To win in a 18th Century Battle the winner is the one who remains on the battlefield. To remove a army from there position a army would use many different methods. But the most effective way to WIN on a battle field was to have a disciplined army which could withstand the horrors of war. Please note that the battle situation that I am referring to is the standard way of engaging the enemy, in which two opposing sides face each other, such as these two lines: | |
1. The Musket
Musket men would be put together in mass because of the muskets poor accuracy. Most of the Musket balls would not find there targets but just the presence of them going through the air and when they did hit a apposing man it had a great effect on the men around the wounded men. When seeing the wounded, the large apposing force and hearing the musket balls flying through the air around them many of the undisciplined men would retreat off the battle field and other men seeing the retreating men, would join them.
2. The Cannon
Cannons were used to break up large groups of men. There cannon balls would cut through many men at once and the effect of the men would be twice as great. As stated above the cannon balls could go through many men and they also had the ability to bounce off the ground. This made the shot truly random and deadly.
It should be noted the difference between cannons and mortars. Cannons shot solid shots into a enemy and were most effective when facing men on the battle field or ships. When facing fortifications armies would use Mortars. Mortars shot explosive balls above and onto fortifications which would spread shrapnel and possibly fire.
3. The Bayonet
A properly timed bayonet charge also had a great effect. Although even in the late 18th century hand to hand combat was rare, so the most effect a bayonet charge had was to scare off the rest of the apposing forces. A bayonet charge would come toward the end of the battle because most men would not stand in front of a bayonet charge.
