Why were old wars fought in lines?

They were influenced by cavalry, order and communication, and the tactics of the enemy. As warfare technology advanced, so, too, did battlefield tactics. One example Johnson gives is how horses influenced warfighting. Cavalry was effective against infantry, so the line formation was adopted to defend against cavalry.

Is volley fire still used?

In modern times the use of volley fire is limited, since automatic weapons can devastate massed infantry on their own without volley fire formations.

How did the French use linear tactics in their battles?

In a description attributed to General Martinet, the French lines starts with all but the last ranks kneeling, allowing them to fire over the front ranks. Then, progressively from the back, each rank would stand up and shoot. This remained the basis of French linear tactics for the next century, though the number of ranks were subsequently reduced.

What is the origin of the term volley fire?

That’s actually exactly what they did. In the early 17th century, Maurice of Orange reformed the Dutch army and drilled them to use volley fire. This involved the first rank (i.e. the first row of the line) firing and moving to the back of the line.

When did the French start firing by ranks?

In the early 17th century, Maurice of Orange reformed the Dutch army and drilled them to use volley fire. This involved the first rank (i.e. the first row of the line) firing and moving to the back of the line. For obvious reasons, this harmed the cohesion of the formation. By 1670, the French had begun firing by ranks.

How did the guardsmen in the Battle of Waterloo defend themselves?

Fire one volley with as many men as possible in the front row, then immediately follow up with a bayonet charge. Handing over loaded guns happened, but more in sieges. The guards in Hougoumont did that during the battle of Waterloo. There wasn’t room enough for all the guardsmen to fire their weapons.