ahauschild
Posts: 118
Joined: 7/8/2005 Status: offline
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The problem with line always has been that if a man falls, and they will, it creates gaps. Some of these where filled or the spacing increased, but a Line formation had allot of frontage for firepower coverage, but did not have the staying power a column did. Imangine this. A line defense a 100 yard area 2 guys deep. They will get to fire in that 100 yard area still only 2 guys deep. Now a Battle or Attack column advances, taking up about 40 yards frontage. The line overlaps him a bit so can bring 60 yard frontage effective to bear on the column. But the line cannot really open fire untill 100 yards or less. They will get maybe 2, possibly 3 volleys into that column, but because the frontage is actuly less, they will most likley drop the front rank twice, but guess what, by the time the column reachs the line there is 6 to 8 more ranks left, and the column may have halted once to fire also, and that 40 yard area of line that is 2 guys deep will suddendly be very thin indeed. At that time, with nobody to fill the line the column ussuly advances by bayonet, i say advance, they did not actuly charge (run) in many cases, but just moved forward with the pointy thing sticking out. That is why a french Attack Column was one of the most fearsome sights on the battlefield back then. They kept comming, and comming and comming. Reports indicated that many other nations line infantry was broken ussuly after the 2nd, if not the 3rd volley. But often the french Attack Columns would take up to 6 volleys and still advance in good order to push the attack home. But I could be wrong, and a 2 man thin line of man (sometimes 3) faced on the same frontage as a column would fire AND charge as well as a column. But I dont think so. Sure there is accounts of a line charging, but those are rare.
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