[ WP ] In an alternate universe , gunpowder was never invented . What does warfare look like ?

I'm doing two stories on this one, 1 in Colonial times 1 more Modern 
 
 1776 United States 
 
 I crept through the wood Kentucky Rifle in hand, She was a beauty, compressed air and silent as death. 12 shots at full and another 12 at half, 12 balls in the tubular magazine too, my little apostles. 
 
 The British liked their squares well enough, and their fast firing crossbows with explosive bolts, too strong a charge for a weapon but deadly on an arrow. Oh aye the Redcoats had tried but the stone bell proving to be useless in combat so we faced those crossbows, a design the ancient Greeks and Romans would have recognized 
 
 We rebels had less artillery but we had the lay of the land., I crept forward, 50 yards out and spotted the five of them among them a notorious junior officer with his sword. He had killed two of my men, captured and flogged me before I escaped and it was my turn to return the favor. 
 
 The rifle popped, two went down. The remaining Redcoats raised Brown Bess airguns raised by I caught another in the chest and he went down 
 
 I went to fire again but the rifle misfired. 
 
 `` Have at you George Rodgers! `` He cried charging me 
 
 I threw down my Rifle, she'd need repairs later and drew my sword and buckler. 
 
 We met in a clash of steel and while he managed to cut me slightly, I had had a mail cheater wedged in my leather jerkin and a buckler and while he was a better swordsman I still managed to slay him. 
 
 I limped to camp for medical care and to report to General Arnold that we were one day nearer to independence and my mission was accomplished
