For decades, military historians have argued that the introduction of the rifle musket - with a range five times longer than that of the smoothbore musket - made the shoulder-to-shoulder formations of linear tactics obsolete. Earl J. Hess challenges this deeply entrenched assumption. He contends that long-range rifle fire did not dominate Civil War battlefields or dramatically alter the course of the conflict because soldiers had neither the training nor the desire to take advantage of the rifle musket's increased range. Drawing on officers' drill manuals and a close reading of battle reports, Hess demonstrates that linear tactics provided the best formations and maneuvers to use with the single-shot musket, whether rifle or smoothbore.

The European tactical heritage -- The North American tactical heritage -- Tactical manuals and the management of men -- Training -- Moving forward and the art of skirmishing -- Multiple lines, echelons, and squares -- Changing front -- Columns -- Multiple maneuvers -- Large formations -- Tactical developments after the Civil War -- Comparison and context -- Conclusion: a tactical summary of the Civil War.