Column by Battalion

[Andrew]

Can someone explain the arrangement of infantry into "column by battalion"? Below is a quote from the report of Lieut. Col. Alexander Adams of the 27th NY in his report concerning the battle at Crampton's Gap, Sep 14, 1862.

The presence of the enemy having been discovered,the brigade was drawn into a ravine in column by battalion to avoid his artillery, and to prepare for storming the gap."

 

[captaindrew]

I'm guessing he put them into their normal marching column of 4 men wide and marched them into a ravine that kept them out of sight from the enemy.

 

[major bill]

I am guessing battalion one behind the other. I am less certain if the battalions were in a column or not.

I would assume that a regiment could move in column with each battalion on line and each company in line, each battalion on line with each company in column, each battalion in column with each company in line, or each battalion in column each company in column.

 

[infomanpa]

I recently finished reading Hess' Civil War Infantry Tactics, in order to get answers to these kinds of questions.
My understanding is that the words, battalion and regiment were often used interchangeably. Under that assumption, a brigade that is in "column by battalion," would look like the following:

 

[captaindrew]

This is a good picture of a regiment in column but I believe in the instance in the op it would be hard to conceal such a formation where you probably could in a narrow ravine in a 4 wide formation. Would be interesting to see a map where that took place, would probably shed light on it.

 

[infomanpa]

This is a good picture of a regiment in column but I believe in the instance in the op it would be hard to conceal such a formation where you probably could in a narrow ravine in a 4 wide formation. Would be interesting to see a map where that took place, would probably shed light on it.View attachment 172324

Your picture looks to me that it's a regiment that is in column by company.

 

[captaindrew]

Your picture looks to me that it's a regiment that is in column by company.

That it is but gives the idea of what a column would look like. Battalion and regiment are basically the same thing.

 

[captaindrew]

A brigade or division in column would be arranged by regiment.

 

[captaindrew]

My bad, I just read the op again and it was a brigade, I was thinking a single battalion, Your diagram would be correct, paying more attention to football.

 

[Andrew]

Thanks for your responses, everyone. I didn't realize that battalion was synonymous with regiment in this case.

I recently finished reading Hess' Civil War Infantry Tactics, in order to get answers to these kinds of questions.
My understanding is that the words, battalion and regiment were often used interchangeably. Under that assumption, a brigade that is in "column by battalion," would look like the following:

Thanks for the diagram. That Hess book has been on my Amazon list since it came out for the same reason you mentioned. I've just been waiting for the price to go down. How is the book as a whole?

This is a good picture of a regiment in column but I believe in the instance in the op it would be hard to conceal such a formation where you probably could in a narrow ravine in a 4 wide formation. Would be interesting to see a map where that took place, would probably shed light on it.

The action described took place east of the base of South Mountain at Crampton's Gap. Colonel Bartlett was ordered to move his brigade and approach the mountain with as much secrecy as possible. He found a ravine behind which he could conceal the troops from the artillery on Gapland Road and Brownsville Pass.

Based on the terrain there, my guess is that the ravine was less likely the narrow, deep gorge I usually associate with that word and instead more like a mini-valley between the rolling hills at the base of the mountain. There are a few streams in the immediate area, but they are very small and not wide at all (at least not today they aren't).

My motivation for asking this question was to try to figure out where he could have moved the troops, so I wanted to know approximately how wide his column would have been. Next time I visit there I'll be better able to picture the formation and hopefully identify the route they might have taken in their approach.

In the map below, look for SLOCUM's division and the arrow marked "3 p.m.". I believe that is the movement being described in the OR I quoted above.

[Image by Gene Thorp from Ezra Carman Vol. 1 - South Mountain, edited by Tom Clemens.]

 

[captaindrew]

The manuals can make your head spin. I've read Hardee's many time over and have a pretty good grasp through the company level but after that not as much. Then some officers worded things slightly different when you read reports like this. I'd say by only reading that little bit and looking at the map he probably took them out of their long line of battle into a column formation like the diagram @infomanpa posted or maybe broke them into battalions/regiments in column like the picture I posted so he could get them out of sight between those hills on the map.

 

[infomanpa]

Thanks for the diagram. That Hess book has been on my Amazon list since it came out for the same reason you mentioned. I've just been waiting for the price to go down. How is the book as a whole?

The book was more helpful than I thought. I figured that Hess would simply paraphrase what was included in Hardee's or Casey's, etc. There were some things that I thought that he should have made more clear, but overall, I finally learned what was needed so that I can understand battle descriptions.

 

[lelliott19]

From the marker at Crampton's Gap:
Bartlett wrote, "I suggested the formation of the three brigades in column of regiments deployed, two regiments front, at 100 paces between the lines (that would give us six lines); that the head of the column should be directed to a point that I indicated to him (Franklin), at nearly right angles to the road which crossed the mountain, and in a direction to strike the highest point the road reached at the crest, it being the shortest line; that I would deploy the 27th N.Y. … as skirmishers at the head of the column, and skirmish into the teeth of their line of battle, following with the head of the column at 100 paces; that I would not halt after giving the order forward until we reached the crest of the mountain if possible. These suggestions met with the General's approval and his based his written order upon them. I was to attack at the point and in the manner indicated, take the crest of the mountain, and throw out a picket line for the night."
http://stonesentinels.com/less-known/south-mountain/bartlett-leads-way/

From MG Slocum's report, "Colonel Bartlett, commanding the leading brigade, at once deployed the Ninety-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers as skirmishers, who drove in the enemy's pickets and advanced to the village. The other regiments of the division were then advanced to a position about half a mile east of the village, where they were completely concealed from the view of the enemy and covered from the fire of his artillery. Wolcott's First Maryland Battery was then advanced to a point to the left of the infantry, and replied to the enemy's artillery until preparations for the attack of the infantry were completed."

Would be interesting to see a map where that took place, would probably shed light on it.

These should be of help.

https://www.loc.gov/resource/gvhs01.vhs00118/

https://www.loc.gov/item/gvhs01.vhs00297/

 

[Andrew]

Thanks, @lelliott19

I noticed in your signature you have an interest in the 16 GA. I was wondering if you've ever come across anything definitive, or at least first-hand accounts, of where the 16 GA was located during the battle at Crampton's Gap? Some accounts and maps place them on the left on Arnoldstown Rd, next to the 15 NC; some place them to the right next to Cobb's Legion; and some place them in the middle in Whipp's Ravine.

Other than the Official Records, do you know of any first-hand accounts of the battle by veterans of the 16 GA that are available online?

 

[Hawkeye Brehm]

The book was more helpful than I thought. I figured that Hess would simply paraphrase what was included in Hardee's or Casey's, etc. There were some things that I thought that he should have made more clear, but overall, I finally learned what was needed so that I can understand battle descriptions.

Agreed. I found it pretty helpful when I read it two years ago, and I'm looking forward to reading it again when I hit the "combat experience and infantry tactics" portion of my LBG studies. Hess goes into some pretty cool details, which I admittedly had to sometimes read through twice to really grasp. (This was also at 5 AM after having delivered newspapers, so that may have had something to do with it. )

 

[lelliott19]

Thanks, @lelliott19
I noticed in your signature you have an interest in the 16 GA.

Hello Andrew. You're very welcome. Yes, I am working on the first comprehensive regimental history of the 16th Georgia.

Other than the Official Records, do you know of any first-hand accounts of the battle by veterans of the 16 GA

Yes, there are a number of first-hand accounts available. It was a pretty "memorable" event for the men of the regiment. McLaws reported the 16th GA entered the fight with 27 officers and 341 enlisted men= 368 engaged.
Officially, the casualties were reported as 24 killed; 36 wounded; 107 missing = total 167 (45%)

I have compiled casualties from a number of sources (included reading the carded records of most every man in the regiment.) I have calculated the casualties as 29 killed; 21 mortally wounded; 23 wounded; 30 wounded/captured; and 81 captured = total 184 (50%)

Here's one account that may be of interest, from a member of the Troup Artillery:
"…were ordered to meet the Yankees on another mountain so as to keep them from crossing into the valley, but a charge of McClellan and his forces came upon us like a thunderbolt. The Brigade resisted like heroes, though terribly killed, wounded and taken prisoner. The Legion and the 16th Ga. Badly cut up… " (Southern Banner, Oct. 1, 1862, page 3.)
I have lots more first-hand accounts. Let me see what I can locate and I'll get back to you.

 

[Andrew]

Thanks a bunch, @lelliott19 .

 

[thomas aagaard]

I didn't realize that battalion was synonymous with regiment in this case.

I know of a few battalions in the south, where they where called that, because they did not have the normal 10 companies.
and when the war broke out the union regular army was expanded. The new units was to be of 3 battalions each with 8 companies. But most of them never got more than two battalions.
So When we are talking the civil war you can usually expect regiment=battalion.

The drill books call two companies working as one formation a battalion.

But the moment one look at other armies, this is no longer the case.