Editor: The following exchange has been included in ADC as it was felt that it may be of interest to readers Prussian Infantry Tactics Dear Mr. Hofschroer, I am writing to you in the hope that you may be able to help me resolve an argument that has sprung up between my friends and I regarding the tactics that were used by the Prussian armies of 1813. I have for the last two years researched as best I can the Prussian army of this period. I have collected a 15mm representation of the Prussian 1st Corps under GL von Yorck. I recently deployed this corps for the first time, and as the battle progressed the tactics used by myself were called into question by my colleagues. I feel at this point that I must mention the fact that I am relatively new to Napoleonic warfare/history, while my friends possess many years of knowledge. I have collected as many English written books as I could find regarding all aspects concerning the Prussians (Unfortunately my knowledge of German is somewhat limited) and from these derived what I thought was a fair representation of the tactics used. I deployed in a three rank line, unless the battalion deployed skirmishers, in which case it formed into a two rank line. All fusilier and Jaeger battalions deployed in two rank lines regardless of skirmishers. At first my friends did not believe that the Prussians used two rank lines, citing I think a well used preconception that only the British army used two ranks with any great frequency. I managed to show them that two ranks were proscribed by the Prussian authorities, however they were unconvinced that they were used very often in actual combat. I could not find any actual examples of the Prussians fighting in two ranks and so could not easily refute this statement. Most battle reports that I have read mention only line, or column formations without going into greater detail. Your book "Prussian Light Infantry 1792-1815" (Osprey series) states that the whole army after the introduction of the 1812 regs fired in two rank lines (page 11). This seems somewhat at odds with other books that I've read such as "Battle Tactics of Napoleon And His Enemies" by Brent Nosworthy. Here it is implied that a battalion would form into three ranks, however, if and when skirmishers were required the third rank would fall out leaving the rest of the battalion in a two rank formation (p258-260). These movements are described somewhat vaguely under the heading "Post 1806 Reforms" and continues to talk about Austrian battalions also using two ranks. This last point is hotly disputed by one of my colleagues who has collected the 1809 Austrian army under Archduke Charles and states that the Austrians never used two ranks, always three. My friends were also somewhat skeptical of the amount of skirmishers that I deployed (one company for all regular infantry battalions) and again stated that although trained to skirmish, the Prussians probably very rarely used them in any great number. I did manage to show them an example of whole battalions deploying into skirmish formation (Wartenburg) however they again thought that this was an exception rather than the rule. To sum up I must admit to being somewhat unsure of the tactics I have used so far. Logically I am inclined to believe your view of the two rank line, especially as the Prussian Army was made up of so many Landwehr units who I would of thought have found it easier to learn how to maneuver and fire in two lines instead of having to train to use the three rank system. I would greatly appreciate any advice or the titles of any books that you could give me so that I can either confirm the tactics I'm currently using or change to the correct system. Yours Sincerely, Paul Thomson PS. I've listed below the books I've so far read: Osprey series no. 152, 149, 192, 172 Brent Nosworthys book described above Osprey Campaign series no. 25 and 15 Napoleon on Napoleon edited by S. de Chair Lutzen and Bautzen and Napoleon at Dresden by G Nafziger Napoleons Last Campaign in Germany by F. Petre Clausewitz by R. Parkinson Blucher by E.P. Henderson The Campaigns of Napoleon By D. Chandler Dear Mr Thomson, To answer your questions: 1) In 1788, the first set of drill regulations for the Prussian light infantry were published. These specified that the fusiliers were to fight exclusively in two ranks. The Prussian light infantry, and I would imagine all light infantry, were always deployed into two ranks. The reason for this is quite simple - skirmishers fought in pairs, one loading and one firing, so how could they ever use three ranks? 2) In 1806, Ruchel's Corps deployed its line infantry into two ranks, forming extra units with the third rankers. 3) The use of three ranks by line infantry was a practice that was slowly dying out by the end of the 18th century. The reason for this was quite simple. When firing, the third rankers had a nasty habit of hitting their own men more than the enemy. The third rank was therefore pulled back from the firing lines, thus becoming redundant. So particularly the Austrians and the Prussians started to form separate platoons from the third rank which were then used for skirmish purposes. The Prussians experimented with this from the late 18th century and officially adopted the use of the third rank as skirmishers in the Regulations of 1812 - there had been a number of Instructions to this effect issued before then. A line battalion of four companies would form four skirmish platoons under a skirmish captain. It would be unusual for more than two of these four platoons to be deployed into skirmish order at any one time. The reason for this is again, quite simple and logical - skirmishers were particularly vulnerable to enemy counter-measures, particularly cavalry, so a close-order reserve was always kept close to hand as a rallying point. If attacked by cavalry, the skirmishers would fall back onto the support platoons. The skirmish company would then fall back onto the mother battalion. Also, by rotating the skirmish platoons in the firing line, the ammunition of the skirmish platoon would not be so easily exhausted. This use of skirmishers was standard practise in the Prussian army in the campaigns of 1812-15, and were certainly in use in the campaigns of 1792-1807. 4) The Prussian infantry fired in two ranks. The reasons for this were discussed above. I cannot give you chapter and verse on when the Austrians adopted this practise also - this is beyond my expertise -but I am sure that reference to the relevant drill regulations will resolve that issue. Nafziger's latest book "Imperial Bayonets" may contain that information. At a guess, I would say this would have been late in the 18th or early in the 19th century. A new set of regulations were issued in 1806, I believe. 5) Theoretically, at least, the Landwehr were trained according to the same principles of drill as the line infantry. As skirmishers required a higher level of training, it was unlikely that Landwehr formations would pull out of their third rank until they had become more experienced in the field. I would doubt that a Landwehr man would have been seen in a skirmish line in August 1813, but consider it probable by Leipzig. I regret I cannot think of a book on the subject in English that is entirely reliable - personally, I doubt if one has ever been written - but would recommend Herbert Schwarz's "Gefechtsformen der Infanterie in Europa durch 800 Jahre" (2 vols, Munich 1977) as a good starting point. You may be able to obtain a copy through inter-library loan. I hope I have been of some assistance. Peter Hofschröer RE: Prussian line Tactics Peter, Thank you for your e-mail reply regarding my Prussian line infantry tactics enquiry, it has indeed answered many questions and raised a few more! 1. You said in your reply that the light infantry always used a two rank line as they fought in pairs. I know that a skirmishing unit would deploy its men in pairs when skirmishing. However, did a light infantry battalion always fight in a skirmish or semi-skirmish line or did they ever form a proper two rank line? ANSWER - The light battalions performed all their close order drill in two ranks as well. The same pairs that formed a skirmish file would form a close order file. 2. Would a line battalion forming say from a column into a two rank line always pull off its third rank to skirmish or could they join the two ranks of the parent unit to form one long extended two rank line? ANSWER - A line battalion was normally formed in three ranks. If it were to deploy into any formation with two ranks, then this would mean that the third rank had been pulled out. The third rankers would then form into four skirmish platoons under the skirmish captain. These platoons would then be available for any special duties, including skirmishing. In theory, there would be nothing to stop them being drawn up in a line with the remaining platoons from the mother battalion. 3. I remember reading somewhere that French units deployed into three ranks and that they used their third line to reload muskets. Did the Prussians ever consider or even use such an arrangement? ANSWER - Not as far as I am aware, but there is no reason why they should not have done so. 4. The Landwehr in the beginning of the Autumn campaign of 1813 were I agree a pretty raw bunch. Would you say that due to their inexperience/fright/excitement they tended to fire in their three ranks, or do you know if a concerted effort was made by their more experienced officers to keep the third rank ready to reinforce the line, reload weapons etc.? ANSWER - I have no information to answer this question. 5. Finally I have a question regarding one of the divisional commanders of 1st Corps, namely GM Prinz Carl von Mecklenburg. I've read with great interest this officers heroic deeds and have always wondered if he survived his wounds received at the Battle of Moeckern (16/10/13), and if he continued to serve in the army thereafter. I have searched all the English written books I could find but find no reference to him after Moeckern, making me fear that he did in fact die from his wounds. As you may recall my grasp of the German language is somewhat rudimentary and I was wondering if there were any German records that tell of his fate? ANSWER - This officer did indeed survive Moeckern; as he also would later that month at Leipzig, but not fatally. His career in the Prussian army continued after 1815; he was appointed commander of the Corps of Guards and Grenadiers in 1816, promoted to full general in 1825 and died in 1837. Lastly can I express my thanks to you in taking time out to answer my no doubt very basic questions. Yours faithfully, Paul Thomson More Aide-de-Camp More on French Grenadiers Intelligence in the Peninsula Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #34 © Copyright 1997 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com