The film is desperately short on back stories, but did anyone pick up any reason why the captain doesn't appear to know any thing about firearms? Yes, we know he's a gentleman, but even a sea captain (and there's absolutely no evidence of him being that) would have had some knowledge of how to use a gun.🐭
shareYeah that was weird. He seemed like a guy who couldn't fight with guns or his hands.
Maybe he was one of those military dandies.
Army captain, more likely. Promotion was purchased, in the British Army of the period, and there were more than a few moneyed idiots of that rank, who were clueless about weapons. Officers were taught swordsmanship, more than firearms, with most only carrying a sabre. As it was, most battles were determined by cavalry and bayonet charge, not via firepower. Canon and musket fire was used to soften up the enemy, before a charge. It wasn't until artillery became more accurate and rifled longarms and repeating weapons came on the scene, in the late 1800s, that things began to change.
Most flintlock pistols where fairly inaccurate and were better suited as a club than anything else. That is why most had thicker butt ends, as they would be reversed so they could be used as a club. They were used more at sea, where the close range made them more effective. Even cavalry troops tended to favor a carbine, outside of sabre range. In battle, they rarely used firearms, just the slash of their sabre and the mass of their horse.
Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!
Promotion was purchased, in the British Army of the period, and there were more than a few moneyed idiots of that rank, who were clueless about weapons.Interesting comments!🐭 share
It wasn't unique to the British Army; but, it was present in the army up until the 20th Century, give or take a few decades. Bernard Cornwell writes quite well about it in his Sharpe series, set during the Napoleonic Wars.
That's not to say they didn't have effective officers. Even those who purchased promotion learned their trade. The fops rarely lived long. There were still requirements about serving a period of time in a rank before being able to purchase promotion and promotion could also be earned. It was rare, though, for someone to rise from the enlisted ranks to being an officer, which is at the heart of the Sharpe books. He is a low-born man, a sergeant , who saves Wellington's life and is given a battlefield commission.
Like I say, most officers weren't taught to use firearms; but swordsmanship, instead. They learned how to drill their men and direct their fire, before leading them in a charge. Even in WW1, British officers didn't carry rifles; just a pistol and a baton.
Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!