Breech-Loading Rifles

Firing into the Brown

by Donald Featherstone

Breech-loading rifles came prominently into notice in 1866 when the result of the immense power of their fire was fully shown. In this campaign, the actions were gained by the fire of skirmishers, and not by the shock of columns. The same troops who (as supports) were formerly used for the shock gradually became dissolved, and, with the skirmishers, gained the victory by their fire.

The inference drawn was, that fire action could no longer be confined to pave the way for an attack with the bayonet, but must become the main element in deciding a battle.

    From A Summary of Tactics by H.F. Morgan (1883)

Firing into the Brown

Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 99
To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues
To MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 1970 by Donald Featherstone.
This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com