Quote Originally Posted by scottishranger
Still, 3 mph would be a good estimate then?
As 2.5-3 mph seems to be standard speed for infantry throughout history yes.

The first troops would march off just before or after daybreak. Depending on length of column/size of army it would take several hours before the last troops would leave camp.

One historian estimates that the army of Alexander the Great could have occupied more than 16 miles of road and thats without baggage animals. So when the first troops started preparing camp at noon or perhaps shortly before, the old campsite might still not be empty.

So size of army and the need to conserve strength for a long campaign would mean soldiers rarely moved the whole day.


CBR