Submitted by Unable-Anybody-2285 t3_zz1vaa in history
jrhooo t1_j2baodg wrote
Reply to comment by Poopy_McTurdFace in Fencing or swordsmanship during the during the American revolution by Unable-Anybody-2285
Correct me if I’m wrong, but is it fair to say, when discussing bayonets before and maybe even up to the US Civil War, that we weren’t even fully graduated from seeing line infantry riflemen as “pikemen that could shoot”.
Reactor_Jack t1_j2btihm wrote
Similar to what I planned to say. Pikes could have a "formal system" for use, like a military drill manual, and pretty simple in comparison to that of a sword. The days of flintlock, matchlock, even cap lock (right before the modern cartridge era) of the US Civil War made for a pretty unwieldy pike, stick a pointy end on it and it was at least something if the ranks broke or you had no time to reload before being overrun.
Poopy_McTurdFace t1_j2bu6q4 wrote
Yeah, I'd say so. Other than dislodging opposing infantry in a charge, preventing cavalry from running you over was the next primary objective of bayonets.
amitym t1_j2d821e wrote
The advent of repeating rifles probably helped with that.
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