The Nemesis in China and Chinese archery in the 19th Century

May 29, 2017 bowvsmusket Battles Accuracy, Archery, China, Horse Archers, Musketry

China is the odd man out in the transition from archery to musketry. Almost every other nation had given up archery for firearms, the Chinese still used large numbers of archers as late as the 19th century. While firearms were certainly not unknown in China, and muskets made up a significant portion of the Qing … Continue reading The Nemesis in China and Chinese archery in the 19th Century

Bows Vs. Muskets in the Imjin War, part 1

February 29, 2016May 2, 2017 bowvsmusket Battles Accuracy, Archery, China, Horse Archers, Japan, Korea, Lethality, Musketry, Range

The Imjin War was an invasion of Korea by the Japanese between 1592-1598. Although the Koreans were initially no match for the Japanese armies, the Japanese were eventually driven out thanks to Chinese military assistance and several decisive naval battles. At the beginning of the war, the Koreans had virtually no firearms. The Japanese, on … Continue reading Bows Vs. Muskets in the Imjin War, part 1

Juan de Palafox y Mendoza – The History of the Conquest of China by the Tartars

July 4, 2015July 30, 2015 bowvsmusket Discourses Accuracy, Archery, Horse Archers, Musketry

Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, Bishop of Puebla in Mexico, was privy to reports of the Manchu conquest of Ming China via the Phillipines. Though he had never been to China himself, Palafox used those reports to write a detailed history of the conquest. Throughout, the Manchu are referred to as Tartars. Pages 521-522 The … Continue reading Juan de Palafox y Mendoza – The History of the Conquest of China by the Tartars

Ming vs. Qing

July 1, 2015 bowvsmusket Battles Archery, Horse Archers, Musketry

This is a short excerpt from a report by a Ming commander in 1646. Lynn A. Struve, Voices from the Ming-Qing Cataclysm, page 139: "When our troops are beaten, it is because they covet the enemy's horses; instead of hacking at the horses to bring the riders down, they hack at the [mounted barbarians], who … Continue reading Ming vs. Qing

Baron Marbot’s Encounter with Mounted Archers at Dresden and Liepzig, 1813

February 27, 2015February 27, 2015 bowvsmusket Battles Accuracy, Archery, Horse Archers, Lethality, Range

Some people suppose that the only reason muskets replaced bows was the musket's superior ability to penetrate armor. It is often suggested on various history and video game boards that a line of Napoleonic musketeers, lacking armor, would be annihilated by an equal number of archers, were the two ever to encounter one another. The … Continue reading Baron Marbot’s Encounter with Mounted Archers at Dresden and Liepzig, 1813