WI: Battalion carre in the Civil War

Saphroneth

Lt. Colonel
Joined
Feb 18, 2017
Battalion carre is a doctrinal concept on the movement of a large army of multiple corps in fairly "free" manoeuvre terrain.

The concept of the battalion carre involves four roughly equal forces on the advance in a diamond formation, heavily screened by cavalry and situated roughly a day's march apart. The forces are composed of:


An advance force, whose job is to impact the enemy and localize them.
Two masses de manoeuvre on the flanks, whose job is to feel around the flanks of the enemy and ideally turn them, or if the enemy is attempting to turn the flanks of the advance force to strike them hard and deny the manoeuvre.
A reserve force, which either acts to reinforce the line if an enemy breakthrough is threatened or acts as a pursuit force if a friendly breakthrough is caused.
Since the formation is diamond faced, it can turn in any direction desired - if it is advancing south and the enemy is detected to the east, it can turn east and each formation changes role.
In addition to this there is a cavalry screen, which is several hours' infantry march out from the moving wings.


A key situation in which this might be possible is Grant's army for the Overland Campaign in 1864. At this time Grant had with his army the means to create four roughly equal corps of 30,000 PFD, plus a large cavalry screen (of ca. 20,000 PFD). Lee's three infantry corps were of a little less than 20,000 PFD, plus a smaller cavalry force.

After the Army of the Potomac had got over the Rappahanock, it was in a position to be able to reorganize around Fredericksburg with new regiments (to fill all four infantry corps up to ~30,000 PFD) and commence a move south towards Richmond in line with battalion carre. The prospective routes of march as of the opening of the campaign would be:

Advance force and rearguard Fredericksburg - Massaponax Church - Stannard's Mill - Hanover Junction (rearguard follows advance force approx. 1 day behind)

Left wing Fredericksburg - Bowling Green - Mattapony rail bridge- Hanover Court House

Right wing Fredericksburg - Spotsylvania CH - New Market - Anderson's Mill Ford - Cedar Creek Court House


Wherever it is that Lee places his main body, the dense cavalry screen should permit his localization without offering him the chance of a suprise attack against a single vulnerable corps. If he is in front of the AotP, then the wings can act as flanking forces as described; if he is to one side, the battalion carre can pivot and much the same thing can happen.
If he attempts to hold a line, Lee cannot be strong everywhere along a twenty mile frontage.
 
Back
Top