Firing on the move: Infantry in line

[Rob Weaver]

Re: Firing on the move: Infantry in line

This also begins to make me think that once you've ordered the unit to fire at will, it's harder, and more time consuming to get the men to cease firing before moving than to order an advance and allow the men to continue loading and firing independently. Not to mention the message that cease fire would send to the opposing line. "They quit firing, loaded and shouldered arms - here they come."

[erik]

Re: Firing on the move: Infantry in line

I cannot believe that this thread has degenerated and not come to a conclusion. Such actions happened, as cited, early in the war and continued throughout gaining promince as sdoldiers sought survival tactics.
Simply think of a Bn. in line with loosened files (ie offset files with greater than normal intervals), a file fire begins, soon independent fire begins. The line starts to surge forward ready to close and stop the combat by dominating the opposing force. It works and it did work, according to the references quoted. They will not stand and fear for their lives.
Come and drill with the 4th Mich Co. C and you will see how to to this as well as a primer in skirmishing to the extreme.

Erik Simundson

[Gary of CA]

Re: Firing on the move: Infantry in line

Here's how we did it on the range (non muzzle-loading guns).

There is a safe way and it requires coordination between pairs of men. The non-shooter is the safety officer and scans the line to ensure that no one is ahead of it. He then tells the shooter, shoot. If it's not safe, he says, don't shoot. After all the shooters have shot, they trade places with the safety officer. The safety officer now becomes the shooter and the original shooter the safety officer.

BTW, Joe Bilby mentions how the Confederates shot on the move at Gettysburg. See page 105 of Small Arms at Gettysburg.

[McKim]

Re: Firing on the move: Infantry in line

Such actions happened, as cited, early in the war and continued throughout.
Erik Simundson

IMO, you are absolutely correct and, I do not mean this as harsh as it will sound, some can not get their minds around something that is not structured, systematic and consistent.

"Tell General Jackson unless I get reinforcements I must be forced back, but I am going on while I can!" ...or something like that.