"British columns" Topic

Hi

What are peoples current opinions of British battalions attacking in columns?

I can remember playing a game of Grand Manner years ago and was told that my guard could not do this. But I read a book (can't remember which) when the guard did just this. But the other person was not having this and I gave in.

Just heard of another instance when two different battalions also advanced in columns.

You want to be more careful who you play with.

Oh if only I had been told that in my late teens, remembering that I have never tossed a pair of dice in anger in my life.

Several stories no-one wants to know. Ask Michael Douglas, we have much in common.

depends on circumstances and terrain. Storming a bridge, defile, town gate or breach in wall with skirmishers ahead?

Thanks. That is my understanding. British did form columns but only if the situation needed it.

Do you play games where the British regularly form columns? Or just play defensive lines/ counterattack ? Or simply only attack in lines ?

There was a columnar formation that was two companies abreast at (IIRC) half distance, but AFAIK it was a drill-book thing and not used as an attack formation. The default formation for everything except cavalry defence was line.

It was a "column of Divisions".

I know Piquet isn't everyone's cup of tea, but one mechanic I like is that it discriminates between what a unit could do versus what it preferred per its tactical doctrine. Using non-preferred formations incurs varying degrees of penalties, which forces the player to decide if the advantages outweigh the negative factors. It also allows for modeling the better trained and more flexible armies.

The British did form columns and at times attacked with them. At Bussaco, the 88th attacked the French column facing them in column, only forming line afterwards At the same battle, Napier had his regiment of the Light Division folding back his companies from line to form a column to meet the French column coming up the ridge.

Several battles in 1813 and 1814 in the mountains saw the British attack with columns. IIRC, at Victoria, a number of British Battalions attacked in column.

Keep in mind that it wasn't until the later part of the war that the British were on the attack as an army, so tactics changed.