I am specifically considering a military formation in linear warfare, so they might not be exactly shoulder-to-shoulder, but have some space between them for firing muzzle-loading muskets.
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This would require considerable space, as one must raise ones trigger elbow to horizontal with the shoulder in order to achieve steady aim. Reloading would require even more space. I would think shoulder to shoulder, is more poetic than graphic.
yogicskier
Measure yourself across the shoulders and you have your answer.
I'm about 19 inches wide, so 100 of me would be 1900 inches wide, or about 160 feet. If you figure two feet per person, it would be 200 feet.
Of course, if you're firing a weapon, you're not facing straight-on in the direction you're firing, so your firing line would be narrower, maybe 100 feet.