Re: Marching in formations for attack and defence

[Henry Landis]

I refer to some of the illustrations in various texts, Schilling as I own a copy. You see bodies of men marching with pike and armour converging on the field. Hand gunners and Crossbows ahead, Pike and Hallbards with the colours.

 

As far as marching with pikes, I must refer to later ECW references, where pikemen marched day after day in formation with their pikes and when they stopped they stopped where they were, eat what provisions they had and were ready to march on. Pikes in the ECW period at least tended to be trailed (ie dragged) thus the saying "He trailed his pike for the King".

 

Taking the formations that you commonly find in the manuscripts, the forhut are mainly made up of hand gunners and crossbow men while the large pike formation is made up of the main body of troops (Pike Halbard Colours Music).

 

My conjecture is also based on an experience with the ECWS where the regiments (20 to 30 Pike and Similar numbers of musket) were lined up for a general advance. All of the columns of pike 3 or 4 men wide marched forward merging into one lage block of 300-400 troops. It was very noticeable that you stayed in your own columns and followed your fellows. However the entire block charged their pikes and presented a single front. Again, when obstacles were encountered the block opened and flowed around the obstacle and rejoined on the other side.

 

If you had large woods or other large obstacles, most commanders would tend to take the formation past the woods and fill the woods with hand gunners or crossbow men. Woods do provide a secure flank  and prevent gunnery from enfilading or cavalry from attacking the flank.

 

I certainly feel that units would march out of camp wherever they were on the eve of the battle and march by parallel routes were possible and join up into the larger formations on the battle field.

 

The point is that you do not have to march all the men in the best armour to form the front ranks in one column and wheel them into line followed similarly for the other columns wheeling to form the 3rd and subsequent lines.

 

What you have is contingents in column marching in the formation they are going to fight in.  the first on the field march toward the enemy as directed. The following contingents form up on the left or right of the first column as directed or pre arranged and as soon as they are there they can begin their advance.

 

What you have is a very flexible and rapid to deploy formation, which would appear to correspond with the way the swiss fought during this period.

 

Sorry for the late night waffle, but I will send references when I locate them.

 

 

love and stuff.

 

Henry

 

> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

---

Yahoo! Plus - For a better Internet experience

Yahoo! Groups Sponsor

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.