Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Officer in the front?

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1

    Default Re: Officer in the front?

    Quote Originally Posted by ZombieFriedNuts View Post
    Why would the officer of a line infantry unit be front row centre along with the drummer boy it’s silly, wouldn’t he want to position himself at the back or sides so he isn’t accidently shot and the unit can present the maximum number of muskets? Is this the way they were actually positioned because I would have hidden at the back when people where trying to kill me.
    Hide at the back ?!

    The Colonel was expected to set an example and lead from the front. He'd be on foot and this was the best place for him to see what was going on and to direct his batallion.

    There's a very interesting British Army manual from 1745 online here which describes drawing up the battalion before battle (and platoon fire, use of squares etc)

    suppose our battalion to consist of 800 or 1,000 men. Let us suppose our battalion drawn up with the army on the field of battle, three deep, their bayonets fixed on their muzzles, the grenadiers divided on the flanks, the officers ranged in the front; and the Colonel or, in his absence, the Lieutenant-Colonel (who, I suppose, fights the battalion) on foot, with his sword drawn in his hand, about eight or ten paces in the front, opposite the centre, with an expert Drum by him. He should appear with a cheerful countenance, never in a hurry, or by any means ruffled, and to deliver his orders with great calmness and presence of mind.
    When going into action against the enemy, the other officers and NCO's were posted at intervals between the firing platoons and also behind them,
    so that no soldier can possibly misbehave, but there will be an eye presently upon him
    to control the men and deter anyone wanting to "hide at the back" or run away
    The lieutenant-colonel, or, in his absence, the eldest Captain, posts himself eight or ten paces from the rear rank opposite the centre, the rest of the officers posting themselves four paces from the rear rank, extending to the right and left to cover the battalion, where they will be of as great use as those in the front, in seeing that the soldiers keep up in their ranks and do their duty.
    Of course, being at the front the Colonel is in some danger. Here comes the tricky bit ...
    As the commanding officer will be exposed to the fire of his own men, as well as that of the enemy, he is to take special care that he keep opposite the two centre platoons while the other parts of the battalion keep firing; and he must also take as great care, that when it comes to the turn of the centre platoons to fire, that both he and the drum step aside, and return as soon as they have done, otherwise they must fall by their own fire.
    That's where the "cheerful countenance, unruffled, great calmness" etc comes in handy

  2. #2
    Member Member icanus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    13

    Default Re: Officer in the front?

    And just to add to the fun, as Colonel, you're standing with your back to the men you had flogged last week while they shoot past you from behind.

    Better hope your subordinate officers:
    • keep a close eye on what the men are doing
    • don't dislike you too much
    • aren't looking for promotion


  3. #3
    Member Member Tecumseh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Canuckistan
    Posts
    5

    Arrow Re: Officer in the front?

    Quote Originally Posted by icanus View Post
    And just to add to the fun, as Colonel, you're standing with your back to the men you had flogged last week while they shoot past you from behind.

    Better hope your subordinate officers:
    • keep a close eye on what the men are doing
    • don't dislike you too much
    • aren't looking for promotion

    lol. not sure I would be looking for THAT kind of promotion...
    "Religion must die for the mankind to live." Bill Maher ("Religulous")

  4. #4

    Default Re: Officer in the front?

    Quote Originally Posted by icanus View Post
    And just to add to the fun, as Colonel, you're standing with your back to the men you had flogged last week while they shoot past you from behind.

    Better hope your subordinate officers:
    • keep a close eye on what the men are doing
    • don't dislike you too much
    • aren't looking for promotion

    Absolutely, even in the 18th century 'fragging' an officer wasn't unknown. General Kane, the author of the manual, has this to say on the matter ...
    Suppose that the signal for battle is given: upon this the Colonel orders his Drum to beat a ruffle, which is as much as to say, “Take Care”, and then saying something to encourage and excite the men to the performance of their duty. This may seem ridiculous by some, yet I know it will animate and raise an emulation among the soldiers, especially when they have a love for their officers.

    I cannot but take notice of some gentlemen who, instead of treating their men with good nature, use them with contempt and cruelty; by which those gentlemen often meet with their fate in the day of battle, from their own men; when those officers who, on the other hand, treat their men with justice and humanity, will be sure, on all occasions, to have them stand fast by them, and even interpose between them and death.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO