"Kneeling & Firing Soldiers in ACW?" Topic

Would it be appropriate to put some kneeling soldiers in a regiment firing in line order, not skirmish order?

Absolutely. Look at some of the art work from the period. While it would be very difficult to re-load, no reason why you wouldn't kneel to fire, taking advantage of cover, or resting the weapon on a fence, tree stump, etc.

Being behind cover, hasty works, or in a static defensive position is different than being in the typical "firing line" out in the open. They did not kneel in a firing line. The tatics of the day were standing, shoulder to shoulder formations. That all said, you can still put kneeling figures in your line if you like the figures. It's your unit do what you like.

No. Usually you didn't do that even when behind cover… but do whatever you like.

I suspect that some green troops did in fact kneel in firing line, but as noted by avidgamer this is not a very viable option with a rifle musket (tough to reload) – as noted, if it looks good, I would go with it

But they did kneel will skirmishing, taking advantage of cover, right?

I'm just seeing if I can add a bit more variety to some firing line stands other than firing (which in 15mm tend to look all alike with only slight variations) and loading.

"But they did kneel will skirmishing, taking advantage of cover, right?"

Yes. They were ordered to take advantage of all cover but not in a line formation.

Green troops may have had ideas of kneeling in line but once they were next to Veterans I'm sure that idea was gone as they wanted to prove themselves worthy. Also their officers and NCO's probably would have yelled and screamed at them. It really is dangerous to their comrades when you get up and also go down to kneel. I've seen this done during reenactments and it has almost been deadly. In the movie "Gettysburg" in a scene on Little Round Top someone almost gets clipped in the head if you watch closely.

Men standing static under fire, especially during the Civil War, did not last long in drawn out fire fights. They either took to kneeling and cover or were cut down. Just to throw it out there, I am a civil war reenactor and have loaded and fired a rifle while kneeling and prone many a times and never had too much difficulty. The hardest position to load in is prone though, more time consuming than anything else.

I note that Cozzen's accounts of Stones River and Chickamamuga mention units firing and reloading from prone positions.

I've been re-reading Bruce Catton's "A Stillness at Appomattox" and there are several reference to veteran units fighting while prone, etc. and even advancing by rushes. I guess that's how they remained veterans. ;)

Rear rank guys can't kneel because then they can't shoot over the front rank guys. Front rank guys can't kneel because the rear rank guys will get mad and hit them :)