This was some research done to resolve a rules question in Koenig Krieg, I thought it might be of some interest to your readers as well. 1. Austrian Cavalry was forbidden by regulation to meet an enemy cavalry charge at the halt. The Army of Maria Theresa; pg. 100; by Christopher Duffy. 2. Austrian cavalry had no formal training and no 'SOP' or orders to facilitate a charge in column of 'ZUGE' (the standard tactical formation of two squadrons in line; there were three 'ZUGE" in a standard field regiment), or any other columnar formation. An Austrian Commander attempting to comply with the above Regulation would have had two choices: 1) Order a charge and hope his subordinate commanders could execute them in some sort of fashion - the probable outcome is the lead "ZUGE" executing the order and the remaining two 'ZUGES" attempting to figure out the how, when and where (or perhaps IF) of closing with the enemy. 2) Order his unit to form 'Line of Battle', the standard fighting formation of ALL Cavalry, and then counter charge. Given the fact that these armies are better drilled than their Napoleonic counterparts, the 1.5 to 2 minutes quoted by Bill Gray to form this formation from the column say be possible (Tactics and Grand Tactics of the Napoleonic Wars; pg. 79-80, by George Jeffrey states that it would take 5 minutes at the walk of 100 paces [yards] per minute, since poorly trained cavalry of the Napoleonic era was seldom able to execute at the trot or the gallop). The choice would have been largely a function of time available, with option 2 being far and away the preferred response. Per Phone conversation with Bill Gray, 6 Jan. 94. 3. Much of this is moot, as Austrian Cavalry, as well as that of all other nations including Prussia, NEVER formed column when within combat distance (within range of heavy cannon fire] of the enemy's Artillery, Infantry or Cavalry!! The assumption seems to have been that the risk of artillery screened from view was greater than the problems) involved with maneuvering in line. "If you march in closed columns, have them deployed at 1,500 paces from the enemy, never closer far fear of the havoc of the artillery." FREDERICK THE GREAT. This is corroborated by the Geschicte des Kurrassier and Dragoner is Sieben Jahres Krieg. The Secret 'Column Charge' of the Prussian Army was designed for attacks Against Infantry That Was Not Supported by Cavalry to its Rear! It was to be prearranged and required the use of a dragoon regiment in closed column and a Hussar regiment split into two battalions which formed close on each side of the dragoons. The Hussars were to prevent the targeted infantry from going into an 'exchequer' formation and shooting the hell out of the dragoons. After the dragoons had penetrated the infantry unit the first three squadrons formed behind the enemy line to protect the remaining dragoons from attack while they attacked the infantry. the Hussars were to join the dragoons in attacking the infantry and expanding the hole in the enemies lines. The column charge is not mentioned in use before 1760, based on a quick review of available sources. Bill Gray has agreed to dig a bit deeper to further clarify the subject. Sources: Geschicte des Kurrassier and Dragoner is Sieben Jahres Krieg, a Prussian General Staff Study circa 1875, read over the phone 6 Jan. 94 Frederick the Great on the Art of War, pg. 171 translated and edited by Jay Luvaas; also note that the column charge can be done with infantry! The sate cavalry support is required according to him. 4. Koenig Krieg represents 18th century combat as accurately as possible without adding rules for every possible situation, and with the understanding that 'field column' does not exist for tactical evolution and combat except in a very few, rare instances by Prussian Infantry and/or Cavalry. These instances are so rare as to be omitted from the rules, and left as an optional rule for those wishing to recreate one of those few occurrences. We have been too 'Napoleonic' in our use of column on the field of battle, and for that matter in other ways as well. One example that came out glaringly, is the use of skirmishers in open ground and in front of the line of battle, a'la' the French in the wars of the revolution 1795-1803 and later in the Imperial period 1804-1815. The Grenz/Pandours were employed over ground that normal heavy infantry could not function in, i.e. towns, woods, rough terrain and the like. Line Infantry did not go in that terrain and towns were always avoided because they prevented control of the troops. 5. RECOMMENDATIONS : NONE, play the rules as they are written. Back to Table of Contents The Messenger February 1994 Back to The Messenger List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1994 by HMGS/PSW. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com