BAYONETS

Bayonet charge of the Irish Brigade at Fredericksburg

The Bayonet Charge is at the heart of many military legends, regimental histories and the content of many a newspaper read with great excitemnt at a Victorian breakfast table. Men charged forward for the glory of their regiment or died in a last stand, ammunitin expired and bayonets at the ready willing to fight to the end. Some charged forward " cold steel only boys " in order to finish the enemy off in a brutal manner. It was often the order given by commanders, and there are many examples.

On the whole the bayonet was initially a defensive weapon for keeping cavalry at bay. The famous British Infantry squares at Waterloo in 1815 would not have been possible without the bayonet. In the first years of its existence the bayonet was not considered an offensive weapon; cavalry were the decisive arm and offensive action was not the job of the infantry.

British Infantry form ' Square ' at Waterloo against the onslaught of French Cavalry

Below, Brown Bess Socket Bayonet.

" It was mid afternoon and apart from the continuing inferno around Hougoumont,

Hand-to-hand action slackened. Almost at once however, came the crash of the French Artillery bombardment reopening with even greater intensity. Casualties were mounting alarmingly , so Wellington useing the same tactic which he had used during the Peninsular war, ordered his troops back behind the protection of the reverse slope.

Thinking that the Anglo-Dutch Army was withdrawing, Marshall Ney- to whom Napoleon had unwisely entrusted field command of the battle, made a bold move for a quick victory. Instead of waiting for his scattered infantry to regroup he led 5,000 heavy cavalry to sweep the ridge. Wellington astonished that such an attack should be countenanced without the support of foot-soldiers and horse artillery, had his troops form battalion squares in echelon acoss the hillside. Then the ominous order rang out..

 ' prepare to meet cavalry ' As the resplendent French Squadrons came over the crest , they saw before them a chilling spectacle: 20

infantry squares each presenting a barrier of long, glittering bayonets held firmly by a kneeling British Soldier, backed by two standing ranks of levelled Muskets. Riders were thrown from their horses as the cavalry approached the squares, each was either shot clubbed or bayonetted to death " As the battle slipped from Napoleon's grasp, the elite Imperial Guard Guard marched forward, led part of the way by Napoleon himself. They had never been defeated in battle but as they approached the top of the ridge, they were literally blown away and stopped in their tracks by a withering volley of fire from the Guards Division. The Imperial Guard hesitated, and then began to retreat, their casualties were terrible. Wellington ordered a general advance of the line on seeing the Imperial Guard retreat. In one move the whole of the allied line advanced with bayonets, killing anyone in their way. The Imperial Guard attempted to fight a rear guard action but it was to late, the battle was lost .The Brown Bess bayonet shown here measures approximately 22inches in length, it has the familiar triangular blade measuring 16inches. The most famous musket used by the British Army was the Brown Bess, although the term is erroneously applied to any musket in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Land Pattern bayonet was issued to the Guards and King's German Legion but by the turn of the 19th century Indian pattern bayonets were in general use. With a musket measuring on average a length of 61.25 inches, this and a bayonet in line as used in the British squares must have been a formidable site and barrier to the French Cavalry. However hard they tried they could not penetrate the squares.The Brown Bess bayonet existed in many variants.

  Below, the Brown Bess Musket and socket bayonet

The aggressive use of the bayonet was largely a British development in the aftermath of the defeat of the Jacobite Highlanders at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The English Army had suffered defeat at the hands of the Jacobite Army prior to Culloden. The army itself was demoralized. The Highlanders owed their success to the feared ' Highland Charge' The conventional method of attack was for musketeers with pikemen in support to advance against their foe, discharging volleys as they did so. Muskets however were time-consuming to reload, a failing which the Highlanders were quick to exploit. The Highland troops would advance to within range of the enemy and then discharge a volley, to which there would be an immediate reply from the enemy.

At once while the enemy was desperately trying to reload the Highlanders would charge down on them with broadsword and shield, screaming wildly, stabbing and thrusting until the enemy troops were either killed or ran away. Some credit to the success of the English Army at Culloden must be given to their Commander William Duke of Cumberland. He was both admired and feared by those under his command. He was admired for his ability but feared for his undeviating severity to any who disobeyed or opposed him as the defeated Highlanders were to learn to their cost after the battle of Culloden.The English troops much feared the Highland charge and had not stood their ground at previous battles.In the months preceding the battle of Culloden Cumberland subjected his troops to strict training and bayonet drill, turning them into an efficient, confident force. The new bayonet drill incorporated that each man in the line would thrust his bayonet not at the man attcking to his front but to his right, thus stabbing the attacking foe on his vuneralbe side as he lifted his sword arm. This pratice would be carried out along the whole line which meant having total faith in the man to your left . When the Highlanders attacked the English line at Culloden the English stood their ground, fighting broadsword, dagger and shield with the bayonet. The Highlanders managed to fight their way into the English lines, but were overwhelmed. The slaughter continued after the battle. Parties of English Infantry under Cumberland's orders moved about the battlefield and surrounding area bayonetting all the wounded rebels they could find. this earned Cumberland the name " The Bloody Butcher " The era of the Highland Charge had come to an end, and bayonets had proved their value on the battlefield.

Below, one of the most striking contemporary images of the Battle of Culloden ( 16th April 1746 ) was the work of David Morier ( 1705-70) and shows the King's Own Regiment in action with Highlanders. Commissioned by the Duke of Cumberland it is believed that the artist modelled the Highlanders on prisoners taken at the battle.

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