Let's get the pleasantries out of the way first - this book is without a doubt my book of the year, it is everything the "Marlborough's Other Army" book is (ie. informative, incisive, facts, figures), but also with the additional benefit that it is hugely readable. Lots of anecdotes, personal histories, and well reasoned argument as to why the author thinks a certain way was followed in the absence of clear evidence or proof, make it a very enjoyable read.. I unashamedly recommend this as a required reading to anyone with an interest in 'black powder' military history or wargaming..
Blackmore's book covers the period from roughly Edgehill to the Fall of Quebec, roughly 120 years, but his argument that this comparatively short period of time moulded the British Army to such an extent that tactical doctrine founded in this time still shapes the British Army today.
Starting with the English Civil War he describes the firing methods and drills of the time, explains why they were so inefficient (slow loading matchlocks muskets, firing by ranks/files, too long a range etc), but how developments towards the end of the war (volleys at very close range followed up immediately by close assault) set the stage for developments in later periods.
Moving on to the Nine Years War and and the War of the Spanish Succession he describes how the British Army discovered the "platoon firing" method (and no one knows where it really originated - Blackmore quotes Chandler who argued that it may have been the Swedish under Adolphus, but he also argues it could have been originated by the Dutch) that then dominated for the next 100 years through myriad changes and increases/decreases of complexity.
Put simply - a British battalion of infantry was divided up into "firings", this could be by platoon, by company, or even by rank within platoon (depending on the period), and these firings meant that the battalion was always shooting. The complexities and developments over time were aimed (no pun intended) at concentrating that continuous fire to maximum effect.
The following (and I'd like to point out the copyright bottom left) dates from the War of the Spanish Succession - a fairly simple platoon firing method. By the time the 3rd firing had completed, the 1st shooting had reloaded and was ready to fire again.. the French at this time were still firing by rank, and continued to do so for some time...
It probably reached it's maximum period of complexity under Cumberland (and I have no idea how they managed to control it on the battlefield, I was having enough difficulty sat in a chair in the garage with a beer and a cigar!) where I think they had managed to work up to 13 "firings" involving part platoons and even ranks, but it was simplified, without losing impact, by Wolfe and used to devastating effect at Quebec.
In summary, the British army had discovered a doctrine of firepower towards the end of the English Civil War that developed during these 100 and odd years meant they were largely unbeaten on the battlefield for the next 3 or 400 years.. continuous fire via the platoon firing methodology, at very close range (30 yards is quoted), followed up immediately by bayonet.. seemples..
10/10 ... now what are you waiting for? My own copy has already been ordered....
