"Squares..." Topic

As an avid 1745 jacobite Rebellion, AWI , Napoleonic and ACW gamer I was wondering when squares first truly came into common use and when they were last used against Western cavalry( as opposed to Sudanese or Zulus etc)?

Well, since in terms of terminology we tend to lump solid squares, or mass' in with 'squares', you could say 'squares' have been in use since ancient times as infantry draw together in an ordered mass to defend against cavalry.

Certainly there are plenty of renaissance formations you could comfortably term squares.

Well yes I know that but I mean linear musket armed infantry forming a 'square' to repulse cavalry attacks….

I think during the era you are dealing with,, squares were always in common use. slightly earlier,, during the Renaissance, pikes in square were used extensively,,Charles XII used them during the GNW,, WSS,, SYW,, and on to the end of the era of blackpowder… Sometimes doctrine used them in different ways,, such as the SYW,, where discipline kept armies in long lines,,but they had a second line that could do an about face,,and grenadiers on the flanks that could either form square or form line facing outwards to create an army square as needed…

Obviously,, in wars where there was not much cav, squares were not commonly used… ;)

So I would say as long as there were linear musket armed infantry,, they were trained to form square in one way or another…

pretty general here,, but hope it helps

anvil

My impression was that squares were used as a last defense in a chaotic field situation, like a retreat in the face of a victorious enemy rather than as a tactical formation to repel cavalry, at least in the WSS. Later, ummm, I dunno….

Post-pike, the (hollow) square was quite widely used by all European armies in a variety of situations where the enemy was attacking – or posing a threat – from more than one side. Contrary to popular myth, it was intended for use against infantry as well as cavalry, and as such was even employed on occasions (mostly by the British) during the AWI.

The first change to this, IMO, was the introduction of the "masse" (by the Austrians?) during the Napoleonic Wars. This was essentially a solid square/block where the imperative was to provide a formation that raw troops could use in attack or defence. In this conflict the main use of the square WAS against cavalry, due to the changing nature of the battlefield as the 18th Century "norm" of infantry in the centre and cavalry on both wings was replaced by the more fluid situations caused by the "corps de bataille" concept.

As far as "last used" I can tell you that one of the only known instances during the ACW was a regiment forming square against cavalry at Gettysburg on July 1st (Day 1), 1863.

I'm unaware of other examples later than that.

Cheers,

The Bandit

I think the brits used squares against natives in some of the imperial wars they had in the last part of the 1800s

The armies of the SYW nations all had regulations for the formation of squares, but they were rarely used due to the use of linear battle lines, usually anchored (flanks) on some terrain feature or with cavalry.

Prussian infantry formed squares at the Battle of Langensalza against the Hanoverians in 1866. On of their squares was broken by the Hanoverian Garde Cuirassier Regiment and the Duke of Cambridge Dragoons.

Confederate infantry formed battalion squares at the Battle of the Opequon (aka 3rd Winchester) in the Shenandoah, 19 Sep 1864, when charged in the flank and rear by 5 brigades of Union cavalry. George Patton's grandfather (a Confederate colonel) was killed in that fight.

Anvil, if they were used in the WSS then why didn't the French, British or other allies use them at Blenheim or Ramillies where repulsing cavalry (as at Waterloo) would have been highly useful…
Out of interest which battles in the AWI did the Brits use the square?

Archstatnton I'll go back to my original statement…..for the period your talking about you can take it that such use's were already well established and pretty routine for all nations.

To expand on that you thne have to look at the circumstances, which gets to your question on Blenheim, Ramillies etc.

An isolated battalion will form square/mass/hollow square to defend against cavalry.

A battalion forming a line as part of a larger formation, is actually protecting the flanks of the battalions either siode of it (just as they protect its flanks). So, to form square means you are pulling away from the units left/right and leving their flanks open. So, as a formation, the whole is more secure if each battalion stays in line.

Certainly used by the British in the Sudan

archstanton73,

Some references (suggest you read the whole thread in each case, as it often throws up more examples):-

link

link

link

link

link

link

link

link

The last one is a general discussion on British formations in the AWI that morphs into a discussion on squares.

archstanton73

What hos459 said…

different docterine during different eras determined just how and when squares were used.

Thanks Supercillius very informing..Will have to send in an amendment to Piquet FOB who state that squares weren't used in the AWI!!! They obviously were not needed as much as in cavalry rich environments but were still useful!! BTW on that last link they state that British AWI re-enactors were FARBS--What does that stand for?? (probably not polite!!!)