Battle of San Juan Hill - Gatling Supporting Fire

Gatling Supporting Fire

During the 2 July assault, V Corps' newly-formed Gatling Gun Detachment participated in the first use by the U.S. Army of machine gun fire for mobile fire support in offensive combat.

Led by First Lt. John Henry Parker, V Army Corps' recently-formed Gatling Gun Detachment was ordered to move forward in support of the U.S. assault. Because U.S. blackpowder artillery pieces lacked the range to reach Spanish positions, Parker's ad hoc Gatling battery of four .30-40, 10-barrelled guns was originally conceived as providing covering fire for the artillery trains. Moving forward on his own initiative, Lt. Parker received a message from his colonel, ordering him to detach one gun to General Shafter's aide, Lt. John D. Miley, then to take the remaining three guns forward "to the best point you can find". Parker set up his three Gatlings approximately 600 yd (550 m) from the San Juan Hill blockhouse and its surrounding trenches, occupied by Spanish regulars; 800 yd (730 m) away was another ridgeline, again with Spanish entrenchments. Being exposed, the Detachment soon came under attack, and quickly lost five men in action to wounds, others to severe heatstroke. Ordinarily, four to six men were required to operate each Gatling gun. Nevertheless, the crews continued to fire back at the Spanish.

Lt. Parker's three rapid-fire Gatlings provided covering fire for U.S. forces assaulting both San Juan and Kettle Hills. Equipped with swivel mountings that enabled the gunners to rake Spanish positions, the three guns poured a continuous and demoralizing hail of bullets into the Spanish defensive lines. Witnessing the assault on San Juan Hill, more than one observer from the U.S. side noticed some of the Spanish defenders fleeing their trenches to escape the intense fire. The Gatlings continued to fire until Lt. Parker observed Lt. Ferguson of the 13th Infantry waving a white handkerchief as a signal for the battery to cease firing to avoid causing friendly casualties. The American assault then broke into a charge about 150 yd (140 m) from the crest of the hill.

After the Spanish positions atop San Juan had been taken, two of Lt. Parker's Gatling guns were dragged by mules up the slope to the captured position on San Juan ridge, where both were hurriedly emplaced among a line of skirmishers. As they were setting up the guns, the Spanish commenced a general counterattack on the heights. Though a Spanish counterattack on San Juan was quickly broken up, the Americans on Kettle Hill faced a more serious attack from some 600 Spanish regulars. Ignoring an order from Col. Leonard Wood to reposition one or two of his Gatling guns to the top of Kettle Hill to support the 1st Volunteer and 3rd Cavalry, Parker instead ordered the closest Gatling, manned by Sgt Green, to fire obliquely against 600 enemy soldiers attacking Kettle Hill. From a range of 600 yd (550 m), Sgt. Green's Gatling responded, killing all but 40 of the attackers.

After the counterattack was driven off, Lt. Parker moved to Kettle Hill to view the American positions, where he was soon joined by Sgt. Weigle's Gatling and crew from San Juan, detached to the service of Lt. Miley. Miley (who was primarily interested in inspecting troop positions for General Shafter) had restrained Weigle's crew from opening fire during the entirety of the fighting. Parker then ordered Sgt. Weigle and his crew to emplace their gun on Kettle Hill. This Gatling was used to eliminate Spanish sniper fire against the American defensive positions on Kettle Hill.

Returning to the two Gatlings on San Juan Hill, Lt. Parker had the guns relocated near the road to avoid counterbattery fire. Despite this precaution, the guns again came under shellfire from a heavy Spanish 6.3 in (160 mm) gun. Parker located the enemy gun and trained the two Gatlings using a powerful set of field glasses. The two Gatlings then opened fire, silencing the Spanish 6.3 in (160 mm) gun at a range of roughly 2,000 yd (1,800 m).

Two days later, on the 4th, Parker ordered the three operational guns moved into the battle line around the City of Santiago. The wheels of the Gatling carriages were removed, and the Gatlings, along with two 7 mm Colt-Browning machine guns (a gift from Col. Roosevelt) were placed in breastworks where they could command various sectors of fire. The fourth Gatling was repaired and placed in reserve behind the others. However, it was soon moved to Fort Canosa, where it was used during the siege of Santiago to fire 6,000-7,000 rounds into the city to help force a surrender.