"ECW Tactical Capabilities" Topic

I'm working on an ECW project for our next local con and, not being all that familiar with the tactics of the period, I was wondering if some of our British cousins could enlighten me. Specifically, I was wondering whether ECW pike and shot infantry regiments were capable of wheeling or moving by the oblique. Could they simply face and move by the flank? Did they form columns in the sense of columns by company or by division such as those used in the 18th and 19th centuries? If so, were these ever used as attack formations, or simply as means to maneuver more rapidly? Was the cavalry and/or commanded shot/dismounted dragoons generally more flexible and better able to do the above than the infantry? Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Hmm, interesting question on wheeling, I must admit I'm not sure whether the infantry could/did wheel on the field of battle. I'd guess the more experienced units could, but that's only a guess.

No indication of 'attack column' as far as I can remember but ECW battles are notorious for lack of detail on the mechanics of unit combat. There are occasional mentions of pike blocks being detached from the shot and making their own assaults – maybe the usual 6 men deep, maybe more, for example Stratton, Lansdown and Adwalton.

Commanded shot and dragoons seem to be more 'wieldy' in close terrain – hedges & woods etc.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but, as I understand it, cadenced step is critical for infantry to move obliquely in an orderly fashion and it hadn't been reinvented at that stage. I suspect that most manoeuvres would have been pretty basic, due to the lack of training of many of the troops involved. In a lot of cases, the officers would have been fully occupied just trying to keep raw troops from running away, rather than attempting fancy foot work. That being said, you would think that turning left or right and moving by the flank would be doable, but I doubt that it would be sensible to try it if there were enemy anywhere near.

Bear in mind that armies would commonly have deployed in a processional manner. That is, a column of regiments would approach the battlefield and then march parallel to the enemy position (or expected enemy position) until they were is the desired location. The files would then turn left or right to form a line of battle. Approaching the battlefield in multiple columns that could each deploy into line side by side was a later development (and even then, not even the army of Frederick the Great always got it right).

Cavalry didn't have the same issues with oblique movement. Cavalry were also likely to be better trained than infantry. Dismounted dragoons and commanded shot seem to have often adopted looser formations more suited to their role. Not having pikemen would also have helped with manoueverability. It is common to find references to them lining hedges or otherwise adapting to the landscape.

I am certainly no expert, but I hope that helps.

In the set piece battles the armies would tend to form up over a mile apart then march towards each other in line, usually six deep. I suspect they had to stop frequency to redress the lines.

If they were fighting around obstacles like earthworks or bridges I suspect the real formation used was 'rabble'.

I'm not sure the cavalry was any better trained than the infantry. As usual with the ECW it's impossible to generalise. There was often a case of 'making it up on the day' to suit the tactical situation.

I cannot talk for the cavalry
The early 17 century infantry drill manual
Covers all you are asking
Weeling, moving by the flank, moving obliquely (by eshelon)
and just about any other formation and manoeuvre you can think of.
I suspect the manoeuvring of the new armies at Edgehill would be a different kettle of fish compared to the veteran of Naseby.

Thanks to all for your help!