They absolutely invented machine guns in the Civil War, as well as metal ships. "In 1862, Richard Jordan Gatling invented a multi-barreled, rotating gun operat

They absolutely invented machine guns in the Civil War, as well as metal ships. "In 1862, Richard Jordan Gatling invented a multi-barreled, rotating gun operated by a hand crank that could fire up to 200 rounds a minute." https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/gatling-gun https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/gatling-gu... I'm not sure what war you're thinking of.