I’ve worked in the combat developments world of the Department of Defense off and on for years. About six of my 26 years on active duty were in assignments related to combat developments.
Since I retired in 2001, combat developments-related work has provided my principal paycheck. Regardless of my direct employment interest, the history of combat developments also can be very interesting in seeing the definition of innovation at times in our past.
I found myself pondering this subject while at Fort Sill for a computer simulation experiment. During a quiet lunch hour, I visited the Fort Sill museum. A museum has existed at Fort Sill to recount the history of the Field Artillery for years, of course.
The post recently completed and opened the museum in a new building, so as a history fan and volunteer at the Infantry Museum, I was curious about the new layout. The Infantry Museum is larger with many more displays, but I enjoyed the few minutes I had to wander through the museum at Fort Sill.
The combat developments project immortalized in the new Field Artillery Museum that caught my eye was the 1-pound cannon developed in 1880 for firing off a mule’s back. I’ve seen this before but must admit I continue to find the story fascinating. Having witnessed and participated in many Army experiments, I can picture in my mind the proud innovators who dreamed up this idea and strapped this small cannon on the unsuspecting mule’s back.
Hours of practice drills must have set up this opportunity to demonstrate a new weapon that would pave the way for a revolution in military tactics and technology. Then the moment of truth arrived after numerous safety checks and the careful alignment of the mule’s posterior toward the impact area. With a mighty (or maybe small) roar using an extended lanyard, the cannon fired. Instantaneously the mule objected and began to display its disagreement with this process by trying to run away.
I’m sure some poor project officer was crestfallen while one or more observers witnessed the insanity of trying to catch this mule and calm the terrified (and angry) animal for a second shot.
The display says somehow, the lanyard lay on the ground after a second round was loaded.
The mule then accidentally stepped on the lanyard and fired the second round by itself. This apparently resulted in the mule falling head over hooves into a nearby stream. Oh well.
Another good idea was never fielded, probably much to the delight of mules and mule handlers. You can almost see the smile on the stuffed hide of an actual Army mule named Wind River standing next to the mule gun.
John M. House is a retired Army colonel who lives in Midland. His e-mail is housearmylife@aol.com.
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