Arthur L. Howard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur L. Howard
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1846 |
| Died | February 17, 1901 |
Arthur L. "Gat" Howard DSO (1846 – February 17, 1901) was an American and Canadian expert. He was very skilled at using early machine guns. He is most famous for using a special gun called a Gatling gun. He used it to help the Canadian militia during a conflict in 1885. This conflict was called the North-West Rebellion.
Contents
Arthur L. Howard's Life
Early Life and Work
Arthur Howard was born in 1846. He served in the regular United States Cavalry for five years. After leaving the army, he lived in New Haven, Connecticut. There, he worked for a company called Winchester Arms.
Later, Howard started his own business. It made cartridges for guns. Sadly, his business was destroyed by a fire in 1883. In 1884, Howard became a Second Lieutenant. He was put in charge of the Machine Gun Platoon. This was part of the Connecticut National Guard.
Joining the Canadian Conflict
In March 1885, a conflict started in western Canada. It was called the North-West Rebellion. The Canadian army commander, Major General Frederick Dobson Middleton, needed help. He suggested getting two Gatling guns from the United States.
Dr. Richard J. Gatling, who invented the gun, looked for an expert. He chose Lieutenant Howard for the job. Howard agreed to go to Canada with the two Gatling guns. He took a month's leave from his Guard duties. The Connecticut Guard later said they had "no hand" in his trip.
Howard left his family and comfortable life. He traveled to the Northwest Territories with the Gatling guns. He was very interested in the Gatling gun. He wanted to test it in real battle. This seemed to be why he took on this dangerous mission. The U.S. government did not officially approve his trip. But he still wore his American officer's uniform in Canada. He even wore it on the battlefield. Dr. Gatling also said Howard was not working for the gun manufacturer. He was just traveling as "a friend of the gun."
Demonstrating the Gatling Gun
Howard traveled by train and overland to Swift Current. There, he showed the weapon to Canadian soldiers. They were very interested. One soldier wrote about seeing the guns. He said they fired at some ducks. The guns fired very quickly. This showed how deadly they could be in a real fight.
One of the Gatling guns was used at the Battle of Cut Knife. This happened on May 2, 1885. However, Howard was not there. Canadian gunners operated that gun.
Howard in Battle
Howard himself took one Gatling gun onto a steamboat. It was called the Northcote. He traveled on the South Saskatchewan River to Fish Creek. He arrived there on May 5, 1885. He then joined a Canadian army group. This group moved towards Louis Riel's main camp at Batoche.
On May 9, 1885, the first day of the Battle of Batoche, Howard fired some of the first shots. He aimed at a church building. You can still see the bullet holes today. He showed great bravery that day. His quick actions stopped a group from capturing Canadian field guns. He was moved around the battlefield. This allowed the Gatling gun's power to stop enemy attacks.
On May 12, 1885, the final day of the battle, Howard and his Gatling gun were again in the thick of the fighting. They helped defeat the last resistance near Batoche village. After the Canadian victory, Howard stayed in Canada. He became a successful cartridge manufacturer.
Later Life and Death
When the Second Boer War began, Howard became a machine-gun officer. He joined the Canadian Mounted Rifles. He then formed a unit called the Canadian Scouts. He held the rank of major.
Arthur Howard was killed in action on February 17, 1901. This happened at a place called Rustplaats. Major Howard's grave is in Wakkerstroom, South Africa. After his death, he was recognized for his bravery. He was given the Distinguished Service Order. This award is for "acts of gallantry."
Howard was given the nickname "Gat" by Canadian newspapers. This happened during the 1885 conflict.
See Also
