button to main menu  Gents Mag 1746 p.31

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Gentleman's Magazine 1746 p.31
It would be needless to produce testimony from history, to shew that no assemblage of undisciplin'd mobs, how desperate soever, that fought with the same weapons, and had not other advantages, succeeded against an equal number of regular men.
The supreme being, in conducting the Jews from AEgypt, led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, because the Philistines were men of war from their youth, regular and well-disciplin'd troops, and the Jews in no condition to fight them, and force a passage thro' their country. The same superiority is evident in all the wars made on that people; till David observing it, form'd the original militia into a standing army, and by that means became very successful in his future wars with that republic.
When, therefore, in the case of regular troops engaging with mobs, the former are defeated, some reasons ought to be assign'd which, in my opinion, are chiefly reducible to the following: Superiority of numbers, misconduct of officers, particularly the general, surprize, temerity, cowardice, difference of weapons, and confusion.
In the battle of Gilli-cranky, the difference of weapons, confusion, and cowardice of the horse, were always assign'd as the principal causes of our defeat.
In the late affair at Gladsmuir, most of the troops had never been in action; wherefore to the reasons before named, cowardice and surprize ought to be join'd, tho' the last seems to be the greatest part of the charge.
It is particularly to be observ'd, that regular men can never fight well when reduced to the form of a mob, no more than a mob can fight like regular men. The former is a method of fighting which soldiers are not acquainted with, and the practice and lesson of their lives absolutely discharge it. 'Twill therefore be the constant aim of a tumultuous and cunning enemy to render discipline useless by introducing confusion; if by a sudden shock, or desperate push they acquire this, certain victory is generally the consequence, they are the best fighters in disorder, their leaders sufficiently know this, and never fail to improve it.
Another essential cause is the difference of weapons, not so much the sword as the shield, which protects the assailant in cutting his way, and enables him to proceed with intrepidity, and strike terror. The success is ascribed to personal valour, and the agent is elated, while the execution performed by fire-arms is too general to give the honour to any one agent. Hence the Highlanders acquire their fame, and presume on greater bravery. Their swords indeed are manageable with much greater dexterity and smartness than ours, the three centres of motion, gravity, and magnitude uniting in them, which the weight of our blades, and the lightness of our hilts, separate too much.
As for the battle-axe, the inconveniency of wielding it renders it of very little consequence but terror.
Much dependence has of late years been placed on the musket and bayonet, which are more manageable, and less embarassing than the long and unwieldy pike, and, for their double use, have been preferred to it. But in a close engagement the broad sword and target seem to have much the advantage of the musket and bayonet; since the point of the bayonet may be receiv'd upon the target on the left hand, while the weighty broad sword does the business on the right, the fighter without a shield having no guard against the stroke. For this reason a Scotch gentleman of considerable wealth, and great dealings as a merchant, proposed to raise and head a regiment to be instructed in a particular discipline, by which he would undertake to engage and overthrow any Highland regiment, notwithstanding their target. The method was for his men to sling the musket on the right shoulder, or under the strap of the left, lengthening the sling, that the musket might be supported so as to lessen the weight, and by hanging at a balance, at a convenient length, might be push'd forward, like a battering ram, with the left hand, so that the point of the bayonet would come under the Highlander's right arm, out of the way of the target, and while he was aiming a stroke, our merchant's soldier was to defend himself by the guard of his sword in his right hand. A method not unlike this was followed by the late duke of Argyle, when he push'd and entirely routed the rebels right wing at Sherriff-muir. Why the merchant's proposal was not accepted, or whether any regard has been had to the method, I cannot say; but as the king's troops do not want of courage, it is a pity they should not serve themselves of every art for defence, as well as offence. (See Vol. XV. p.527.)
It is easier to point out difficulties than to remedy them. War is a science I have but little study'd; but it seems beyond a doubt, that a constant and regular fire from the foot, with a vigorous support of the horse, would presently turn the scales, against even Highlanders. Their shields are not impenetrable to bullets, and these desperadoes, mad as they are, will chuse to shun death by flight, the moment that
they
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