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See the Whites of Their Eyes: Difference between revisions
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** This was most likely caused by the very long reloading time. Shooting at very close range was could maximize enemy losses and even probably break the enemy before the close quarters combat started, still leaving defenders time to put bayonets on. In time required to reload an XVIII-century musket charging soldiers could cover about 200 meters, roughly the whole practical range of such weapon.
** This was also the basis for 'thunder fire' tactics of XVII-century Swedish musketeers who preferred to fire at very close range but with three or even four ranks at once. With such firepower they were able to break even the charge of heavy cavalry.
**One explanation was simply that if they opened fire farther out, the fire would grow less effective because of muskets fouling and gunsmoke at just when it was possible to inflict severe casualties. And that the drip-drip of casualties caused by opening fire farther out couldn't cause enough morale loss to destroy a unit whereas the shock of suddenly scything away a whole bunch of men followed by a bayonet charge could do so even if the overall casualties inflicted was less.
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