General John Henry Parker is best known for his role as the commander of the Gatling Gun detachment during the Spanish-American War. In early 1898, then Lieutenant Parker, a recent graduate of the United States Military Academy, was placed in charge of training soldiers in the use of machine guns. His detachment was a dumping ground for soldiers not fit to serve in other areas, and at that time, the idea of using machine guns in battle was of little value to the US Army. However, Parker believed machine guns could play a vital role in battle.1
In this time period, large artillery had to be transported by draft animals. This was not always a feasible possibility given the terrain, the time frame, and the fact that animals could be killed by enemy fire. Lt. Parker was able to see the purpose of machine guns as a replacement for artillery in battle, especially at ranges closer than 1500 yards.2 He petitioned the US Army for a chance to build a machine gun detachment that could be used for offensive battle tactics, and was granted permission to put a unit together shortly before being sent to Cuba during the Spanish-American War.
Lt. Parker was given four brand new 1895 Gatling guns of .30 caliber. The Gatling gun works by gravity feeding bullets into the top and dropping shells out the bottom, while the shaft was turned by a hand-crank. The gun’s swivel mount and rapid fire allowed the shooter to aim and shoot over long distances of up to 2000 yards, protecting the shooter from enemy fire by artillery. The only disadvantage of the Gatling gun, aside from a lack of training on the weapon, was that it was prone to jamming.3
At the start of the Spanish-American War, Lt. Parker and his Gatling Gun Detachment were assigned to the 5th Army Corps. It would be the first time the US Army would use machine guns as an offensive weapon during battle. On July 1, 1898, the Battle of San Juan Hill began early in the morning. Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders and the Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Calvary and the 24th Infantry Regiments were attempting to take San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill. The US Army was off to an early loss on that first day of the battle. It was not until the afternoon, when Lt. Parker positioned his Gatling guns and opened fire, that the battle went in favor of the US Army.4 The US artillery used black powder and the Spanish Army used smokeless powder, allowing the Spanish Army to see and fire upon the US artillery. The Gatling guns, however, were smokeless.5
Lt. Parker was ordered to move his guns as close to the battle as he could. He moved them to El Poso, the southern end of the area, where they could attack a blockhouse, the trenches, and the barbed wire entanglements of the Spanish Army. For eight-and-a-half minutes the Gatling guns fired continuously upon the Spanish, causing the soldiers to flee the trenches in an attempt to reach safety. Teddy Roosevelt is known to have said that the sound of the Gatling guns “was most inspiring” to the US soldiers. The Gatling guns were re-positioned, and they fended off the Spanish counterattack.6 Parker’s soldiers and the Gatling guns were with the US soldiers during the entire siege, even down in the trenches.7
Although the US lost three times the number of soldiers as the Spanish, supporting fire from the Gatling guns was crucial to the success of the Battle of San Juan. The artillery were only able to shoot about 270 fragments, while the Gatling guns were able to shoot with precision about 1000 shots.8 For the first time in history, machine guns were used offensively in a battle and were able to successfully disable an opposing army’s artillery. Spanish Army General Jose Toral said in his official report that the Gatling guns and their fire power was a major reason for the Spanish surrender.9
Lt. Parker was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action and was eventually promoted to general. He continued his military career by training other armies in Europe in the use of machine guns in warfare. Prior to the Spanish-American War, Parker believed that using machine guns in close battle would allow troops to advance under the protection of the machine guns, harming the enemy and improving the morale of US soldiers. This value of the machine gun had been proven.10
- John H. Parker, History of the Gatling Gun Detachment Fifth Army Corps, at Santiago (Kansas City, MO: Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Co, 1898), 14, 18-25. ↵
- John H. Parker, History of the Gatling Gun Detachment Fifth Army Corps, at Santiago (Kansas City, MO: Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Co, 1898), 62. ↵
- John H. Parker, History of the Gatling Gun Detachment Fifth Army Corps, at Santiago (Kansas City, MO: Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Co, 1898), 18-19, 27-28. ↵
- John H. Parker, History of the Gatling Gun Detachment Fifth Army Corps, at Santiago (Kansas City, MO: Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Co, 1898), 11. ↵
- Encyclopedia Britannica, January 2012, s.v. “Machine Gun.” ↵
- John H. Parker, History of the Gatling Gun Detachment Fifth Army Corps, at Santiago (Kansas City, MO: Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Co, 1898), 72-93. ↵
- John H. Parker, History of the Gatling Gun Detachment Fifth Army Corps, at Santiago (Kansas City, MO: Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Co, 1898), 11-12. ↵
- John H. Parker, History of the Gatling Gun Detachment Fifth Army Corps, at Santiago (Kansas City, MO: Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Co, 1898), 103. ↵
- “Old Glory to Wave over Santiago Today,” Chicago Tribune, (Chicago, IL), Jul. 17, 1898. ↵
- John H. Parker, History of the Gatling Gun Detachment Fifth Army Corps, at Santiago (Kansas City, MO: Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Co, 1898), 12. ↵
56 comments
Daniel Linstead
This article was well researched, and very informative. I think back in the war days that the most technology or more advanced weapons wins. I think this was a break through and changed a part of the war. Lt. Parker put all of his confidence in the machine guns and I think it paid off. Overall I really liked this article, war has always fascinated me and the more I can learn about it the more I appreciate the men and woman that served for their countries and gave their lives for us to live happier lives.
Thomas Fraire
Lt. Parker beyond any doubt had a great deal of trust in the assault rifles of his opportunity, since they were fundamentally utilized for cautious weapons. It would’ve been pleasant if Tyler Sleeter could’ve really expounded in the matter of why automatic weapons of the time were so incapable in fight. I am exceptionally inspired by exemplary weaponry, so I observed this article to be extremely interesting, and I prefer not to envision how unique the world would be if Parker’s Division had not been conveyed to San Juan Hill.
Suvesh Vasal
This article was interesting and well told with an immense amount of detail. In war whoever is more technologically advance usually wins. And obviously, the Gatling Gun was a big step towards more automatic machinery/guns.But that’s why I’m so surprised that he considered them “ineffective”. I feel like that gun could mow down troops with ease.
Carlos Sandoval
I found this article to be very interesting and well written, I remember hearing his name once or twice in high school history class. I feel that these war stories are some of the more interesting ones because it has all the facts involved. It is cool to see how inventions like the machine gun have gone on to change and become more advanced.
Jacob Johnson
Lt. Parker sure had a lot of confidence in the machine guns of his time, since they were primarily used for defensive weapons. It would’ve been nice if Tyler Sleeter could’ve gone into more detail as to why machine guns of the time were so ineffective in battle. I am very interested in classic weaponry, so I found this article to be very intriguing, and I hate to imagine how different the world would be if Parker’s Division had not been deployed to San Juan Hill.
Raymond Davila
This article shows how the integration of new technology and the ways to use it aren’t always as smooth as they seem to be. The gatling gun is a perfect example for it is a weapon that belongs to the “machine gun” category in modern times is a essential part of offensive military tactics. The Gatling gun showed just how effective this type of weapon was as being an alternative to artillery when used in battle from about 1,500 yards way.
Aaiyanna Johnson
Although I am against gun usage, Lt. Parker had a goal, and wouldn’t stop until he saw fit. It amazes that after graduating he taught classes, about machine guns. It also amazes me that he petitioned the U.S. I am shocked that I had never heard of that before this article. Neither did I know that the first machine gun was used in the Spanish-American War, which isn’t that long ago.
Amber Aragon Alvarado
I found it super interesting how war technology was improved! I didn’t know much about John Henry Parker and his involvement in the Spanish American War either. Learning about the Gatling gun demonstrated how different weapons were back then. The advantages and disadvantages of them really illustrates an image of the progression in weapons throughout time. It was an article I enjoyed reading, especially because I’ll be joining the army soon.
Richard Navarro
Many of my friends attend Westpoint, and I always find it fascinating to read stories about U.S. troops from the academy. Many of our historic leaders were graduates from the academy so it holds nothing less than the title of a prestige military academy. Machine guns today are used for covering fire, so that troops can advance to certain battle positions in order to gain an advantage over the enemy. An interesting article I must say.
Cameron Ramirez
I had very little knowledge of the use of a Gatling guns/machine guns, so I was very intrigued to learn about the first instances of the utilization of this weapon in a battle. Your article was very informative when it came to the knowledge and use of the machine guns, and I was very interested in how it aided in the victory of the Battle of San Juan Hill.