Re: Marching in formations for attack and defence

[John Richards]

Title: Re: Marching in formations for attack and defence

Hiya

Henry, you seem to be implying that the columns marched in formation all the way to a battle, but why would they bother?

Firstly, marching in formation implies that everybody has their full equipment on and is ready to go upon arrival, otherwise there is no point in such strict marshalling. However, you are assuming that the pike block would carry their pikes all the way. Anybody who has tried marching with a 5.5m pike will know that that is very uncomfortable, and you can't put them down with any ease. Far easier to transport them in carts? Big crowd at muster point, "oi, that's mine, Heinrich you tosser!!" Secondly, what's the first thing that everybody does on a march when there's a stop? Fall out for a fag/drink and a dump/piss! Lastly, each contingent would consist of handgunners, crossbowmen, pike-men and men-at-arms. Some would march at the front, some at the back, some in the middle, so when the "serpents" joined up, pikemen might be marching with crossbowmen and men-at-arms with the wagons. To form blocks, you'd have to sort them out anyway.

Facit, in medieval times you would always have to form your formation up upon arrival anywhere, so there is no point in a strict marching formation unless in danger of attack. People would march in easy groups, taking various routes until arrival at a collection point. There, they would be organised and formed into the relevant formations.

Hope you're well

John


am 30.4.2003 23:36 Uhr schrieb Henry Landis unter landis1702-at-yahoo.co.uk:

I have an unsubstantiated conjecture about medival Swiss pike and halbard blocks.

It seems to me that a linear formation such as used in later periods (Napoleonic) is not what was done in the 15th C. My thoughts run as follows.

At Grandson musters were collected from all the vilages surrounding say Zurich.

Each village had persons who were equipped with a variety of weapons and armour, depending on relative wealth. These people marched in column as illustrated in many contemporary illustrations. Schilling. As is well known, the fastest way of moving troops is in column. The troops from individual villages all know each other and have probably trained together. They are neighbours and look after each others backs.

As columns come together the columns merge together to form wider columns from a canton. Different cantons troops (in columns) join together to form the pike block. They may be marching on different roads to get to the battle field.

The chaps with the best armour form the front ranks of the columns, the less well armoured form third and fourth ranks etc. Troops with halbards and flambards form the colour guards in the block and are able to take advantage of any breaches in the enemy formation by passing between the columns without breaking the structure of the block. Likewise, you can have crossbows inbetween the columns who can get towards the front of the battle line to shoot and then retire to reload. Wounded men can likewise go out of the back of the block without too many problems.

If the block comes to an obstacle like a bush, tree or vineyard, it will naturally split where columns are marching next to each other. The effect of the block only relies on the front rank of each column keeping in line with the neighboring columns.

Some of my evidence for this is in the description of cannon shots at Grandson hitting the main pike block and killing umteen men from the same village. Also from the description of the forhut attacking followed by the gewalthaufen. It would appear that sometimes these formations marched out of camp, formed up and attacked very quickly, which would also tend to support my conjecture. In effect, we are talking about loads of men who know each other well playing follow the leader with a common aim and common tactics.

Let me know what you think or if anyone has any evidence that may support or refute my conjecture.

Henry

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