21th. Infantry Regiment Drummer, Prussia 1745

The line infantry were troops who fought on foot. Armed with muskets, bayonets and swords, they were effective only when shooting in a coordinated manner at a distance of under 50 meters, and in hand-to-hand combat when they reached the enemy. 

The Prussian infantry were trained to fight in three lines, with a degree of training that allowed them to fire three to five shots for every two fired by their enemies. They advanced in closed formation until fixing their bayonets for hand-to-hand combat. 

The infantry drum accompanied the lines, marking the marching pace, and thus conveying military commands. The sound of the drum also intimidated the enemy.