Question on Tactics

[luke1861]

Hello! I have always had a great interest in the Civil War and I've only recently delved into the military side of things. While reading military histories of the war the following questions pop into mind:

What's a line of battle look like? How many men deep? How far across? How are units thrown into a fight? How does a commander align his forces? Right-wheel? Left-oblique? Bivouac? What do all of these terms mean? These small unit tactics puzzle me and I'd love to learn more.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Civil War Infantry Tactics

For decades, military historians have argued that the introduction of the rifle musket-with a range five times longer than that of the smoothbore musket-made...

lsupress.org

Everything you want to know is right here.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Link:

https://ia600907.us.archive.org/28/items/hardeesrifleligh01hard/hardeesrifleligh01hard.pdf

"Hardee's Rifle & Light Infantry Tactics" was in the haversack of officers on both sides.
•
Link:

The artillerist's manual : Gibbon, John, 1827-1896, comp : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Appendix and Index (p. [501]-568) numbered as p. [1]-67, 568

archive.org

General Gibbon's manual is the best how to book for Civil War artillery.

 

[Bryce]

Hello! I have always had a great interest in the Civil War and I've only recently delved into the military side of things. While reading military histories of the war the following questions pop into mind:

What's a line of battle look like? How many men deep? How far across? How are units thrown into a fight? How does a commander align his forces? Right-wheel? Left-oblique? Bivouac? What do all of these terms mean? These small unit tactics puzzle me and I'd love to learn more.

Luke, you might want to try getting in touch with Brent nosworthy. He wrote a book called the bloody crucible of courage which is about Civil War tactics.

 

[captaindrew]

Hello! I have always had a great interest in the Civil War and I've only recently delved into the military side of things. While reading military histories of the war the following questions pop into mind:

What's a line of battle look like? How many men deep? How far across? How are units thrown into a fight? How does a commander align his forces? Right-wheel? Left-oblique? Bivouac? What do all of these terms mean? These small unit tactics puzzle me and I'd love to learn more.

Starting with the basics at the regimental/battalion level the battle line is two men (ranks) deep. A full strength regiment (in reality they were never full strength) was made up of 10 companies, 100 men each, so think of 1000 men, two deep with the color guard in the center. Then you can multiply that by brigades, divisions, and so on. When on the advance there would be a company spread out across the front in advance of the main line, skirmishers.

 

[captaindrew]

To answer your question about obliques and wheels, an oblique, right or left, your front stays the same and a wheel, right or left, you're changing the direction of your front.

 

[Rhea Cole]

I received a curious bit of advice about Civil War linear tactics. Watch a major university's (+/-) 350 musician band perform.

Obviously they don't shoot muskets. However, it is an example of the precision that a group of well drilled individuals can achieve.

 

[Wizard of Cozz]

Starting with the basics at the regimental/battalion level the battle line is two men (ranks) deep. A full strength regiment (in reality they were never full strength) was made up of 10 companies, 100 men each, so think of 1000 men, two deep with the color guard in the center. Then you can multiply that by brigades, divisions, and so on. When on the advance there would be a company spread out across the front in advance of the main line, skirmishers.View attachment 543450

I know by Chickamauga the Union was going two regiments in front and two regiments in rear in their brigades during battle. The CSA stuck to all their regiments in the front line. This face the CSA a wider brigade frontage but less depth. Because the South typically had more brigades in their divisions on the attack they would go two brigades in front and two in rear. Union typically had 2-3 brigades per divison making this tougher, which I think had to be a partial catalyst for their change in brigsde formation. IMO. I have no actual proof on that.

 

[huskerblitz]

I like this visual.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

I received a curious bit of advice about Civil War linear tactics. Watch a major university's (+/-) 350 musician band perform.

Obviously they don't shoot muskets. However, it is an example of the precision that a group of well drilled individuals can achieve.

For the rest of my life, when I watch the marching band perform at football games I'm going to envision CW soldiers maneuvering in battle!

 

[Rhea Cole]

For the rest of my life, when I watch the marching band perform at football games I'm going to envision CW soldiers maneuvering in battle!

Welcome the my mind…

 

[luke1861]

This is immensely helpful. Thanks, everyone!

 

[RedRover]

Hello! I have always had a great interest in the Civil War and I've only recently delved into the military side of things. While reading military histories of the war the following questions pop into mind:

What's a line of battle look like? How many men deep?

The customary formation of units in line of battle during the period was two ranks deep. Whether on parade...

Or formed in line on the battlefield...

Behind the rank and file, the sergeants and lieutenants formed along the rear of the line as "file closers" to keep order so far as possible...

How far across?

The length of a unit's battle line depended on the number of men present... called "rank and file." Regiments customarily formed with a fixed interval between them, allowing some space for them to maneuver.

In extreme cases, units might have to extend their line, into a single rank, with space between the men. Like Govan's Arkansas brigade at the Battle of Jonesboro, Georgia in September, 1864...

How are units thrown into a fight?

Units normally formed "column" to move. They could break into column (called "ploying"), by companies... (there's 10 companies in a regiment)...

Or by Platoons (half companies):

But considering most of the countryside was more or less wooded and the roads narrow, most of the time the troops marched "by a flank" meaning the Line of battle just faced left or right and started down the road. But when they did so the men in the two ranks "doubled" so there were four men abreast. This way their line wouldn't straggle out, and could be quickly reformed when they "fronted" again, and went back into two rank in line of battle...

Forming line of battle from a column was called "deploying."

When closing toward combat, the regiments often formed an "attack column" or "double column" which could quickly change direction, and allowed for quick deployment. In this formation, there were two companies in line in front, and the rest of the companies formed behind them. In this compact formation, the regiment could deploy quickly into line to open fire, etc. Here's a diagram of a regiment forming a column of attack/double column...

Here's how a regiment in column of attack would deploy into line...

Here's a diagram of the attack of General Newton's division on the Confederate lines at Kennessaw Mountain, Georgia, in 1864, with the various regiments advancing in the attack columns...

Here's a painting by veteran Julian Scott of his regiment advancing into battle in attack column...

Upon command the attack columns could deploy into the line of battle as necessary. The regimental color which is in the center of the line of battle, is the point on which the men form into line to the left and right... From the Atlanta Cyclorama, at right is a regiment in column deploying into line as it moves up to the line on the left...

The formed regiments before coming into general action were generally covered in front by what was called a "skirmish line." This was a number of companies formed in a single rank, extended order with at least several feet between men, with the men some distance in front of their line... they taking cover, firing at will, etc. In this order the skirmishers can move easily and quickly over broken ground and woods, to locate the enemy positions, or cover their regiment from sudden attacks from in front, etc...

Here's a photograph of a Union unit drilling... with a line of skirmishers in front of their line of battle...

General Sherman explains they generally started out formed in something like the regular parade order, in line, as described in the manuals... and from there loosened their lines and alignment in passing over broken, wooded, uneven ground, etc... with the lines themselves little different than a heavy skirmish line...

How does a commander align his forces?

Customarily by designating to his subordinates points of terrain upon which to place one of their flanks, etc. On a road, a creek bank, near a house, etc.

In line of battle, the whole front line of a regiment "dresses" on the color bearer in the center of the line. So whatever direction he faces, the line to his left and right faces the same direction. In combat, a commander could quickly change the direction of his line even in a desperate action, by physically placing the colors, and the men quickly dressing on the line on either side of the color bearer's position... Sometimes the officers did this themselves where there was no time to give orders to the color bearer, etc.

Similarly, in a brigade of several regiments, the brigade commander will designate a regiment in his brigade's line, as the "battalion of direction"... which the others take direction from...

A Division commander, with several brigades, would do the same, designating from among them a particular "brigade of direction" for the others to take their direction from in forming line of battle...

Corps commanders would have several divisions, so they would choose one to be the "division of direction" from which the others took their general alignment...

Right-wheel?

the line of battle of a single company, or a whole regiment, wheels to the right... the right acting like the pivot, turns slowly by short steps... the men to the left, have to step it out and move quickly with long steps...

Left-oblique?

Bivouac?

A military camp was laid out in a regular order, with the tents in rows, etc.

But on the march, the troops didn't carry tents, etc. (except for the small 2-man "pup tents" of the US Army. The troops instead bivouacked...

To compare a regular camp in tents with a bivouac, here's a regularly laid out regimental camp in tents...

Here's some CSA prisoners in "bivouac" shortly after their capture...

Scott's military dictionary, 1863 can help.

Military Dictionary

www.google.com

 

[luke1861]

The customary formation of units in line of battle during the period was two ranks deep. Whether on parade...

View attachment 543442

Or formed in line on the battlefield...


View attachment 543441

Behind the rank and file, the sergeants and lieutenants formed along the rear of the line as "file closers" to keep order so far as possible...

View attachment 543446




The length of a unit's battle line depended on the number of men present... called "rank and file." Regiments customarily formed with a fixed interval between them, allowing some space for them to maneuver.

In extreme cases, units might have to extend their line, into a single rank, with space between the men. Like Govan's Arkansas brigade at the Battle of Jonesboro, Georgia in September, 1864...

View attachment 543443






Units normally formed "column" to move. They could break into column (called "ploying"), by companies... (there's 10 companies in a regiment)...

View attachment 543462

Or by Platoons (half companies):

View attachment 543463

But considering most of the countryside was more or less wooded and the roads narrow, most of the time the troops marched "by a flank" meaning the Line of battle just faced left or right and started down the road. But when they did so the men in the two ranks "doubled" so there were four men abreast. This way their line wouldn't straggle out, and could be quickly reformed when they "fronted" again, and went back into two rank in line of battle...

View attachment 543464View attachment 543468


Forming line of battle from a column was called "deploying."

When closing toward combat, the regiments often formed an "attack column" or "double column" which could quickly change direction, and allowed for quick deployment. In this formation, there were two companies in line in front, and the rest of the companies formed behind them. In this compact formation, the regiment could deploy quickly into line to open fire, etc. Here's a diagram of a regiment forming a column of attack/double column...

View attachment 543465

Here's how a regiment in column of attack would deploy into line...

View attachment 543472


Here's a diagram of the attack of General Newton's division on the Confederate lines at Kennessaw Mountain, Georgia, in 1864, with the various regiments advancing in the attack columns...

View attachment 543466

Here's a painting by veteran Julian Scott of his regiment advancing into battle in attack column...

View attachment 543467

View attachment 543489


Upon command the attack columns could deploy into the line of battle as necessary. The regimental color which is in the center of the line of battle, in the point on which the men form into line to the left and right... From the Atlanta Cyclorama, at right is a regiment in column deploying into line as it moves up to the line on the left...

View attachment 543502





The formed regiments before coming into general action were generally covered in front by what was called a "skirmish line." This was a number of companies formed in a single rank, extended order with at least several feet between men, with the men some distance in front of their line... they taking cover, firing at will, etc. In this order the skirmishers can move easily and quickly over broken ground and woods, to locate the enemy positions, or cover their regiment from sudden attacks from in front, etc...


View attachment 543447

Here's a photograph of a Union unit drilling... with a line of skirmishers in front of their line of battle...

View attachment 543445


General Sherman explains they generally started out formed in something like the regular parade order, in line, as described in the manuals... and from there loosened their lines and alignment in passing over broken, wooded, uneven ground, etc... with the lines themselves little different than a heavy skirmish line...

View attachment 543444



Customarily by designating to his subordinates points of terrain upon which to place one of their flanks, etc. On a road, a creek bank, near a house, etc.

View attachment 543448


In line of battle, the whole front line of a regiment "dresses" on the color bearer in the center of the line. So whatever direction he faces, the line to his left and right faces the same direction. In combat, a commander could quickly change the direction of his line even in a desperate action, by physically placing the colors, and the men quickly dressing on the line on either side of the color bearer's position... Sometimes the officers did this themselves where there was no time to give orders to the color bearer, etc.


View attachment 543469

Similarly, in a brigade of several regiments, the brigade commander will designate a regiment in his brigade's line, as the "battalion of direction"... which the others take direction from...

View attachment 543476

A Division commander, with several brigades, would do the same, designating from among them a particular "brigade of direction" for the others to take their direction from in forming line of battle...

View attachment 543477

Corps commanders would have several divisions, so they would choose one to be the "division of direction" from which the others took their general alignment...

View attachment 543478



the line of battle of a single company, or a whole regiment, wheels to the right... the left acting like the pivot, turns slowly by short steps... the men to the left, have to step it out and move quickly with long steps...

View attachment 543471



View attachment 543438



A military camp was laid out in a regular order, with the tents in rows, etc.

But on the march, the troops didn't carry tents, etc. (except for the small 2-man "pup tents" of the US Army. The troops instead bivouacked...

View attachment 543437

To compare a regular camp in tents with a bivouac, here's a regularly laid out regimental camp in tents...

View attachment 543440


Here's some CSA prisoners in "bivouac" shortly after their capture...

View attachment 543439



Scott's military dictionary, 1863 can help.

Military Dictionary

www.google.com

I really appreciate your post. A lot of my confusion is cleared up now. Thanks

 

[Dan Kohli]

Here's a good video from the Civil War Digital Digest on successive formations for deploying from collum to line of battle.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

The customary formation of units in line of battle during the period was two ranks deep. Whether on parade...

View attachment 543442

Or formed in line on the battlefield...


View attachment 543441

Behind the rank and file, the sergeants and lieutenants formed along the rear of the line as "file closers" to keep order so far as possible...

View attachment 543446




The length of a unit's battle line depended on the number of men present... called "rank and file." Regiments customarily formed with a fixed interval between them, allowing some space for them to maneuver.

In extreme cases, units might have to extend their line, into a single rank, with space between the men. Like Govan's Arkansas brigade at the Battle of Jonesboro, Georgia in September, 1864...

View attachment 543443






Units normally formed "column" to move. They could break into column (called "ploying"), by companies... (there's 10 companies in a regiment)...

View attachment 543462

Or by Platoons (half companies):

View attachment 543463

But considering most of the countryside was more or less wooded and the roads narrow, most of the time the troops marched "by a flank" meaning the Line of battle just faced left or right and started down the road. But when they did so the men in the two ranks "doubled" so there were four men abreast. This way their line wouldn't straggle out, and could be quickly reformed when they "fronted" again, and went back into two rank in line of battle...

View attachment 543464View attachment 543468


Forming line of battle from a column was called "deploying."

When closing toward combat, the regiments often formed an "attack column" or "double column" which could quickly change direction, and allowed for quick deployment. In this formation, there were two companies in line in front, and the rest of the companies formed behind them. In this compact formation, the regiment could deploy quickly into line to open fire, etc. Here's a diagram of a regiment forming a column of attack/double column...

View attachment 543465

Here's how a regiment in column of attack would deploy into line...

View attachment 543472


Here's a diagram of the attack of General Newton's division on the Confederate lines at Kennessaw Mountain, Georgia, in 1864, with the various regiments advancing in the attack columns...

View attachment 543466

Here's a painting by veteran Julian Scott of his regiment advancing into battle in attack column...

View attachment 543467

View attachment 543489


Upon command the attack columns could deploy into the line of battle as necessary. The regimental color which is in the center of the line of battle, is the point on which the men form into line to the left and right... From the Atlanta Cyclorama, at right is a regiment in column deploying into line as it moves up to the line on the left...

View attachment 543502





The formed regiments before coming into general action were generally covered in front by what was called a "skirmish line." This was a number of companies formed in a single rank, extended order with at least several feet between men, with the men some distance in front of their line... they taking cover, firing at will, etc. In this order the skirmishers can move easily and quickly over broken ground and woods, to locate the enemy positions, or cover their regiment from sudden attacks from in front, etc...


View attachment 543447

Here's a photograph of a Union unit drilling... with a line of skirmishers in front of their line of battle...

View attachment 543445


General Sherman explains they generally started out formed in something like the regular parade order, in line, as described in the manuals... and from there loosened their lines and alignment in passing over broken, wooded, uneven ground, etc... with the lines themselves little different than a heavy skirmish line...

View attachment 543444



Customarily by designating to his subordinates points of terrain upon which to place one of their flanks, etc. On a road, a creek bank, near a house, etc.

View attachment 543448


In line of battle, the whole front line of a regiment "dresses" on the color bearer in the center of the line. So whatever direction he faces, the line to his left and right faces the same direction. In combat, a commander could quickly change the direction of his line even in a desperate action, by physically placing the colors, and the men quickly dressing on the line on either side of the color bearer's position... Sometimes the officers did this themselves where there was no time to give orders to the color bearer, etc.


View attachment 543469

Similarly, in a brigade of several regiments, the brigade commander will designate a regiment in his brigade's line, as the "battalion of direction"... which the others take direction from...

View attachment 543476

A Division commander, with several brigades, would do the same, designating from among them a particular "brigade of direction" for the others to take their direction from in forming line of battle...

View attachment 543477

Corps commanders would have several divisions, so they would choose one to be the "division of direction" from which the others took their general alignment...

View attachment 543478



the line of battle of a single company, or a whole regiment, wheels to the right... the right acting like the pivot, turns slowly by short steps... the men to the left, have to step it out and move quickly with long steps...

View attachment 543471



View attachment 543438



A military camp was laid out in a regular order, with the tents in rows, etc.

But on the march, the troops didn't carry tents, etc. (except for the small 2-man "pup tents" of the US Army. The troops instead bivouacked...

View attachment 543437

To compare a regular camp in tents with a bivouac, here's a regularly laid out regimental camp in tents...

View attachment 543440


Here's some CSA prisoners in "bivouac" shortly after their capture...

View attachment 543439



Scott's military dictionary, 1863 can help.

Military Dictionary

www.google.com

Thanks for posting the descriptions, drawings, etc.

 

[Dan Kohli]

Here's two of the most popular manuals for infantry tactics.
Hardy's light infantry and rifle tactics.

https://www.11thovc.com/_files/ugd/c1e07c_ab5083336784476998ac7763f6471ed3.pdf

Casey's Infantry Tactics.

https://www.11thovc.com/_files/ugd/0d3674_2f286cc6ebfd46248632b33e1d345056.pdf

 

[Trevfo]

Great source of Civil War era military manuals, etc. www.zipcon.net/~silas/links.htm

 

[Trooper "D"]

Hello! I have always had a great interest in the Civil War and I've only recently delved into the military side of things. While reading military histories of the war the following questions pop into mind:

What's a line of battle look like? How many men deep? How far across? How are units thrown into a fight? How does a commander align his forces? Right-wheel? Left-oblique? Bivouac? What do all of these terms mean? These small unit tactics puzzle me and I'd love to learn more.

Poinsette's Tactics is a good one. Pre war and used in some militias. It outlines going RIGHT INTO LINE and ON RIGHT INTO LINE. In the Cavalry edition at least. These are used to form into line from column. They used LEFT also. Anyway, columns of 2 or more are organized either double or fourple mostly and stay together as a small unit with one trooper holding the horses while the others go into skirmish line or whatever duty on foot might be required. 1/4 of your unit strength is lost to the duty but everybody doesn't have to go track down and catch their steeds when finished. That could be extremely detrimental in combat or other needs to quickly mount up and ride. We used that manual when I was in a 1st NC Cav. Co.
All that stuff takes a lot of drill. I mean a whole bunch of drilling to get it right and then keep doing it right. At isn't easy to master.
Another thing, all the info on numbers in different units. That is the theory but in the field you are going to have sick call and any real fighting, casualties. You might have companies doing guard duty or guarding the supply trains or providing runners to the command staff of both the Regiment and larger units. Full 10 companies in regiments sometimes never made it to that number of full companies. Just understand that at Appomattox the 14th TENN. INF had 3 present for duty at the surrender. Oh yeah, desertions. And a company assigned to track down deserters. That's another drain on resources from the front.
One last thing. Once the ball opened it was so loud and smokey things could easily fall to Hell. That disciplined marching drill came in to its own then. Muscle Memory. Oh, and flags and guidons could be left right or middle of a command. Everyone Guides on the Guidon who's carrying the Guidon. HA! Put that in your pipe and smoke it
My little bit of info for ya.
Cheers!

 

[LCYingling3rd]

Hello! I have always had a great interest in the Civil War and I've only recently delved into the military side of things. While reading military histories of the war the following questions pop into mind:

What's a line of battle look like? How many men deep? How far across? How are units thrown into a fight? How does a commander align his forces? Right-wheel? Left-oblique? Bivouac? What do all of these terms mean? These small unit tactics puzzle me and I'd love to learn more.

Hello,

Wow, thank you for asking this question because you got lots of wonderful responses. I learned a great deal reading them! I don't think anyone mentioned reenactments to you. I have been studying the war for years and it wasn't until my first reenactment back in 1993 that I really got to see what Civil War armies in the field looked like.

Obviously, it depends on which reenactment you go to, and I certainly understand that reenactments cannot be completely realistic; however, when I went to reenactments, I learned that the smooth motions of the armies in perfect alignment that I had visualized when reading the books was not the reality at all. Yes, the tactics in books and the graphic information you have received on this thread are correct, yet the reality of actual troops performing the maneuvers in the field is fraught with difficulty. It was at reenactments that I first saw soldiers stumbling, not keeping up. making mistakes and having to break ranks and formations and then have to reform as they traversed uneven ground, and around trees and rocks as they moved.

It really helped me understand why you so often hear of soldiers saying that all they do is, "drill, drill, drill!" Drill would be necessary to attain any semblance of proficiency. I also had to realize that America did have some pre-war militia units and that these local militia units were often made up of a hundred or so fellows which is a Company sized unit. They may have been well trained at Company sized movements, but when they became part of Regiments, with ten Companies of roughly one hundred men each, they had to learn how to maneuver all over again! Then they needed to learn Brigade maneuvers where four or five regiments had to move as one and then Divisions had a few Brigades that had to maintain some form of cohesion. (At the beginning of the war a Company would have had 100 men, Regiments 1000 men, Brigades 3-5 Regiments, so up to 5000 men, Divisions 2-3 Brigades so 10,000 to 15,000 men, and a Corps of three Divisions could have as many as 30,000 t0 45,000 men. Sickness and casualties brought those numbers down rapidly, so those numbers are just a framework. Brigades were often the size of large Regiments.)

So, if you ever get a chance to visit a reenactment going on, it is an interesting experience. Most do not have huge numbers of soldiers, however, there are usually enough for you to get a sense of what it was like. I attend the Cedar Creek reenactment, south of Winchester, VA, every October. Usually, the weekend closest to the actual battle date of October 19, 1864. I cannot say for certain, but I think there are possibly three to five thousand soldiers there each year, (which is a lot!) and I have seen more. Last year was the 160th anniversary so it was large. We shall see what the 161st is like. One nice thing about the Cedar Creek event is that they usually have substantial Cavalry and Artillery units, so you get to see how they function and move as well. Also, it is unique because it takes place on part of the actual battlefield which is rare.

I do not know where you live, however, there are quite a few reenactments in the east and near various battlefields. I understand there is a good reenactment in northern Florida, near Lake City where the Olustee battlefield is, in February each year. I guess there are events out in the Western Theatre area as well. I think it would be worth checking into possible reenactments near you if you are interested in this topic.

Thanks again for the interesting thread.