Remarks on the Inutility of the Third Rank of Firelocks, and the and the propriety of increasing the effective force of the country, by drawing up the musquetry two deep, and forming the third rank of pikemen; with some advice to volunteer corps.

RUSSELL, John, Lieutenant (fl. 1799-1805).

Published by London, C. Roworth for G. Egerton, at the Military Library, 1805.

About this Item

First Edition. in the original publisher?s marbled wrappers. 8vo (210 x 130 mm), pp. [ii], 38, small section spanning from lower gutter dampstained throughout, occasional marks or stains, slightly rubbed A scarce survival of the sole edition of this tactical treatise on the formation and arming of infantry, published at the height of the Napoleonic wars. Russell served originally as Paymaster and Adjutant in the West London Militia, where he was awarded Brevet Captain for his service. By 1805 he had joined the 96th Regiment, an infantry regiment which saw service in the Napoleonic Wars, both in the West Indies and in the Peninsular War. Russell was best known for his popular and much more extensive military manual, Instructions for the drill and the method of performing the eighteen maneouvres as ordered for His Majesty?s forces, London, 1799, which was also published at the Military Library in Whitehall and republished several times including in Philadelphia. In this short work, Russell argues against the standard military tradition of presenting infantry in the formation of three ranks of musketeers, advocating instead for a formation of two ranks of musketeers followed by a third rank of infantry armed with pikes. 'It may be concluded then, that as a hand weapon in the third rank the firelock is useless; and as a missile one, it is little to be dreaded in the tumult of action, except perhaps by the other ranks: for the front man, instead of having his mind solely occupied in what manner he may best annoy his enemy, has often an apprehension (and that perhaps not ill-founded) of having a bayonet stuck in his cheek, or his brains blown out, by an aukward fellow in his rear. From a pikeman he could have no such apprehension; on the contrary, he would feel protection.and would give or receive the charge of the enemy.with a certainty (so supported) of defeating him' (p. 19). WordCat lists only Cambridge, NYPL and Yale.

Seller Inventory # 4193

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Remarks on the Inutility of the Third Rank of Firelocks, and the and the propriety of increasing the effective force of the country, by drawing up the musquetry two deep, and forming the third rank of pikemen; with some advice to volunteer corps.
• Publisher: London, C. Roworth for G. Egerton, at the Military Library, 1805.
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
  • History and Society