| If used properly as was suggested it "might have" worked.
The theory was to have the pikemen march behind the musket infantry. After the infantry exchanged shots and the bayonet charge comenced, the pikemen who were behind the muskets where to charge instead of the musket infantry. Then the pikes could easily defeat the enemy infantry because they were only armed with bayonets.
Sounded like a good theory, could have worked, maybe?
For this to have worked you would have had to drill two different units of men to work as one. This is probably the hardest part of trying to accomplish this. I'm guessing it would have worked if they trained any units well enough, you could say this is a combined arms thing.
Another hard part is having your men have any confidence in carrying a pike in battle in the age of muskets and rifles. I'd hate to be the one with the pike.
Another problem was you'd end up having half as many men carrying muskets reducing your firepower by alot. In the end giving everyone muskets is probably better, but thats not to say this might have worked if use properly. |