"elbow-to-elbow formation and musket fire" Topic

Now I am beginning to wonder (remember the low figures for casualties inflicted vs rounds fired)….

Which end of a firearm was the more dangerous in those days?

there were already discussion on this in the Napoleonic time, fingers and parts of the hand were accidently shoot off etc., in case I remember correctly Larrey did make an examination on this, St. Cyr believed a firing in 3 ranks (but who did this in the field anyway) was more dangerous to ones own unit than to the enemy

I seem to recall contemporary drill book images that show the soldier leaning back somewhat.

As I read this thread, I have to say, the prospect of being a front rank soldier with the rear ranks' muskets going off a short distance in front of my face, while powder ignited in pans just behind my ears, is not appealing at all.

Oh yes. I sliced my thumb on the flint twice. My friend burnt his hand on a musket barrel once. They can be a bit rough to handle.

My group all had flashguards, but I never knew it was a-historical. We did work with other group that didn't have flashguards. The powder burns are not nice but it's not the worst pain. I'm quite tall so it was worse when standing next to people my height.

The actual drill movements were easy enough though despite being packed quite tightly.

For me this is a comment of the week :-)

deadhead wrote:
>"Now I am beginning to wonder (remember the low figures for casualties inflicted vs rounds fired)…. Which end of a firearm was the more dangerous in those days?

While flash guards protect your right-hand man from powder burns they can be more dangerous to the shooter. A broad-brimed hat combined with the frizzen not moving fully open, on a gun with a flash guard, often results in burnt eyebrows. How do I know this you ask…? When firing in three ranks the first rank would kneel, but the right leg goes BACK as you sink on you left knee. The middle rank moves the right foot slightly and presents over the the intervals of the first rank. The third rank moves the right foot over to the right, and slightly forward, while they present between the intervals of the second rank. This has the spacing between the ranks reduced reuducing (not eliminating) mishaps.

When advancing shoulder to shoulder one thing that can happen, if not careful, is being crowed out of line. People pressing in from both sides, pushing some lads out. At a reenactment of Antietam I found myself, instead in the rear rank, where I stared, in a middle rank which was rather odd since we had formed up in two ranks.