The 19th century witnessed the advent of several deadly killing machines that revolutionized warfare. One such weapon was the Gatling gun, invented by Richard Gatling in 1861. This hand-cranked, multi-barrel firearm could fire up to 200 rounds per minute, a significant improvement over the single-shot muskets commonly used at the time. The Gatling gun's rapid rate of fire and accuracy made it devastatingly effective against infantry formations, earning it the nickname "the devil's coffee mill." It saw extensive use during the American Civil War and later became a staple of armies worldwide.