"AWI – two questions: muskets and frontages" Topic

Two questions that I hope somebody can help with:

1) Were any muskets browned during the AWI?
2) Can somebody explain to me the frontages/formations employed. For example, when were loose files ordered and what spacing would that be per man and relative to close order? Did troops use loose files at the bigger battles? I guess I'm trying to gauge how flexible these things were.

Thanks in advance.

Here is an interesting article for you re. browning.

link

I'd never read a thing about "browning" before until now. Interesting tid bit of information.

79thPA – thank you – interesting piece.

The loose files dated back to F&I Light infantry tactics, of which Howe played a big part in.

The files were flexible, but the standard "order" formation was 18 inches apart. From there it could be extended, as needed.

I'm not sure how much they used the open files prior to Howe taking command and cycling the battalions through the new procedures at Halifax in 1776. I believe some of the regiments came over already familiar with the open files, IIRC – as not all regiments were drilled at Halifax prior to deployment in North America. The uniforms were also modified during this time period – or in some cases like the Guards, prior to deployment overseas.

Yes, they used these formations in both large and small battles, as needed.

Matthew Spring "With Zeal And With Bayonets Only" covers the matter of formations in detail. Intervals, frontages and all sorts of useful information on the British Army in the AWI. His other books on Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse also go in depth on formations and frontages as well as battle tactics.

Thank you again. The Spring book has been recommended to me before for different reasons – it's looking like a mast have text on the AWI.

Timmo…..Spring's book "With Zeal etc." has a mass of material on every aspect of the AWI from the point of view of the British Army. Lots of myths are shot down and not a few surprises are there as well. His other books focus on Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse. First time around I found them rather heavy going but re-reading them was well worthwhile. Not the stuff of stirring battle narratives but if you want a sense of how a battle was fought in the AWI I would say Spring is a very good starting point.

After reading Mathew Spring's book With Zeal and Bayonets gave me a totally different view of how the AWI was fought.

Thanks again. Will order tomorrow, it's nice to see it's not an expensive book.

@hocklermp5,

Do you have titles for those Spring books on Cowpens and Guilford as I don't think I've ever come across those?

(You're not thinking of Lawrence Babits are you? "Devil of a Whipping" and "Long, Obstinate & Bloody".)