Limited Attack Formation

Have you noticed how the French always send hoards of skirmishers out in front for their main forces, to pour musket balls into the 'Thin Red Line', and there is not a lot that can be done, because if you attack, with skirmishers, they are disordered and the French just come the next turn with twice as many and over run them.

Well here is another use for the Extended line Regiments, who adopt the 'Harris Manoeuvre'. Again it is to be assumed that the Regiments have gone into extended line with HQ company and two other companies. This time the companies line up in a slightly different formation, with two companies in the same hex. (The 3 companies on the right.)

The French come on in the same old way with at least 3-4 skirmishers in the same hex. During the Defence turn the front extended line unit fire into the poor unsuspecting French. The pivotal unit in this formation is the HQ company which is in the second rank, the following will work as long as they do not become disordered.

In the offence turn the front ranks again fire, then in the melee phase the front extended line units attack the skirmishers, with melle odds of at least 4:1 or even bigger if using Guards. The French are drove backwards, not expecting the line to advance.

The French are obviously a bit upset by this and in the following movement turn, either send more skirmishers to attack the line or bring up full blow battalions or even cavalry. (note: in this training scenario the French skirmishers actually ran away, although they were of QL4 & 0 fatigue) This is were the manoeuvre comes into it's own. The forward companies fire in the usual manner, but are recalled by the HQ company, leaving a 1 hex gap between the now 4 line formation and the French. The French can of course fire that far but not as effective, but are unable to melee, which is the most important thing.

The newly reformed battalion is now in good order and can change formation to square, column or stay in 4 line formation. In your next movement phase you have several options, you can bring up Horse Artillery, Cavalry or reserve Division to attack the French, you have the upper hand in that you can choose the number of attacking battalions, your line is not broken and still in good order and you have turned defence into attack. Whilst your reserve Division is doing the business, you can start the whole process again. If the circumstances dictate, two extended line battalions taking in in turn can keep this up all day, hopefully, regaining fatigue in the mean time.

[Written by Paul Harris. Courtesy of the Anglo-Dutch Library.]