No, it wasn't since days of the Phalanx. And propably way before that.

Sorry - I didn't mean that it was a generally a good idea just that in some contexts it did seem to work.

It is decent tactic against a breaking enemy. And when your troops keep some cohesion. The risk is, that the enemy doesn't break completely and you find yourself in loose formation, without cover and exposed, facing a tight enemy force.