Don, your little essay on the fighting in the revolutionary war tends to repeat an oft-repeated myth or at least partial myth about the fighting that took place in that war. You said:

"Back in the days of the American Revolution, the British soldiers, dressed in red coats with white bandoliers across their chests, lined up in ranks, one standing, and another in front of them, kneeling. They would fire and reload alternately. That was the way wars were fought."

Yes. Indeed it was. That was how you fought a large battle in the open. And most of the larger and more significant battles in that war were fought by American regular troops who
dressed in blue coats with white bandoliers across their chests, lined up in ranks, one standing, and another in front of them, kneeling. They would fire and reload alternately. ;-) They were damn near as easy to shoot at as the British. The French regulars dressed in white uniforms and did the same thing. Very noticeable. And they also fought the British in the traditional fashion most of the time.

Add to that the fact that the British made heavy used of Indian warbands, Indians being the consumate masters of wilderness warfare, to fight the revolutionary forces, and you will see that the old "we won because we could fight in the woods and the British couldn't" is mostly a popular myth that has been perpetuated by a nation understandably in love with its coonskin cap brigade of heroes.

Both sides had troops who could fight very effectively in the woods...and did. Both sides had large numbers of uniformed regulars who fought in large, rigid formations out in the open, using artillery and entrenchments...as in Europe. They ALL lined up and blasted away at each other in volleys in that case.

I just mention it because I'm fond of history. ;-)

Other than that, I agree with your general position in this debate.