how to use advance and fire?

[Didz]

Didn't Russian Genrell Alexander Suvorov advocate bayonet tactics in battle during this period?

As I said those who were never required to actually put theory into practice were very keen on it. The issue however, is whether it ever happened and actual evidence of troops crossing bayonets is pretty sparse, and become harder and harder to find as firearms become more numerous and reliable.

The confusion is increased like the myth of the 'cavalry charge', by writers and artists using romantic imagery to enhance mundane actions. Thus we read of French columns being driven off 'at point of bayonet' when in fact they were destroyed by close range musketry and already falling back in disarray when the regiment were ordered to 'fix bayonets and advance'.

The mentality of the common soldier to the use of the bayonet is easier to understand in books like Mark Urban's history of the rifle regiment where soldiers frequently mention the importance of always having a loaded rifle ready to fire and never discharging your piece until your buddy was reloaded.

The existence of a loaded musket or rifle ready to fire, effectively rendered any advance into close combat suicidal and provided it was managed properly prevented sword, lance or bayonet being used. Being caught without any loaded weapons was likely to result in immediate panic and a rapid advance to the rear if threatened with close quarter action of any kind.

Hence the comment 'men who could barely be persuaded to stand their ground and return fire, suddenly cannot be restrained from advancing with the bayonet as soon as they get sight of an enemy backpack before them.'