The 18th Century
Many people in the world today look back at the Revolution often see men standing waiting to get shot. During this time though many nations made great strides in military technology. Tactics did not changed dramatically during the 18th century and this would ultimately lead to the problems many nations had with mass casualties.
Infantry Tactics
Many soldiers were conscripts in the 18th century and this also applied to Great Britain. This led to a much larger military for all nations. The European army was based off of one key soldier. This soldier was the infantry, the average foot soldier.
The main tactics used by the Infantry men was really based off of the idea of bringing as many guns available to fire at once. To do this they formed three lines. When the first rank was finished the next would fire. After the second then the last. In theory this should allow them to fire three shots in less then one minute. The best soldiers in Europe, the Prussians, fired two shots a minute. That sped would allow up to six whole rounds going at the enemy every minute. In reality this was not always the case. Most soldiers were not the amazing Prussian musketman.
With the effect caused by the musket fire soldiers had no real way to effectively stay alive. The battle was more on luck and hoping that your side can hold the line while the others route in fear. The "winning side" of the engagement would normally not engage in pursuit as soldiers tend to become less disciplined from the chase.
One of the most important parts of the battle was the Melee. This fight really did become one of the most crucial parts of the battle when it occured. It was primarily designed as a way to break through the enemy line and make them flee in horror. The main weapon of choice for such engagements was of course the bayonet. These fights were rare but still quite important as it was the battle that led to the routing of one force. Without your infanty you would be crucially weakened to the point that the battle would be all but lost.
The main tactics used by the Infantry men was really based off of the idea of bringing as many guns available to fire at once. To do this they formed three lines. When the first rank was finished the next would fire. After the second then the last. In theory this should allow them to fire three shots in less then one minute. The best soldiers in Europe, the Prussians, fired two shots a minute. That sped would allow up to six whole rounds going at the enemy every minute. In reality this was not always the case. Most soldiers were not the amazing Prussian musketman.
With the effect caused by the musket fire soldiers had no real way to effectively stay alive. The battle was more on luck and hoping that your side can hold the line while the others route in fear. The "winning side" of the engagement would normally not engage in pursuit as soldiers tend to become less disciplined from the chase.
One of the most important parts of the battle was the Melee. This fight really did become one of the most crucial parts of the battle when it occured. It was primarily designed as a way to break through the enemy line and make them flee in horror. The main weapon of choice for such engagements was of course the bayonet. These fights were rare but still quite important as it was the battle that led to the routing of one force. Without your infanty you would be crucially weakened to the point that the battle would be all but lost.
Cavalry and Cannon Tactics
The cannon was really a key part of any army. In general, the side with cannons would win as they could decimate oncoming forces. This was in part that the cannon was both an offensive and defensive weapon. It could be used effectively when covering infantry; this was one of the most common uses of cannons.
Cannon support indeed saved the lives of many soldiers in all wars in 18th century. It could slaughter the enemy line and force them to retreat out of range. By the time that order was completed the advancing forces would easily eliminate the survivors. This was actually used in the First World War as well, being known as the Creeping Barrage.
A cannon also had many kinds of shot in the world at the time. One was the solid shot that we all know well. However, one such shot we are not as familiar with is grape shot. Grape shot is a ball that contained tiny balls like the standard musket bullet. It was pretty much a shotgun in an artillery format. It would fire and then all the tiny bullets would shoot out and hit many soldiers. It was used in devastating effect against mass infantry charges and even Cavalry. It had a range of roughly six hundred yards or so. It was used quite often in the Revolution. One example is the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Cornwallis actually ordered artillery to fire grape shot into the advancing Continental forces.
Cavalry was used far less in the 18th century. It had lost alot of practical uses and the age of chivalry was long gone. Cavalry now was organized into a new system. Two new ideas came to play, light and heavy cavalry.
Light cavalry was used in an effort to scout and as a diversionary force on occasion. One such type of light cavalry is the dragoon. The dragoon were mounted soldiers that rode to battle dismounted and then fired their carbines. Most light cavalry though was more of an effective way to ambush unsuspecting enemy infantry regiments.
Heavy cavalry though was different. They were a far more prestigous role in the 18th century. They were used as soldiers to fight against enemy cavalry and to flank infantry regiments. Most frontal assualts on infantry were a disaster as the cavalry got slaughtered by gunfire.
As you can see the world of the cavalry and artillery forces were vastly different then the realm of the infantryman. This is a way to show all the faces of the 18th century army.
Cannon support indeed saved the lives of many soldiers in all wars in 18th century. It could slaughter the enemy line and force them to retreat out of range. By the time that order was completed the advancing forces would easily eliminate the survivors. This was actually used in the First World War as well, being known as the Creeping Barrage.
A cannon also had many kinds of shot in the world at the time. One was the solid shot that we all know well. However, one such shot we are not as familiar with is grape shot. Grape shot is a ball that contained tiny balls like the standard musket bullet. It was pretty much a shotgun in an artillery format. It would fire and then all the tiny bullets would shoot out and hit many soldiers. It was used in devastating effect against mass infantry charges and even Cavalry. It had a range of roughly six hundred yards or so. It was used quite often in the Revolution. One example is the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Cornwallis actually ordered artillery to fire grape shot into the advancing Continental forces.
Cavalry was used far less in the 18th century. It had lost alot of practical uses and the age of chivalry was long gone. Cavalry now was organized into a new system. Two new ideas came to play, light and heavy cavalry.
Light cavalry was used in an effort to scout and as a diversionary force on occasion. One such type of light cavalry is the dragoon. The dragoon were mounted soldiers that rode to battle dismounted and then fired their carbines. Most light cavalry though was more of an effective way to ambush unsuspecting enemy infantry regiments.
Heavy cavalry though was different. They were a far more prestigous role in the 18th century. They were used as soldiers to fight against enemy cavalry and to flank infantry regiments. Most frontal assualts on infantry were a disaster as the cavalry got slaughtered by gunfire.
As you can see the world of the cavalry and artillery forces were vastly different then the realm of the infantryman. This is a way to show all the faces of the 18th century army.