Simple question of tactics

[John Winn]

OK, first off, I'm brand spankin' new to the ranks so if this has been covered ad nauseam before I apologize. I didn't see a forum that really fit so I'm asking here.

While I am well versed in basic CW tactics I've never found an answer to something that I've always wondered about. That is: when infantry were engaged how were the lines that followed the one in front brought into the engagement ? When in line formation (i.e. two ranks) it seems to me that only the first line could actually fire as subsequent lines would be shooting into their own troops. It is common, though, to see illustrations in manuals and drawings of the day (and of the Napoleonic era) showing waves of troops in line formation mounting an attack. Once that first line stopped to deliver volleys what did those advancing behind them do; Just wait around to fill gaps in the first ranks (and thus mix up companies and regiments; unlikely it seems) ? A single line of two ranks just doesn't seem like it would deliver enough fire power but I can't for the life of me see how more than maybe three ranks could shoot at once.

So, perhaps some of you tacticians can explain. I'd be most appreciative.

 

[Nathanb1]

I can answer one of those--no, it has not been covered ad nauseum, and it seems so basic it should be covered so it'll be here in the archives! I know it's been touched on here and there...we'll let someone come along and answer. As Ole says, ask and be patient--someone will know.

 

[jgoodguy]

chellers started a thread. Civil War battle tactics/strategies

 

[reading48]

Someone will help
Hello and Greetings from Penna.

 

[ole]

Excellent question. Will now stand aside and let someone who actually knows something provide an answer.

State of Jefferson, Eh? That makes two from there.

 

[Poor Private]

Generaly the second rank goes in with the first rank. What the second rank does is fire over the right shoulder of the first rank or their file partner, by taking a slight step with the right foot to the right. We as reenactors while shooting we sometimes say "coming over", this is just a safety issue to inform the first rank that you are firing. Usually your rear file partner is taller than you are in the front rank for this reason, so better to fire. And this is why alot of events ban any weapon in the ranks except for what we call 3 banders. When we fire from the rear ranks we want the front ranks body positioned between bands 2 and 3( counting from the front). That way the muzzle flash is out in front of the front rank , and the flash from the hammer is behind them. You don't want to burn the guy in front from the muzzle or deafen them from the cap. Also if done properly when the front rake feller takes a hit, the rear rank feller is supposed to step up and take his position, instead of closing up the ranks. Otherwise you could have 8 guys in the rear trying to cover 3 guys in the front, unsafe and really looks rediculous.

 

[John Winn]

Generaly the second rank goes in with the first rank. What the second rank does is fire over the right shoulder of the first rank or their file partner, by taking a slight step with the right foot to the right. We as reenactors while shooting we sometimes say "coming over", this is just a safety issue to inform the first rank that you are firing. Usually your rear file partner is taller than you are in the front rank for this reason, so better to fire. And this is why alot of events ban any weapon in the ranks except for what we call 3 banders. When we fire from the rear ranks we want the front ranks body positioned between bands 2 and 3( counting from the front). That way the muzzle flash is out in front of the front rank , and the flash from the hammer is behind them. You don't want to burn the guy in front from the muzzle or deafen them from the cap. Also if done properly when the front rake feller takes a hit, the rear rank feller is supposed to step up and take his position, instead of closing up the ranks. Otherwise you could have 8 guys in the rear trying to cover 3 guys in the front, unsafe and really looks rediculous.

Thank you Private for your response. Unfortunately, it doesn't answer my question. I understand how the ranks in line fired. What I am asking about is not ranks in line, but subsequent lines coming up behind the first line (i.e. first two ranks).
Maybe I wasn't clear so ... picture this: at the very front there is one line of two ranks firing. Behind them some distance is another line (and maybe two). What of those lines coming up behind the one actually engaged ? Was the first line formation the only one actually delivering volleys ? If not, how were the others brought into the fight ?

 

[johan_steele]

Those two lines were typically regimental sized and a lot depended upon terrain. Depending upon the strength of the Regt it would have a frontage from 100-300 yards. Follow up Regiments would take advatage of a breach in the enemy line, bolster faltering Regiments in their front, protect flanks etc. There are methods to pass units through a line in the advance and depend upon the situation. One example would be the lead Regt would be ordered to lay down and the follow on Regt would literally pass over them. Another was to order a Regt to form column, not something you would want to do if the enemy was firing on you.

I don't know if that helps at all but the books you want ares Battle Tactics of the Civil War & Battle in the Civil War by Griffith. *I made a mistake on the titles and have corrected them.

 

[John Winn]

Those two lines were typically regimental sized and a lot depended upon terrain. Depending upon the strength of the Regt it would have a frontage from 100-300 yards. Follow up Regiments would take advatage of a breach in the enemy line, bolster faltering Regiments in their front, protect flanks etc. There are methods to pass units through a line in the advance and depend upon the situation. One example would be the lead Regt would be ordered to lay down and the follow on Regt would literally pass over them. Another was to order a Regt to form column, not something you would want to do if the enemy was firing on you.

I don't know if that helps at all but the book you want is Civil War Tactics by Griffith.

Thank you very much Colonel. That sounds reasonable. Just to make certain that I'm clear, though: only one line would have actually been firing ? That is, only the two ranks in the first line were actively engaged at any one time, the supporting regiments/lines moving up only to fill gaps or in flanking movements ?

I'm going to check out Griffith right now. I have Brent Nosworthy's book but it doesn't answer my question.

 

[AUG]

I think Mr. Steele is right about the fallowing line or regiment walking over the first line when needed for support. I think they would have lied down and waited behind the first line to get out of the way of all the fire passing over the first line's heads. At least that seems to be the case according to different first hand accounts I've read.

Here is an excerpt from R.W. Hurdle's account of the 6th TN at Shiloh, mentioning a MS regiment coming up for support and running over their line laying on the ground.
"They had been held in reserve all morning, but at that moment they were hurled into jaws of death. All was silent in front until our ranks were near. Then came an incessant hail of lead and iron until our line was strewn with the dying and wounded. The remainder had to lie down for protection. In a few minutes a Mississippi Regiment dashed up, and as they passed over our line, called out: 'Get out of the way, Tennessee, and let Mississippi in!' They passed on for a short distance and returned on double quick, and as they passed, a Tennessee fellow
said: 'Get out off the way, Tennessee, and let Mississippi out!'"

 

[kevikens]

I don't know if this was ever done during the Civil War but in the Revolutionary War three ranks could fire simultaneously. The first knelt, the second stood right over them, a third rank was right behind them and fired over the right shoulder. When done right it looks really good and it had the potential for sending a lot of lead downstream in one volley.

 

[bankerpapaw]

Welcome from Arkansas.

 

[leftyhunter]

Generaly the second rank goes in with the first rank. What the second rank does is fire over the right shoulder of the first rank or their file partner, by taking a slight step with the right foot to the right. We as reenactors while shooting we sometimes say "coming over", this is just a safety issue to inform the first rank that you are firing. Usually your rear file partner is taller than you are in the front rank for this reason, so better to fire. And this is why alot of events ban any weapon in the ranks except for what we call 3 banders. When we fire from the rear ranks we want the front ranks body positioned between bands 2 and 3( counting from the front). That way the muzzle flash is out in front of the front rank , and the flash from the hammer is behind them. You don't want to burn the guy in front from the muzzle or deafen them from the cap. Also if done properly when the front rake feller takes a hit, the rear rank feller is supposed to step up and take his position, instead of closing up the ranks. Otherwise you could have 8 guys in the rear trying to cover 3 guys in the front, unsafe and really looks rediculous.

Interesting but in the actual heat of combat I would think this tactic would cause some friendly fire casualties. I could be wrong but especially with green troops and there where always plenty of those plus troops who are sleep deprived(no shortage of those either ) I could see this tactic not being for the best.
Leftyhunter

 

[1SGDan]

There was also a tactic called "Advanced Firing" which allowed the first rank to fire and then the others pass through. This allowed the advancing line to maintain a steady rate of fire. While the follow on ranks passed through the first line would reload and then retake its position. Despite what seems like the obvious advantages of this tactic I have read of very few instances of it being used. The most prominent example comes from the fighting in the gap during the Tullahoma Campaign.

 

[johan_steele]

I made a mistake in the title of the the book by Paddy Griffith, there are actually two and I would suggest the purchase of both to anyone interested in the subject. Battle in the Civil War and Battle Tactics of the Civil War.

 

[johan_steele]

Thank you very much Colonel. That sounds reasonable. Just to make certain that I'm clear, though: only one line would have actually been firing ? That is, only the two ranks in the first line were actively engaged at any one time, the supporting regiments/lines moving up only to fill gaps or in flanking movements ?

I'm going to check out Griffith right now. I have Brent Nosworthy's book but it doesn't answer my question.

For the most part yes. I made an error on the title and have corrected it.

 

[John Winn]

Thanks all for your detailed responses. I do appreciate it.

Except for the "passing through" maneuver, though - and the suggestion that follow-up regiments just waited to fill gaps or perform flanking maneuvers - I still don't feel like I've got the answer. I'm not sure if this link will work here but here's a not-so-great example of what I'm trying to describe:
https://www.google.com/search?q=civil war battle illustrations&rlz=1T4ADRA_enUS433US471&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=wYckU6miJ9HioASv3YK4Aw&ved=0CD8Q7Ak&biw=1186&bih=743#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=RKnSXKYO0kXjvM%3A;_QaJ1E8lKYkTfM;http%3A%2F%2Fkarenswhimsy.com%2Fpublic-domain-images%2Fcivil-war-battles%2Fimages%2Fcivil-war-battles-2.jpg;http%3A%2F%2Fkarenswhimsy.com%2Fcivil-war-battles.shtm;500;361
In the center there are two line formations, one in front of the other, and the first line (two ranks) are delivering fire while the second line is just standing there (in the lower left-hand there is also a regiment approaching in column). For those who own a copy of the American Heritage Picture History of The Civil War by Bruce Catton, see also the painting on pages 330-331.

I've certainly read many an account of regiments in line shooting it out with the enemy - and have also read how rarely the bayonet was actually employed - so I'm certain units did in fact stop their advance and deliver volleys (i.e. did not deliver a single volley and then charge with bayonets as in Napoleonic days).

Keep 'em coming ya'll. You're a great bunch.

 

[rpkennedy]

OK, first off, I'm brand spankin' new to the ranks so if this has been covered ad nauseam before I apologize. I didn't see a forum that really fit so I'm asking here.

While I am well versed in basic CW tactics I've never found an answer to something that I've always wondered about. That is: when infantry were engaged how were the lines that followed the one in front brought into the engagement ? When in line formation (i.e. two ranks) it seems to me that only the first line could actually fire as subsequent lines would be shooting into their own troops. It is common, though, to see illustrations in manuals and drawings of the day (and of the Napoleonic era) showing waves of troops in line formation mounting an attack. Once that first line stopped to deliver volleys what did those advancing behind them do; Just wait around to fill gaps in the first ranks (and thus mix up companies and regiments; unlikely it seems) ? A single line of two ranks just doesn't seem like it would deliver enough fire power but I can't for the life of me see how more than maybe three ranks could shoot at once.

So, perhaps some of you tacticians can explain. I'd be most appreciative.

Good commanders wouldn't have lines too close together for too long, generally. For one thing, with fellow units immediately to their front, the second line is standing around doing nothing and one is keeping too many men out of the battle. They are available for taking advantage of any breakthroughs and reinforcing the front line but, unless one is assaulting and constantly moving, a standup fight is going to leave them doing little.

Secondly, they are vulnerable to flank attacks. If the lines are too close together, they can't maneuver to face oncoming enemies; just look at John Sedgwick's division at Antietam.

R

 

[David Knight]

T

I don't know if that helps at all but the books you want ares Battle Tactics of the Civil War & Battle in the Civil War by Griffith. *I made a mistake on the titles and have corrected them.

Heartly agree about Paddy Griffiths books, he has also done a great one on Infantry tactics on the Western Front in WWI.

 

[AUG]

I don't know if this was ever done during the Civil War but in the Revolutionary War three ranks could fire simultaneously. The first knelt, the second stood right over them, a third rank was right behind them and fired over the right shoulder. When done right it looks really good and it had the potential for sending a lot of lead downstream in one volley.

The French, Russians, Prussians, and Austrians all did something similar in the Napoleonic Wars. They would form into three ranks, though the first line would stand, the second line would fire over their shoulders and the third line would swap muskets with the second line. So only the 1st and 2nd lines fired while the 3rd loaded and passed muskets. All ranks stood because having the first rank kneel would cause too much confusion and could take time, though I'm sure that in actual battle many men stood or lied down for cover.

But of course in battle perfect line and rank formations didn't always keep perfect alignment. I recall reading an excerpt from Sherman's memoirs (If I find it again I'll post it here) mentioning how very few formations remained perfect on the field. It was common for the infantry to jumble up or fight from cover when in the heat of battle.