"Move by the flank?" Topic

I have read often of moves by the flank during ACW battles. I assume it means that a regiment in line simply faces left or right and moves by the flank. Is that correct?

If so, did AWI regiments also execute moves by the flank?

Jagger, there are lots of ways to move by the flank in ACW, more than right or left face. Scott Washburn should be along to give examples. He probably has used them all.

Summerians probably moved by the flank using some system! The troops who practiced (whatever system that was in favor) likely pulled it off OK. Badly drilled units (in any period) likely ended up in a Cluster F if they tried it!

>I have read often of moves by the flank during ACW >battles. I assume it means that a regiment in line simply >faces left or right and moves by the flank. Is that >correct?

Or forms a column of fours facing that way; or wheels companies into column. The main thing is to move toward the direction in question.

>If so, did AWI regiments also execute moves by the flank?

Not in the modern sense. You could wheel your subdivisions into column and move right; if the formation was small enough they could simply face and file, but I'm not sure how common that was. You could even wheel the whole unit, if you wanted.

I'm not sure "moving by the flank" should be interpreted the same way as "right flank/left flank--march!" of FM 22-5 fame.

Could it be that the Continental armies felt uncomfortable moving on the battlefield in the face of the British and their allies? Many of their more successful battles were set up as defensive lines, and let the British come at them.

I'd be reluctant to let the Americans execute relatively sophisticated movements, other than foreward, wheeling, and about face. Or fall into disorder.

>Could it be that the Continental armies felt uncomfortable >moving on the battlefield in the face of the British and >their allies? Many of their more successful battles were >set up as defensive lines, and let the British come at >them.

It would depend on the units in question and the period of the war. Very early on, the Rebels might be less ordered, but they seem to have been able to move pretty quickly when they wanted to (though not always in good order).

At Brandywine, Sullivan's division got into a real twist when they bungled their deployment so even trained troops didn't always do well.

>I'd be reluctant to let the Americans execute relatively >sophisticated movements, other than foreward, wheeling, >and about face. Or fall into disorder.

Most of what you describe up there is what you would have seen on the battlefield. Some rules sets take these things into account and provide for less well trained troops falling into disorder when maneuvering in proximity to the enemy so it depends on what you're using.

Jagger2008,

If you scroll down to the foreign advisors with the allied cause:

link

you could surmise that some regiments in the continental army would have been trained in the doctrines of European warfare post SYW or Polish Succession war. Knowing the limitations (time and money), an abbreviated system of drills would have been taught, but with most likely with less emphasis on maneuver than shooting.

So, the formation change you describe is more than likely an appeal by a gamer who blundered as all the troops could do at that time has already been described by others before me.

I would suggest, the one who blundered and was caught flat-footed, buy the next round.

Cheers,
Robert
18thcenturysojourn.blogspot.com