This now finally brings us to the post war writings and for this I would suggest a key section from Sir James Turner's 'Pallas Armata: Essays on the Greek, Roman and Modern Art of War', written in 1671 and published 1683, pages 237-238 suggests the method actualy used on the battlefield by both musket and dragoons:

'Since then a Dragoon when he alights, and a musqueteer are all one, I have forborn hitherto to speak of the several ways how the ranks of musqueteers fire, having reserv'd it to this as a proper place. Take them then, thus: If the service with the enemy be in the Van, as mostly it is, ranks may (after they have fired) fall off two several ways: First, the rank which hath fired, divides it self into two, and half goes to the right hand, and the other half to the left, and then they fall down to the reer, and so of Leaders become Bringers-up, till another rank comes behind them. But I would have this manner of falling off banisht out of all armies, for in a great Body it breeds confusion, and though in drilling it may leisurely be done without any considerable disorder, yet in service with an enemy, where men are falling, it procures a pitiful Embarras, and though it did not, yet it ought to give way to a more easie way of falling off, which is the second way I promised to tell you of, and it is that I spoke of, of failing down by the intervals of ground, that is between files, and this I would have constantly done by turning to the left-hand after they have fired, because after that Musqueteers recover their Matches, and cast about their Musquets to the left-side, that they may charge again, which they are a doing, while they fall off to the reer. But there is a third way for Musqueteers to do service better than by any of these two, and that it not to fall off at all, but for every rank to stand still, after it hath given fire, and make ready again standing, the second advancing immediately before the first, and that having fired likewise, the third advanceth before it, and so all the rest do, till all have fired, and then the first rank begins again. It is not possible that by this way of giving fire, there can be the least confusion, or any thing like it, if Officers be but half men; there is another way of firing sometimes practised, that is by three ranks together, the first kneeling, the second stooping, and the third standing, these having fired, the other three ranks march thorough the first three, and in the same postures fire likewise.

But here I shall desire it to be granted to me that which indeed is undeniable, that when the last three ranks have fired, the first three cannot be ready to fire the second time. Next, firing by three ranks at a time, should not be practised, but when either the business seems to be desperate, or that the Bodies are so near, that the Pikemen are almost come to push of Pike, and then no other use can be made of the Musquet but of the Butt-end of it. I say then that this manner of six ranks to fire at two several times it not at all to be used; for if it come to extremity, it will be more proper to make them all fire at once, for thereby you pour as much Lead in your enemies bosom at one time as yo do the other way at two several times, and thereby you do them more mischief, you quail, daunt, and astonish them three times more, for one long and continuated crack of Thunder is more terrible and dreadful to mortals than ten interrupted and several ones, though all and every one of the ten be as loud as the long one.

But that I seem not to pass my word to you for this, be pleased to take the authority of Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, who practised it at the Battle of Leipzick, where after he had fought long, and that the Saxon Army on his left-hand was beaten by the Imperialists, he caused the Musqueteers of some of his Brigades to fire all at once by kneeling, stooping, and standing, which producet effects conform to his desire. If you ask me how six ranks can fire all at one time, and level their Musquets right? I shall tell you the foremost three ranks must first be doubled by half files, and then your Body consists but of three ranks, and the posture of the first is kneeling, of the second stooping, and of the third standing, and then you may command them all to fire.'

Turner then concludes with some specific observations on dragoons;

'If you command your ranks (after they have fired) to fall to the reer any of the two ways already spoken of, though you take never so good heed, you shall lose ground, besides that it hath the show of a retreat, but by making the ranks successively go before those which have fired, you advance still, and gain ground. In this order should Dragoons fight in open field, when they are mixed with Horse, in this order should they fire and advance when they are to defend a Pass, a Bridg, or a Strait, they must then after firing fall off to the reer, by marching thorough the Intervals of their several files, because it may be supposed they have no ground whereon they can advance.'

More Give Fire: ECW Formations and Tactics

Introduction
Skirmishing
Pre-War
Wartime
Post-War
Contemporary Battlefield Accounts
Conclusion
Biographical Notes
Troops Disposition Diagrams (slow: 143K)

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