Comments by "Harry Mills" (@harrymills2770) on "Why did Soldiers Fight in Lines? | Animated History (REMASTER IN DESCRIPTION)" video.

  1.  @airsoftfreak11  : More men died from shot than from cannon balls. I don't imagine being hit by one cannon ball, which is very improbable, unless you're packed in a tight formation. When using artillery against infantry, it's scattershot, only not those little BBs you see in a shotgun shell, but 100 (or so) musket balls about an inch across. Artillery would riddle infantry with holes. Rock-paper-scissors is when the infantry reach the gunners. If the infantry KNOW there's artillery, they seek cover or they die. They'd know to fan out if they were assaulting big guns. Gotta figure the 27th's commander got caught flat-footed by the maneuver. When I think of how the British still sold commissions to nobles or near-nobles looking to raise their status (and their wealth), it's a wonder there ever was a British empire! They definitely produced some good soldiers (and seamen), but what the ranks had to put up with, sometimes...
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  2. 50 yards, too.
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  3. Wellington's line formations were a critical factor in Britain's campaign in Spain. Caught the French a number of times in column against Wellington's lines, and they peppered the French.
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