west Texas. On August 30, as an advance party of Army scouts entered a trail that led between two high bluffs, about three hundred Indians charged down the cliffs. At the sound of gunfire, Pope quickly brought up his Gatling guns. The rapid, withering fire scattered the attacking warriors, and they fled in confusion.” (Quelle: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/here-story-behind-terrifying-gatling-gun- 180762, abgerufen am 22. Dezember 2020)Tuesday, April 6, 1875. Sand Hills Fight (Oklahoma).“The Red River War of 1874–75 was the last uprising among the southern Plains Indian tribes. The bands that had fled their Indian Territory reservations in late 1874 were forced by the U.S. Army to surrender in spring 1875. Cheyenne "prisoner of war" camps were located on the North Canadian River above the Cheyenne Agency at Darlington in present Canadian County, Oklahoma. Selected warriors guilty of depredations were to be imprisoned at Fort Marion, Florida.On April 6, 1875, as leg shackles were being placed on a Cheyenne named Black Horse, he bolted from his guards and ran toward nearby lodges. The soldiers wounded him and several others. A panic ensued among the camp's occupants, who believed that they were under attack. The Cheyenne fled across the river to a large, tree-covered sand hill where they had secretly cached weapons. Entrenchments were dug as protection for the fighting men and for the women and children.Three cavalry companies attempted several dismounted assaults on the sand hill but were repulsed. The only use of the rapid-firing Gatling gun against Indians in Oklahoma occurred during the fighting. Sporadic gunshots continued until nightfall when a thunderstorm allowed the Cheyenne to escape.” (Bob Rea, “Sand Hill Fight,” The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, zitiert nach: https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=SA016, abgerufen am 13. Januar 2020)Sunday, June 25, 1876. - Little Bighorn (Montana).“To travel quickly and lightly across the rough prairie, Custer had left behind three, six- barrel Colt 1866 Gatling guns in .50-70 at Fort Abraham Lincoln, North Dakota. While it would have been nice to have these rapid-fire (each averaging six rounds per second) weapons available for the battle, their loss ultimately would not have changed the inevitable outcome. Even General Nelson A. Miles, a veteran Indian-fighter, later remarked that, “I’m not surprised that poor Custer declined. They are worthless for Indian fighting.” All sabers were likewise left behind at the fort, as they were deemed too noisy, rattling and clanking during travel, and might alert the Indians to their presence.” (Quelle: https://www.gunpowdermagazine.com/guns-and-bravery-is-this-what-really- happened-at-the-little-bighorn/, abgerufen am 27. Dezember 2020)Saturday, October 14, 1876. - Clear Creek (Montana).„Grosser Sioux Krieg – Angriff auf Wagenzug am Clear Creek 1876 – Miles Winter Expedition 1876. Oberst Elwell S. Otis verliess `Glendive Cantonment` wieder, diesmal mit 185 Soldaten der 22. U.S. Infanterie. Otis hatte jetzt 3 Gatling-Kanonen dabei und wollte unbedingt das `Cantonment on Tongue River` von Oberst Miles erreichen.“ (Quelle: http://www.indians-of-the-usa.net/history.html.php, abgerufen am 16. Januar 2020)Sunday, July 1, 1877. - Clear Creek (Idaho).“Capt. Stephen G. Whipple took Companies E and L of the 1st. Cavalry, 20 Idaho volunteers, and 2 Gatling guns to the village of the Nez Perce Looking Glass, hoping to capture the chief before he could join up with Chief Joseph. On July 1st Whipple's force came down a hillside opposite the village on Clear Creek, by its junction with the Clearwater River, near present-day Kooskia, Idaho.” (Quelle: http://www.3rd1000.com/history3/events/idaho_indian_encounters.htm, abgerufen am 27. Januar 2020)Wednesday, July 4, 1877. - Cottonwood House (Idaho).“After the episode at Cottonwood Creek (…), Capt. David Perry arrived at Cottonwood House with the remnants of his Company F and took over Whipple's command. The soldiers saw Nez Perces all around the ranch, and the 113 men of the three companies dug in, placing their gatling guns around the perimeter and preparing to defend their position. The Indians hovered around all day, engaging in desultory shooting but never coming closer than 500 yards. Two soldiers were wounded.” (Quelle: http://www.3rd1000.com/history3/events/idaho_indian_encounters.htm, abgerufen am 5. Februar 2020)Wednesday, July 11, till Thursday, July 12, 1877. - Clearwater River (Idaho).“Howard opened the battle by firing howitzers and Gatling guns at the Nez Perce camp in the valley below from the ridge he occupied. "These only served to announce the presence of the troops to the unsuspecting Indians and 'to send horsemen … scampering over the hills in every direction … [while] herding their stock together, which was afterward driven by old Indians, squaws and children into the hills in the rear."” (Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Clearwater, abgerufen am 9. Februar 2020)An dieser Stelle sei auf den 1975 fürs US-Fernsehen produzierten Film über die historischen Ereignisse, I WILL FIGHT NO MORE FOREVER („Ich kämpfe niemals wieder“) mit James Whitmore (1921–2009) als bürgerkriegsversehrter Gen. Oliver O. Howard (1830–1909) und Ned Romero (1926–2017) als Chief Joseph (1840–1904) unter der Regie von Richard T. Heffron (1930–2007) verwiesen. Hier sieht man ausschließlich 1.65- in. (42 mm) Hotchkiss Guns die Nez Percé unter Feuer nehmen.Sunday, September 30, till Friday October 5, 1877. - Bear’s Paw/Snake Creek (Montana).“Miles hurried his attack on the Nez Perce camp for fear that the Indians would escape. At 9:15 AM, while still about six miles from the camp, he deployed his cavalry at a trot, organized as follows: the 30 Cheyenne and Lakota scouts led the way, followed by the 2nd Cavalry battalion consisting of about 160 soldiers. The 2nd Cavalry was ordered to charge into the Nez Perce camp. The 7th Cavalry battalion of 110 soldiers followed the 2nd as support on the charge into the camp. The 5th Infantry of about 145 soldiers, mounted on horses, followed as a reserve with a Hotchkiss gun and the pack train. Miles rode with the 7th Cavalry.” (Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bear_Paw, abgerufen am 10. Dezember 2020)
Laut unbestätigter Quellen sollen außer der obenerwähnten 1.65-in. (42 mm) Hotchkiss Gun, mit der man die Indianer vom Stamme der Nez Percé auf ihrem Exodus über rd. 2,000 km in Richtung Kannada unter gezieltes Feuer nimmt, jeweils zwei Gatling Guns zusätzlich in Stellung gebracht worden sein.
Saturday, July 13, 1878. - Umatilla Agency (Oregon).“Two years later, however, three Gatling guns were used in a battle against the Shoshones and Bannocks, who were in a seemingly impregnable position on top of a bluff near the Umatilla Agency. The Indians were quickly driven off the heights by the Gatlings’ hail of bullets that swept along the crest and scattered the terrified warriors by their drumming rattle.” (Quelle: https://www.americanheritage.com/doctor-gatling-and-his-gun#2, abgerufen am 17. Dezember 2020)Monday, December 29, 1890. - Wounded Knee Creek (South Dakota).“After being called to the Pine Ridge Agency, Spotted Elk of the Miniconjou Lakota nation and 350 of his followers were making the slow trip to the agency on December 28, 1890, when they were met by a 7th Cavalry detachment under Major Samuel M. Whitside southwest of Porcupine Butte. John Shangreau, a scout and interpreter who was half Sioux, advised the troopers not to disarm the Indians immediately, as it would lead to violence. The troopers escorted the Native Americans about five miles westward (8 km) to Wounded Knee Creek where they told them to make camp. Later that evening, Colonel James W. Forsyth and the remainder of the 7th Cavalry arrived, bringing the number of troopers at Wounded Knee to 500. In contrast, there were 350 Lakota: 230 men and 120 women and children. The troopers surrounded Spotted Elk's encampment and set up four rapid-fire Hotchkiss-designed M1875 mountain guns.” (Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wounded_Knee_Massacre, abgerufen am 14. Februar 2020)
Anzumerken bleibt: Scheinbar werden noch zwei Gatling Guns der Battery E, 1st U.S. Artillery unterstellt, doch sind die historischen Quellen hierfür nicht zuverlässig. Wenngleich auf einer Skizze der Fronterrichtung zwar erkennbar etwas abseits des historischen Dramas Stellung bezogen – ob, falls überhaupt, aktiv an diesem schrecklichen Menschheitsverbrechen mitbeteiligt –, liegt im Dunkel der Gewaltgeschichte des 19.
Jahrhunderts.
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