Arthur L. Howard

Lore & Background

Arthur L. Howard served for five years in the regular United States Cavalry before leaving to work for Winchester Arms in New Haven, Connecticut. He later formed his own cartridge-making firm, A.L. Howard & Co., but his business premises were destroyed by fire in 1883. On July 18, 1884, he was placed in command of the Machine Gun Platoon, Connecticut National Guard, with the rank of Second Lieutenant.

When the North-West Rebellion broke out in March 1885, Canadian militia commander Major General Frederick Middleton suggested procuring two Gatling guns from the United States. Dr. Richard J. Gatling selected Howard as an expert, and Howard agreed to go to Canada with the two Gatlings, taking a leave of absence from the Guard. The Connecticut Guard later stated they had "no hand" in Howard's expedition. Howard traveled to Swift Current, North-West Territories, where he demonstrated the weapon to Canadian militiamen and Mounted Police.

One Gatling was used at the Battle of Cut Knife on May 2, 1885, but Howard was not present; Canadian gunners operated it. Howard himself and one Gatling traveled on the steamboat Northcote to Fish Creek, arriving on May 5, 1885. At the Battle of Batoche, beginning May 9, 1885, Howard fired some of the first shots from the militia side and prevented a group of Métis from capturing Canadian field guns. On May 12, 1885, he and his Gatling were again in action near the village of Batoche.

Reader's Guide

Arthur L. Howard's significance lies in his role as a private citizen who brought Gatling guns to the Canadian militia during the North-West Rebellion, despite lacking U.S. government sanction. His actions at the Battle of Batoche, where he fired some of the first shots and helped prevent the capture of field guns, demonstrated the tactical use of early machine guns in colonial warfare. After the rebellion, Howard stayed in Canada and became a wealthy cartridge manufacturer. During the Second Boer War, he served as a machine-gun officer in the Canadian Mounted Rifles and organized a unit called the Canadian Scouts with the rank of major.

He was killed in action at Rustplaats on February 17, 1901, and was posthumously mentioned in despatches for acts of gallantry, receiving the Distinguished Service Order. His grave is in Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga, South Africa. The Canadian popular press gave him the nickname "Gat" during the 1885 campaign.