"Battle Array - Dragoons on foot : HELP!" Topic

Dear all,
I hope someone can help me. I am recreating the battle of Turin at 1to1 ratio. Now I am modelling the forces around the Caste of Lucento, defended by the French.
In that castle, besides 3 Battalions of the Normandie Regiment – there were 3.000 French dragoons on foot (i.e. without horse); I know they fought like infantry, but I ma wondering if they were arrayed likewise: 4 ranks, colours on foot as well, marching etc. or more like an eclteic and usable force. This will change the way I will draw them.
Thank you

A nice project you have there.
I'm no expert on the battle of Turino, so my thoughts will be more formal. I take it, we are talking abaout the extreme left wing of the French deployment here. Regt Normandie holding the position of left closing regt of the French first line of infantry. I assume this left wing rested on some sort of stronghold or difficult terrain. I assume here it was your castle & sourrunding park/gardens. Now the dragoons would have been tasked to occupy that terrain (not part of the 1st line of infantry) Dragoons should be a seperate command & not part of the infantry line. Moreoften fighting on such ground in close order would be unsuitable anyways.
I play my Frnech dragoons as skirmishers when dismounted with my WAS & SYW battles, except when otherwise documented, such as the brigade of French dragoons at Hastenbeck 1757. When occupying build up areas, works, etc, they are treated as formed troops and can defend.

Cheers,
Christian
crogges7ywarmies.blogspot.com

Thanks Crogge1757.
I really appreciate your help. YOu are right: at that battle; here the map of the part of the battle where there was the Castle of Lucento (and still there is)

I think that the Dragoons where deployed between the gardens of the Castle and the diver and in the stongholds in fron of the river.

I read that the Dragoons when dismounted fought likewise infantry, so on 4 ranks (later 3); but I agree with you that they were totally separated from Infantry as command. Considering that – for example – each Dragoon Regiment was on 4 squadrons (or three) and every squadron could have 4 or more companies of around 25/20 men each, it seems to me they fought in 3/4 ranks but in little united groups of 1 squadron (100 men) or even less, giveing them the opportunity to delpoy in unsuitable terrain.

here the castle of Lucento rebuild according to the current stauts and the old maps I found:

but still there is a lot to do…

PS: I really like your blog and the figures you do.

Michele