[nathanbedford]

This is not an absurd speculation, how would the Welsh longbow of The Hundred Years War fare against the massed infantry with muskets of the Revolution, and for that matter, against massed infantry with muskets of the American War between The States?

I understand Wellington sought archers but the art had by that time virtually died out.

[Pharmboy]

Not absurd at all...the Welsh bowmen could reload--as you know--much quicker than an infantry musketman. Also, the musket's effective range was about 50 yards, while the arrow had a much longer range. The 18th century soldier had, of course, no armor (although the arrows could pierce plate armor) and no shield so the massed array of bowmen would have been devastating. And what about the cross bow for close-in fighting?

Alas, as you say, there was no one skilled in either long bow-making or arrow-shooting.

Thought-provoking point issue...thanks!

[Salohcin]

The longbow would have had a longer range and a greater rate of fire, but it took years of practice to master. A musketeer was was more easily trained so that it was easier to gather a larger force that could overwhelm the archers, whose battle losrs would also not be as easily replaced. That is why even the much cruder matchlocks quickly displaced longbows on the battlefield.

[The Working Man]

I recall reading that the Welsh Longbow had a much faster fire rate approximately ten arrows to three round from a musket and had a better accuracy in the hands of a trained archer. The range for the bow was longer than the musket.

The huge problem was that to use the Welsh longbow took years to learn and build up the muscles to use it also. And it took continuous practice usually one to three hours a day to keep the aim and muscles loosened up for extended usage as required ion battle.

The musket on the other hand could be wielded by a relatively weaker man and since the accuracy of the musket wasn’t all that great that didn’t matter as much either especially when used in large to massive ranks firing in volleys at the enemy.