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Posted by Bas de Groot on 12/28/2004, 5:57 am, in reply to "Re: Bayonets" In conclusion; hand-to-hand combat was not unheard of (famous example: the battle of Eylau), but happened much less often than firefights followed by charges where one side ran away (D'Erlon's assault at Waterloo, the French Guard at Waterloo, Rolica). Kind regards,
194.109.163.71
*grin* well, I didn't say hand-to-hand combat was completely unheard of. I just said that it was far less common than one side running away.
Even in this example, you see that part of the Austrian unit under attack runs away, and only part stands and fights.
Also, in the Revolutionary period, up to, say, 1800, French troops were quite often wihout firearms or without bayonets, or both, and had to make do with pikes, knifes and such. As a result, they were very keen to close with the enemy, since this was the only way to do proper damage. They often had neither the training nor the weaponry for sustained firefights which the Allies did have.
Later on, in the Imperial period, the French are better trained and armed, and you see them get involved in sustained firefights more often, blasting away in a Feu-par-files and not closing on the enemy. Again, often ruling out hand-to-hand combat.
Bas
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