3. Were Battles and Duels Really Fought Like That? (Barry Lyndon)
Those familiar with the film will know that I allude to what appears to be the most dangerous way conceivable opponents facing each other square on without cover, and in the case of duels, firing simultaneously without trying to out-draw each other, or even taking turns to fire unopposed. In fact they
were fought like that, thanks to the technology of the day. The infantry used muskets which were extremely slow to reload, and only reloadable from a standing position. Infantrymen stood close together in ranks in order to have as many loaded rifles at their backs as possible. Packing tightly together was also a defence against cavalrymen with swords. While walking towards a hail of lead seems absurd, due to the musket's inaccuracy, losing fifty men for the advantage of being close enough to hit two hundred before they could reload does make sense. Additionally, muskets were equipped with bayonets, and so timing a charge into melee combat was of paramount importance. A battalion reeling from volleys of accurate fire was far more likely to succumb to a charge. Considering duelling, once again the accuracy of smoothbore weapons dictated the format of the exchange. A test of speed with pistols would most likely end up a test of endurance, not to mention a farce. Therefore, the very deliberate actions permitted by the contest were devised. At a time when swordsmanship had withdrawn to the domain of aficionados, and guns were not yet reliable enough to demonstrate a high degree of skill, the element of luck could not be avoided, and may even have been emphasized at a time when European society was becoming disenchanted with its last civil resort.