Why were soldiers told to wait until "they saw the whites in their eyes" before they shot?

Question

To save ammunition and be more accurate.

To save time and rest.

To count the number of British soldier.

Answer 1

Soldiers were told to wait until "they saw the whites of their eyes" before they shot primarily to save ammunition and be more accurate. This phrase suggests that soldiers should only fire when they were close enough to ensure a higher likelihood of hitting their target, which would be crucial in battle conditions where ammunition was limited, and the chaos of combat made long-range shooting less effective. This tactic was notably associated with the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War.