Quote Originally Posted by Nelson View Post
It could be exceedingly difficult for officers to prevent the men from firing once they had a mind to shoot. Unless a charge was conducted without flints it was all too tempting to fire at the enemy as soon as you could. When defending the temptation was to fire early and often because the men would become frightened or impatient. Good discipline was not unknown of course but more rare than many would believe.
Ah, I see good Sir... but may I politely remind Sir that whilst thou was referring to mere unwashed scum and rabble, my humble self had the King's Royal Redcoats in mind.... It is as they say back home at my cottage in Essex, only....*hrmm*... less gentlemanly brawlers who stand shaking in the face of four aimed shots a minute.

Huzzah!