Civil War formations

[JCM6395]

As I've researched my ancestors I've really become interested in how a regiment formed up for battle and positioned itself. Was there any certain order of the companies in a regiment forming up in line of battle? Did Co. A always form up first followed by B, C, D, etc from left to right? Or did they go by officer experience in forming up....where Co D could be formed up first on the left for example? When the SHTF did the officers position themselves behind the line of battle so they could see the overall flow of the battle in front of them.

 

[1SGDan]

Also remember that how a regiment formed could also be dictated by what assets were available. A regiment could lose companies to picket duty, guard, detached duties, etc. Posting on the colors was considered a assignment of honor and could be rotated as the commander saw fit.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

While I don't have any special knowledge of this question (naval tactics were totally different ), I find it interesting, particularly remembering ceremonial formations in the modern Army. That would tend to support the consistent-A-to-I order.

Wondering if Hardee's or one of the similar tactical manuals have anything to say about this?

I'm pretty sure that, once a regiment was blooded and more experienced, it probably departed from "the book" and operated as it had found best-- depending on the ability of the officers to learn from experience, of course. But to begin with, I'd bet it was set up more like what we would think of as a parade formation. (Or, to be more accurate, our modern parade formations are derived from the older battle formations...)

 

[Dave Wilma]

Part of forming up in in line in alphabetical order for combat was too give the commanders an idea of where everyone was and who was to your right and left. Other formations such as on the march in column might justify some changes if only to give the tail end charlies a chance not to eat dust on the road. As posted, experience regiments might move things around in dispositions between "line" for attack and "column" for movement. At LRT the 20th Maine was deployed so that B Co. was on the far left, correct? [when the 7th Cavalry moved out on June 25 1876, the last company ready was given the task of the pack train, probably both a reflection of Army ritual and Custer.]

 

[dvrmte]

Here's a video that explains why they used the elbow to elbow linear formations, etc. It's rather basic but it might effectively answer some newbie questions.

 

[dvrmte]

This video offers a few samples but mainly is promoting an app of Hardee's light infantry tactics.

 

[rpkennedy]

My copy of Hardee's Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics only deals with company-level issues (with a small chart at the back that lists other non-company officers and positions within a regiment) so that doesn't help.

For the most part, I don't think there was ever any real discussion about the position of various companies. In fact, I can't recall any regiment going into action with the companies in alphabetical order. I would think because of companies being detached for various details (provost duties, guard duties, deploying skirmishers, etc.), the remaining companies would be located wherever they happened to be placed in the line.

One example is the 69th Pennsylvania at Gettysburg. The companies were definitely not in any logical order beyond the color company (Company C, IIRC) being in the center.

R

 

[rpkennedy]

As I've researched my ancestors I've really become interested in how a regiment formed up for battle and positioned itself. Was there any certain order of the companies in a regiment forming up in line of battle? Did Co. A always form up first followed by B, C, D, etc from left to right? Or did they go by officer experience in forming up....where Co D could be formed up first on the left for example? When the SHTF did the officers position themselves behind the line of battle so they could see the overall flow of the battle in front of them.

In theory, every officer and non-commissioned officer had a place either on or behind the company line (in other words, no one should be in front of the regimental line). However, in practice, most officers felt the need to lead by example and regimental and company officers would often put themselves in front of their troops rather than directing from behind the line (which explains the massive casualty rates that both field and staff officers and line officers suffered during the war).

R

 

[AUG]

Usually companies equipped with rifles were frequently positioned out in front or on the flanks as skirmishers, although of course throughout the war other companies equipped themselves with rifles. What i am wondering is would the rifles on hand be issued out to companies A and B, the first few alphabitically because that seems to usually be the case?

 

[rhp6033]

In battle it seems that any semblence of order between companies broke down, and sometimes that applied to brigades as well. Officers would throw in companies and regiments wherever they were considered most needed (this seems to be the case among the Union troops at Stones River, where Union troops kept trying to form a line wherever they could do so, with whatever troops were available).

Of course, parade-ground formations were another matter. And on the march, portions of a regiment or company would have flanking duty.