Thread by @KKriegeBlog

A myth-tackling thread. Looking at the British redcoats, modern Americans often claim that they were, "Too dumb to take cover." TL;DR, during the whole eighteenth century (and in Europe too), the British would lie down under fire and take cover on the battlefield. 1/17

First of all it seems as though this practice was incredibly common. So common, that it might even be considered a normal British practice . Unlike the shallow, open-order formations used by the British in the AWI, laying down under fire did not come from North America. 2/17

Also, it should be noted: the troops performing this tactic are battalion company soldiers, not light infantry of any sort. Where possible, I have avoided sources from light or provincial units, in order to establish that regular British soldiers employed this tactic. 3/17

British troops employed this tactic in almost every major battle of the War of Austrian Succession. According to Lt. Colonel Russell at Dettingen in 1743, and in his words: "our foot almost kneeled down by whole ranks, and so fired upon 'em a constant running fire." 4/17

Russell describes a pattern, by which both sides would wait until individual enemy soldiers would rise from a stooped position to load or fire, and then pick off the exposed individual enemy soldiers. 5/17

At the Battle of Fontenoy, there are a number of instances of British soldiers employing cover to avoid enemy fire. Under the orders of Colonel Robert Munro, the Highlanders were permitted to engage, "in their own way of fighting." 6/17

When the French would prepare to fire a volley, the Highland troops would "clap to the ground," allowing the French fire to pass over them, and, "instantly as soon as it was discharged, they sprung up, and coming close to the enemy, poured in their shot." 7/17

Another soldier related: "we observed a large battery ready to be opened on us. We had orders to lie down on the ground; but for all that, many were wounded, and some killed. Presently after the discharge we rose up... still keeping up our fire." 8/17

He described Rocoux in similar terms: "By this time the French came very near us, and a cannon-ball came straight up our rank. But, as we were lying upon the ground, it went over our heads. We then had orders to stand up and fire." 9/17

During a raid in the Seven Years War, Corporal Todd reported in 1758: "And as soon as we got ashore, we lay down close upon the Beach, near the water edge, that our ships might fire over us in case the Enemy Advance to make any Attack upon us[.]" 10/17

John Knox describes this practice during the 1759 campaign at Quebec. He describes laying down in the while maneuvering against the enemy and on the battlefield against enemy infantry. The British 46th Regiment used this tactic at the Battle of La Belle Familie. 11/17

Unsurprisingly, the practice continued during the AWI. Again in this era, it seems to have been a response to coming under artillery fire. At the Battle of Harlem Heights, British diarists record that they lay on their arms after coming under fire by American artillery. 12/17

Thomas Sullivan, with the 49th Regiment of Foot, recalled: "The Cannonading continued at both sides for an hour... All that time out Brigade i.e. 2d., lay upon our Arms in a field of Indian corn..." Sullivan describes this practice again at Brandywine in 1777. 13/17

In 1777, Ensign Thomas Glyn of the Brigade of Guards reported, "the Enemy advanced with two pieces of Cannon & began to cannonade us, when we were ordered to lay down and being covered by the ground, no loss ensued...". 14/17

On St. Lucia George Harris of the 5th Regiment of Foot recalled, "My gallant friend, now no more, Captain Shawe of the 4th. Company, was ordered by me to make his men lie down, and cover themselves with brushwood as much as possible, to prevent them being seen as marks." 15/17

It seems odd, then, that one of the most enduring myths of the American War of Independence is that the British were, "Too dumb to take cover." The British army, like most contemporary European armies, tried to maximize their effectiveness. 16/17

As always: you want footnotes for the quotes, read it on the blog: shorturl.at/diu47 17/17