Military commands and manuevers

william42 · #1 03-11-2005, 09:18 AM

Hello. I'm a new guy who recently discovered this great site. I've been reading mostly on the different forums and have found valuable info from just about everybody. I'm amazed at the level of knowledge that many of the members have, and at the tremendous amount of reading and research that has been done. There's a wealth of knowledge here, as I'm sure everybody knows. I've done a lot of reading on the war since my back surgery in '93 laid me up for a while and I happened to pick up "The Killer Angels". From then on I've been hooked. My problem when reading is that I get stumped by trying to picture some of the manuevers referred to such as " the regiment moved by column", or " the company moved by the right flank by file". I'm reading "Antietam" now, by John Priest, and am constantly thrown by these descriptions of movement. I've tried to clarify these and other terms with Hardee's School of the Soldier, but I can't find pictures or drawings to correspond with the commands. I understand right flank as opposed to left flank, but I come up on terms like "moved by column of fours", and "fired by files in twos". I'm baffled. Can anybody help me picture what's going on? Thanks very much.

aggie80 · #2 03-11-2005, 02:03 PM

Well, Movement by columns basically means that they are in long lines. A column of fours means four men across the front the rest in lines behind them.

Most movement in marching is in a column type formation as they move down roads, paths and the like. The command, 'by the right flank, march!' would mean that the entire column would bring their left foot down on 'march' and pivot 90 degrees right, essentially turning the entire unit at a single count. It is a very impressive move!

'Column Right, March!' Turns the front of the column by a series of turns (one for the right column leader, the others do two turns of 45 each) in such a way as all end up in a line going the correct direction. The rest of the column follows along.

A file is basically a column that is a single man wide. If the column is eight men wide (typical in today's military formations) there are eight files.

By columns of twos, march! Will result in the right two files marching off, with the two files to the left falling in behind them when they get to the end. This might happen when coming to a narrow bridge or going through a fence.

johan_steele · #3 03-11-2005, 05:00 PM

Here are some excellent websites w/ visual references, they will help you out a lot.

http://www.reznorstudios.com/CivilWa...r/DrillCo1.htm

http://www.10thbattalion.org/school.php

http://home.att.net/~Cap1MD/Drill.htm

http://www.usregulars.com/library.htm

william42 · #4 03-11-2005, 07:10 PM

aggie 80 and Johan: Thank you kindly. The way aggie explained it I can visualize correctly now what those terms mean, and I will definitely visit the aforementioned sites to see if I can get a diagram or two. Thank you both again.. Terry

ole · #5 03-13-2005, 11:01 PM

William42:

Picked up a book you might want to try to get at Shiloh. It's called "Battle in the Civil War; Generalship and Tactics in America 1861-65" by Paddy Griffith.

It covers all you mentioned plus a good deal more of movements described but not defined. Refusing the flank, retreating, crossing rivers, and much, much more. Good basic information contained in 48 pages. At $14.95, it would be worth locating a copy.
Ole

william42 · #6 03-14-2005, 04:56 AM

Thanks Ole. Sounds like a good concise resource. Shane's links he provided above are good also. The first link, http://www.reznorstudios.com/CivilW...er/DrillCo1.htm, is awesome. It lists the commands and when you click on a command the animated figures on the screen actually move in formation, clearly demonstrating the manuever. It's pretty cool....Thanks again, Shane.....Terry