Ah! Like in the old TV show Northern Exposure, when Chris built a
catapult and hurled a piano. One of my favorite episodes. (It was
Chris, wasn't it? <g>)
Should have known why "tirez" was pounding on the inside of my skull.
I've read enough of Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe novels that I
should have recognized it right away. The French attack in column.
Wellington defended in line. Thin red line beat thick blue column
every time because the British army was one of the few, if not only,
in Europe to train with live ammunition. The average Redcoat could
load and fire three rounds a minute from his musket. Green jacketed
riflemen fired at a slightly slower pace, but much more accurately,
because they had to use a patch around the bullet for better fit.
After a number of rounds, they stopped using the patch because the
barrel was so fouled with powder residue they couldn't ram a wrapped
bullet home. Then the Baker rifle became less accurate, but by then
the French column was upon them, anyway.
I could go on, but I won't. <g>
--Bob
On Oct 24, 2007, at 1:36 AM, Chris Barker wrote:
> It meant, I think, shoot the cow, as in a projectile ("tirez" means
> "fire", pull the trigger). I have this image of a cow hurtling over
> the battlements towards the enemy ...
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