Slitherine

If troops armed with a Baker rifle wanted to engage in close combat, they would have to attack the sword bayonet, which then caused problems with firing their weapon.

It was my understanding that the FOGN 'close combat' is the 'volley and bayonet' action of the British infantry. When rally close, a single or couple of quick volleys, and thena charge. In that case, the Baker rifle is just as useful as the musket - they would load a unwadded rifle bullet for rapid fire, let loose a couple of volleys, and then charge - all with the bayonet fixed - or not - it was the mass of men charging that broke enemy. The lack of bayonet wounds in battle suvivors is well reported by Larrey and Guthrie - so the effectiveness of a particular bayonet type is irrelevant.

What about Fuentes de Orono where the Light Division, including the 95th, advanced out to rescue the 7th Division, and held off the vastly more numerous French cavalry in square as they retired, covering the 7th's withdrawl? Bet they had their bayonets fixed then!

The 95th fought Waterloo as line infantry, and since they had to face off cavalry for much of the day, I'm sure they fired their Baker rifles with the sword bayonet attached. Remember, the Baker could be fired with a musket's rate of fire if you didn't use the leather wad for the rifle bullet - that was made it such a useful MILITARY rifle.

The 95th were more than capable of acting as what FOGN calls a 'tactical unit'.

Alastair