In the French army, this was not the case.I thought that the first rank keeled to act as some kind if pike line to hold of the cavalry while the other 2 ranks fired, That didn't lower the firepower as usually 2 ranks fired even in 3 rank formations and the 1st rank held of the horses with their bayonets.
See:
https://books.google.de/books?id=OUgMAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA402
https://books.google.de/books?id=OUgMAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA414
In the Prussian army neither, at least not after 1809.