PRELIMINARY BRIEFING Background It is the year 1778 and the French army is drawn up on the Normandy coast preparing to repulse any landings that may be attempted by the hated English, with whom we are at war. The place is the Vassieux camp, between Bayeau and Courcelles. The army is commanded by the Comte de Simon, a much travelled soldier who has seen action in America both in the last war and in this one, and the Marquis de Denis, a favorite at court. They have equal rank under the King, who will come from Versailles to direct operations if and when the enemy invasion appears imminent. De Simon is meanwhile in command of the right wing of the army (Red facings on white uniforms) while de Denis is in command of the left (White facings on white uniforms). De Simon favours the new 'column' tactics of Mesnil Durand, whereas de Denis favours the traditional tactics of deployed lanes. Players should always argue in favour of their own preferred tactics as much as possible. Setting Up the 'Game' You need two players or more (extra players join the staffs - or rather 'factions' of the two commanders). An impartial umpire will be needed if the players are obstreperous or mentally dim, but otherwise he is unnecessary. You also need a table to debate around, some paper to write the drill books on, and two 'wings' each of 160 match sticks (half red striped, half plain). Each match represents a Company of 100 men. Also have counters (or 5mm models?) of 8 brigade commanders, 4 division commanders, 2 wing commanders, and one staff officer-adjutant with a flag to act as 'marker' for each battalion (ie 32 total). The game is played in 3 phases: two rounds of discussion, out of each of which a different drill book will emerge; then a round of practical experiment on the floor. It should be a BIG floor. Reference (or rather, 'vague inspiration'): Quimby, R.S, The Background of Napoleonic Warfare (Columbia University Press, 1957), Chapter 9, The Camp of Vassieux. Organization Each wing has a commander (3 rings on sleeve) and his HQ staff group, and two divisions Each division has a commander (2 rings on sleeve) and his HQ staff group, and two brigades Each brigade has two regiments Each regiment has two battalions Each battalion has ten companies Each company has 100 men in line 3 deep, with a blob of HQ officers ` on right flank Scales 6" represent 50 toises (or 100 metres) Movement is 12" or 100 toises (200 metres) in 4 minutes An advancing line, however, moves only 9" or 75 toises Turn 1 Orders arrive from the Minister of War! The two commanders and their staffs are directed to concert together to devise a training programme for the whole army, based on the ideas of General Francois-Jean de Graindorge d'Orgeville de Mesnil-Durand, the notable modern tactician (whose works have in part been influenced by de Simon's own campaigns in Canada, and who is an old friend of his). De Simon should take the lead in this and give instruction to the others. De Mesnil Durand believes that one company of each battalion should act as skirmishers, while the remainder of the battalion attacks in column of companies or column of double companies. This is seen as giving additional flexibility in difficult terrain, to the cumbersome traditional long lines (ie each battalion only one company deep). Note that in this system there is no provision for a fire fight, except by skirmishers and the front rank of a column as it fires a single volley when closing with the enemy. This too saves drill complexity. At the level of the regiment and brigade, also, Mesnil-Durand believes that battalions should be in column, one behind another, instead of in line. At the level of the division there may be flexibility to choose between lines or columns of brigades. According to this system, you should choose the best 'standard order of march' and the best 'standard (or optimum) battle order' for the battalion, the regiment, the brigade, the division and the wing. Now imagine the army is in column of route (6 deep, but not necessarily all from one battalion in each file) on a line of march along a road, then devise the best drill movements by which battalions may shake out into their best battle order to face ar enemy coming down the road from the opposite direction. What is this optimum battle order? The sequence of taking it up will be first to set out marker-adjutants at the points to which each battalion will deploy, then to march each battalion onto its marker. Note that in each company the company officers must always ''e on the right of the line, and the first unit on the right of the second unit, &c &c (any other arrangement produces confusion!). Using the same principles, produce an optimum system by which regiments, brigades and divisions may form into their battle order, and by which the battle may then take place. (Regulations for the dragoons, artillery and baggage will be agreed at a later date.) When all necessary infantry drills have been decided, note them down as the 'Mesnil-Durand' or 'Columnar' drill manual - then go on to turn 2. Turn 2 New Orders Arrival His Most Catholic Majesty The King is displeased to hear that his army on the coast has been tainted by incorrect new doctrines concerning the manoeuvre of infantry, and directs that training henceforth be conducted on the will tried system of Turenne and Villars -- viz THE LINE. A drill manual to this effect will be produced forthwith, and the army exercised accordingly. The Sieur de Denis is a worthy commander to take the lead in this process, having studied the question of the line in many fashionable resorts. Go through exactly the same process as before -- still in concert -- to write a drill book for linear tactics, in which there will be no skirmishers but the whole line will attempt to fight by fire, either in attack or defence. Once again start with the army marching up a road, then having to deploy into battle order, observing full order from right to left. Turn 3 A Breach of Etiquette Has Occurred After a month of training on two systems in the Manoeuvre Camp, many officers (including the two wing commanders themselves) are heartily fed up with the pretentions of the adherents of the opposite system. Those who favour the line have royal favour and mock the anarchy that the column will surely bring. Those who favour the column have colonial experience and the minister of war on their side, and have no time for courtiers who have never smelt powder in their lives. Several duels have already been fought over the issue, and mutiny appears imminent. The two wing commanders have therefore decided to conduct manoeuvre with the right wing (following the columnar drill book) playing against the left wing (following the linear drill book), in order to resolve the whole question. After these manoeuvre, the two players must argue for the merits of their particular system, then tell the army (and the king and the minister of war) which one has been preferred. The manoeuvre themselves are conducted on the floor, with each wing starting off marching towards its 'opponent' down the same single road - ie through an 'entry point' in the centre of each side's baseline. The two entry points should be at least ten feet apart at the start of play. Keep track of the passage of time, with 10 companies (ie match sticks) being allowed through the entry point every 4 minutes. Keep notes on when the first brigade of each wing is fully deployed, when the first brigade is, and when the whole wing is, &c. Discuss what would happen if one side or the other made an attack at any stage. Remember these are manceuvre not a real battle, so no one will be killed - ie all tactical decisions will be made by you, as 'umpires', 'courtiers', 'representatives of the commanding officer' &c. I hope that your results turn out more satisfactorily than was the case in the real Camp of Vaussieux! Back to MWAN # 54 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1991 Legio X 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