G'Day Gents
As for myself…I use the 1:60 scale and I base my figures so that each battalion when in column can meet the required divisions.
My French are normally 7 to 9 figures strong, therefore I divide 9 into 4 divisions and that gives me two figures per division with the 9th figure acting as the grenadier company that is detached…if the grenadier company is formed with the battalion, then it is considered a peloton and centered behind the last division.
When France goes to a battalion with 6 pelotons, then I only need 3 divisions when in column (therefore I base each division on two stands, one stand with two figures and one stand with one figure).
If I have a 7 figure battalion in column in 1808, the column is 2 figures wide and 3 figures deep. the 7th figure I place on the flank…using a commander as an example…nevertheless the column is only 2 figures wide. If the 7 figure battalion is in column from 1792 to 1807 then I still need four divisions, the first 3 divisions are two figures and the fourth division is one figure and centered on the third division.
When I am not playing a historical game that requires the exact effective for a battalion from 1808 onward…I always use 9 figures…
The French Garde of 1815 are formed in 4 divisions when in column and the Jeune Garde are in 3 divisions when in column…
As for a Grand Bande…prior to 1803 the entire battalion would deploy into skirmishers…than after 1805 only 50% were permitted to detach and form into a Grande Bande. Therefore I always have extra fusiliers on single stands when they are sent out to skirmish…and up until 1808 (officially) battalion commanders would take the third rank and deploy them as skirmishers, but we know that it was done even up until 1811 because Davout attempted to put an end to it.
It is also mandatory for the British, Prussian, and Russians to have 4 divisions when in column as well.
Best Regards
Art