"Disposition of Dragoon division during strategic advance?" Topic

So I was perusing my Yorck maps, and during e.g. the Ulm campaign, the dragoon divisions are usually depicted as a string of dots in front of the army corps. How does this translate into the actual bodies of troops and their formation? Are the divisions broken up into regiments [or smaller columns?] advancing along separate roads , with trains and artillery on the main road in their sector? Does anyone have anything definitive on how these large units would carry out screening duties?

In 1805 and 1806 the four dragoon divisions were part of the Cavalry Reserve and charged at Eylau in Murat's great charge.

There was also a shortage of cavalry horses so some of the dragoons were dismounted and marched as infantry. The army nicknamed them the 'wooden swords.'

Sometimes they were employed to reinforce the light cavalry screen as the Grande Armee hunted its enemies, and were effective in this aspect.

In 1811 six were converted to lancers and became light cavalry.

Antoine de Brack's excellent Light Cavalry Outposts, even though written by a light cavalryman and not a dragoon, gives plenty of evidence how a cavalry screen was 'constructed' and employed.

link

Depends on what point in their evolution you view them and which country you're referring to. Originally mounted infantry to race ahead and secure a position while awaiting the main body, through to medium weight "run at them waving a bit of sharp metal" cavalry.

So that string of dots might be referencing part of their original role. Take a regiment, run it up the line of advance and dropping off troops or even whole squadrons at certain points to secure the path. Maybe villages, crossroads, bridges or fords?

There was no such thing as medium cavalry. All horse was either light or heavy.

Agree there was no such thing as medium cavalry. If anyone wants to get particular, there are some French military prints that labels dragoons as light cavalry.

Hi

The following would be useful for an explanations

Friedrich Wilhelm Graf von Bismark,
On the Uses and Application of Cavalry in War from the Text of Bismark: link (NB Chapter X – has examples )

Instruction for the Field Service of Cavalry link (pretty much entire book, but especially Section II)

Lectures Upon the Tactics of Cavalry, link
(See Chapter X – more instructional based)