Infantry Squares in the Civil War

by Andrew J. Birtle

Squares? In the Civil War? Most rules make no provision for the formation, and perhaps rightfully so. Close terrain and advances in firearm technology made charges by sabre-wielding cavalrymen relatively rare during the Civil War, at least when compared to European practice. Nevertheless, infantry drill manuals throughout the period included the square formation in their pages, and at least some units actually employed it on the battlefield. A complete study of the use of squares during the war has never been undertaken, but there are enough known examples of its employment to warrant a second look at the question. Listed below are a few examples of the ways Civil War armies employed square formations in combat.

The first major battle of the war, the battle of Bull Run, featured the first use of a square in combat. During the Federal retreat, Colonel William T. Sherman formed his brigade into a rough square to protect it against Confederate cavalry. The brigade actually conducted its withdrawal in square formation. Five months later, a 50-man company of the 32nd Indiana Infantry used a square to successfully repulse three charges made by 200 Texas Rangers at the battle of Rowlett's Station, Kentucky, on December 17, 1861. Later, during the Battle of Williamsburg (May 5, 1862), the 5th Wisconsin Volunteers deployed into square, when threatened by C.S.A. cavalry.

The Union was not alone in using squares, as The Official Records report Confederate infantry employing squares during both the Battle of Pea Ridge (March 7, 1862) and Shiloh (April 6, 1862). Late on the first day of Gettysburg (July 1, 1863), Buford successfully slowed Ewell's advance by threatening to make a mounted charge against the victorious rebels. The threat compelled part of Ewell's corps to stop and form square. The 64th Georgia Infantry reportedly deployed into square at the battle of Ocean Pond (February 20,1864), while another Confederate regiment formed square when threatened by Sheridan's troopers in one of the last battles of the war, Five Forks (April 1, 1865.)

The above examples show that, contrary to general belief, squares were used throughout the duration of the Civil War. True, the incidents were rare, but they did occur, and some regiments, such as the 14th New Hampshire Infantry, were trained to adopt the formation for the purpose of repelling cavalry.

Squares had other uses as well. Letters written to the editor of The United States Service Magazine, in 1864, indicate that some officers regarded the square as a useful rallying formation. They also considered the square valuable in the passage of lines. By forming square, reserve regiments could adopt a safe, stable formation that permitted broken units of the first line to retreat through them without undue risk that the retreating troops would sweep the reserve along with them. Once the first line had passed, the reserve unit could deploy out of square into line, ready to receive the enemy.

Squares thus had a legitimate, though limited, function in the Civil War, and consequently rules writers and gamers should consider permitting units to adopt the formation on the wargaming table. I would suggest that troops in square formation be given morale bonuses and advantages in melee against cavalry, while suffering a penalty from fire.

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