Monday 5 January 2009

Indian warfare

The abandonment of the matchlock and pike in favour of the flintlock was taking place in the Americas a lot sooner than in Europe. Even natives realised the superiority of the flintlock and soon used nothing else. Matchlocks were hastily converted.King Philip's War is probably the watershed for the use of matchlocks. For further reading on the subject I suggest the excellent
The Skulking Way of War: Technology and Tactics Among the New England Indians by Patrick Malone. Review here

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