(1) Early infantry commanders employed a warrior known as a pikeman, armed with a knife attached to the end of a quarterstaff, to defend the musketeers from an enemy charge while the musket was reloaded. Reloading was a time consuming operation and the musketeer was vulnerable during the time his weapon was empty. The pikeman stationed himself in front of the musketeer and warded off any enemy assault with his pike until the musketeer was again ready to fire. De Puysegur’s development thus enabled the musketeer to assume both functions of the “medieval fire team.” This so called plug bayonet was used for a period of forty to fifty years. It consisted of a long dagger with a tapered shaft which was inserted into the muzzle of the musket. The taper was necessary since muzzle diameters were not standardized. The plug bayonet fitted snugly into the muzzle of the musket and was difficult to remove. This was necessary in order to prevent it being withdrawn by the enemy. The musket could not be fired with the bayonet inserted, a significant disadvantage. The plug bayonet lost favor when it contributed to the defeat of the English at the hands of the Scots at Killiecrankie, Scotland, in 1689. The English were ordered to fix bayonets after firing a volley at the Scots. The British commander then discovered that his troops were further from the Scots than he had originally thought. He ordered bayonets detached and muskets reloaded. Before loading could be accomplished the Scots closed with the English and thoroughly routed them. The English commander, Hugh MacKay, having noted the disadvantages of the plug bayonet, developed a modification which came to be known as the ring bayonet. The ring bayonet was similar to the plug bayonet, but the tapered shaft was inserted between two rings fastened to the muzzle, allowing the musket to be fired with the bayonet attached. There is some evidence that a similar device was being used in France ten years prior to the engagement at Killiecrankie, indicating that the ring bayonet was not an English invention.