French Columns ...

the famous table d' agrégation militaire (armies and their infantry)

often mentioned by Art. you have

agrégation administrative

agrégation constitutive

agrégation tactique

agrégation régimentaire

Well, it looks like D' Erlon is everywhere ! ..

as i said the plate is from Gay de Vernon book (1805), you can also have the colonne par demi-bataillon, with a peloton frontage. demi bataillon de droite en tete, et le demi-bataillon de gauche en arriére avec une distance de 20 pas. in that case the battalion has two FRACTIONS TACTIQUES. and each fraction has three subdivisions de colonnes > 3 pelotons). as for when the Grenadiers/Voltigeurs are detached, i don't know exactly. there are references for that column in Colin, la Tactique ..

==

==

==

distance of 20 paces

==

==

==

the other *possibility* is to have each tactical fraction deployed in line

which is the one showed in De Vernon plate. *eventually* you have 2 fractions tactiques and two subdivisions de colonne.

but i'm not 100% sure

== == ==

distance of 20 paces

== == ==

to compare and contrast,

- with a colonne subdivisionaire, par peloton, you have 1 fraction tactique (?) and six subdivisions de colonne

- with a colonne subdivisionaire, par division

you have 1 fraction tactique (?) and three subdivisions de colonne

(..) "et je formai (toujours en marchant en avant) ma division en colonne par demi-bataillon. J'attaquai les Russes. Leur cavalerie prit une grande résolution et se décida à passer dans les intervalles de mes troupes, pour charger de nouveau les chasseurs de la garde impériale, qui se ralliaient derrière ma division. (Drouet D' Erlon - Vie Militaire, page 27.)

https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5Qadf3tgizWBXBaU2AF1TIRwu2-WODUkzVkUzwSwLU6KFnmH5sC8Qdf0dLbfY5R-KY1mh8QUPaBreLxOUCyl5C8nyI_D8GNG_iYpl4qgdE3glenPjKCOu9fBCXyqB1mKlRlYdGRgmXlNIUhH-0xjpvzCQE1wJHHkplDSnhrYkMUqpQg0ZCRtqAJ6V6u9h2-YKvUZwhghYfVjlYhrP8BZqSILIClDdKnStr_lcPAtjRpPq9rSY-y-79DZnTWadYHxE8scu9x_AtPLSvElsdBcwL-0cEhvLTw

FRACTION TACTIQUE

V. Aggregation Tactique

V. Bataillon d' infanterie de ligne Française N° 7

AGRÉGATION (agrégations) TACTIQUE (G.6).

Sorte d'AGRÉGATIONS dont les détails généraux se trouvent au tableau ci-avant. (the spreadsheet size for agrégation is just frightening lol )

— L'ÉPAISSEUR des agrégations et le nombre de leurs RANGS ont varié suivant l'estime qu'on a plus ou moins accordée aux ARMES DÉ JET. La disposition tactique des agrégations s'est modifiée suivant la préférence accordée au système du MÉLANGE D'ARMES; ou à celui de la cohésion par grosses troupes homogènes. Les manoeuvres des agrégations se tracent au moyen de la TACTICOGRAPHIE. — Les agrégations de notre INFANTERIE ACTUELLE ont pour UNITÉ le BATAILLON, pour principale fraction le DEMI-BATAILLON, et pour SUBDIVISIONS, la SECTION, le PELOTON, la DIVISION.

SUBDIVISION DE COLONNE ... (latter)

there is even a specific entry for Subdivision de colonne Compacte

😁

fig=; n° 3 > a plate showing a "colonne par Demi-Bataillon" (column by half-battalion) from Gay de Vernon

For Ancients/Epagogue and all that ... see page 11 ...

https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k22709w.r=CH.%20LÏSKENNE?rk=21459;2

Those 1809 instructions of Schauenbourg have been always a great puzzle to me, it is written for the demi brigades - of the Armée du Rhin, looking at it - one sees still the 9 company structure of the battalion, one being grenadiers, the rest fusiliers, no voltigeurs.

What units were trained according to that organisation?

It is surprising to see that such a manual was published, which is in contrast to the army organisation of 1808 for infantry and also is modifying the 1791 regulations quite a bit.

Hi Andrew, where to begin ?! "welcome to the jungle" seems appropriate ! 😁 i think nobody has synthesized all the relevant instructions in a single volume to date, perhaps a good idea for your next book ?! "instructions for the French tactical order 1791-1815" .. hint hint ... 😉

joke appart, you can get a lot of elements from Jakub S site

a big and great thank you to him tto have collected many books in one place :

https://www.austerlitz.org/fr/documents-a-telecharger/

ordonnance du Roi de 1776 (exercice)

books.google.com

Réglement concernant l'exercice et les manoeuvres de l'infanterie : du 1er août 1791

Meunier & Schauenbourg

start of perpendicular order

Les commandements par Grangier en 1805.

actualised by the maneuvers at Boulogne before 1805 and perpendicular order

Gay de Vernon 1805

http://books.google.com/books?id=XyoAAAAAQAAJ

DÉCRET IMPÉRIAL DU 18 FÉVRIER 1808

actualised by Schauenbourg instructions 1809

https://www.austerlitz.org/fr/heffmeyer-et-schauenbourg/

Bardin

books.google.fr

Minor tactics

Grandes Manœuvres (grand tactics) see Meunier for example

Evolutions de LIGNE

LINES of BATTLE (1st - second)

Tactical columns (aka no end in sight !)

etude sur l' ordre perpendiculaire

books.google.fr

i hope this can help, and i can send you by mail a direct link for the 25th volumes of the spectateur militaire in pdf, in one place.

one important aspect is the study of tactical columns

Best regards

Later tonight because i’m at work now ... i try to provide some links .. regards

1791 regulations did cover regiments and brigade, see Schauenbourg's extensive training - as far as I am aware there was no 1813 regulation only a re print of the 1791 regulations with amendments regarding the new organisation.

Despite a long interest in the French army of the Napoleonic Wars, I am the first to admit to being a relative novice when it comes to the intricacies of French infantry drill. I have read the 1791 Regulations, translated Foucart, Colin, Marbot, Bressonet and studied French tactics on the battlefield and read any number of 'tactical summaries' in modern Napoleonic history books. I am aware that Meunier, Duhesme and others wrote 'unofficial' treatises/essays on the subject. But always, clearly wrongly(!), believed that somewhere, ministry of war regulations laid down the official line. I have learnt much from this and other posts on the Forum. I understood there was an 1813 regulation which I have failed to find (I admit to not trying very hard as it was not top of my list) that did this. Once more I am clearly in error! Could one of the well-informed contributors (Eric, H-K etc), please give me (and all of us) a very quick summary of what official regulations were produced by the French (at least for the infantry). I am beginning to believe that commanders were left to draw on their own experience rather than any central direction/study.

Thanks in anticipation...

Hello H-K,

thank you for the citations, i do remember that specific thread about Albuera, and i have of course the text of Ney (in French) on the subject.

also a big thank you for bringing Art.. it's very nice to have him on board ! given the subject, we certainly need his expertise ! ... earlier in the very same thread :

"We must also understand that the term colonne when applied to grande manoeuvres may be used in many ways…it could mean a battalion…regiment…brigade…division…or even a corps. 

This also applies to the term of colonne d’attaque for a body of troops or grand body of troops attacking the enemy...

It looks like we are running into French military terminology and having to deal with semantics; therefore we may even have to consider the military terminology of when it was written.

Best Regards,  Art"

in my list, n° 3-2-15 : is noted : "column by Regiment" (singular)

i have found very few things about "colonne par regiment" (not colonnes serrées par regiment), one of them is in Carl Von Decker's "Rassemblement, campement et grandes manoeuvres des .des troupe russes et prussiennes, réunies à Kalisch pendant l'été de 1835"

(also referenced by Bardin.)

see page 51-52 for colonne par regiment and page 66 for colonne par bataillon. some figs a noted but as usual the plates are folded or missing. i'm looking for those plates if someone has a link to a german edition .. the interesting point of this book is that the formations/ columns and maneuvers are really explained in a technical and non ambiguous way. column by regiment *seems to obey to* alignement de front and column by battalion *seems to obey to* alignement de profondeur (depth). i would like to be 100% sure on those two points.

books.google.fr

in the book there is this description of a colonne par bataillon, page 66 :

(R1-4 = regiments and a-d = battalions) no indication of the intervals between the regiments.

R4a - R3a - R2a - R1a (First LINE)

R4b - R3b - R2b - R1b (First LINE)

-

distance of 20 paces

-

R4c - R3c - R2c - R1c (Second LINE)

R4d - R3d - R2d - R1d (Second LINE)

-

another paste and copy of the past

Guy Dempsey in his post of Friday, 20 June 2008, 11:48 pm (Re: A French Formation description Art?) Stated: 
To assist with your analysis, you will probaly want to have the original French text for the quote from General Maransin found in my Albuera book: 
"Arrivé au point d'attaque, le 5me corps change de direction par un mouvement de tete de colonne à droite; la Division Girard marche à l'ennemi en colonnes d'attaque. La 2me Division derierre, é 150 pas de distance, en colonnes d'attaque par bataillon." 
For the thread containing this post see: 
http://www.napoleon-series.org/cgi-bin/forum/archives_config.pl?read=91732 
The quote citation is 
Page 82 of 
Cambon, Jean. Jean-Pierre Maransin. Général de Division, baron d'Empire (1770-1828). Tarbes: Société académique des Hautes-Pyrénées, 1991. 
It be nice to know M. Cambon’s source for said quote. Guy states, in the same thread: 
The French text of the quote about the formations used by the 5th Corps which I provided [SHS: see above] comes directly from the original memoir, which I obtained from a French archive. 
 
G'Day Ralph, 
I would like to thank you in finding the definition for “colonne par regiment”...it was all I needed to fill in the blanks. 
You see...Lapene was correct up until the execution of a passage of lines...then Maransin informs Lapene of the preceding execution made by the 2nd division. 
Both divisions were originally formed en colonne par regiment...while they were manouvring... 
Then Girard’s division...once it was within range...marched in attack columns...with each regiment being an attack column....but the battalions were not in colonne d’attaque... 
Since you are well versed in the ligne de science...remember that according to the French Military System (doctrine)..the colonne d’attaque was a column for action, unlike the colonne par division...we then find in the Instructions of 1809; that the colonne par division en masse replaced the colonne d’attaque, thus making it a column of action as well. 
We also know that the colonne d’action was used with great success in the 1806 campaign...but dropped out of use in grand bodies of troops shortly afterward. Of course when the Federalists in America tried to gain control of the militia in order to suppress the political opposition to the Constitution of 1787. They formed their own militia companies using the colonne d’attaque as l’ordre hubituel in 1813...which is both surprising and quite interesting... 
So Girards division advanced en serre en masse par regiment 
One brigade formed on the left....one brigade formed on the right...all regiments formed in approaching columns. 
40eme--34eme----------xxeme--xxeme 
 40eme--34eme----------xxeme--xxeme 
Then as Gerard arrived near the enemy positions...the approaching columns (regiments) became attacking columns...or colonne d’attaque 
When the second division was given orders to prepare for a passage of lines...the battalions were already formed en colonne par regiment...the battalions opens up en colonne distance entiere...(if not already) and each platoon executes un movement de conversion...(right out the reglement)...and you then have the entire regiment en ligne...and then each battalion in the line ploys to colonne d’attaque...the battalions then wheeled into line and each battalion formed a colonne d’attaque... 
Jomini describes the term ...en colonnes d'attaque par bataillon...as a battalion formed en colonne d’attaque 
He makes it perfectly clear that he believes that if the French had formed their battalions in colonne d’attaque at Talavera, Bussaco, Fuente de Onor, Albuera (leading division), and at Waterloo that perhaps the conclusion would not have ended as it did. 
 "Arrivé au point d'attaque, le 5me corps change de direction par un mouvement de tete de colonne à droite; la Division Girard marche à l'ennemi en colonnes d'attaque. La 2me Division derierre, é 150 pas de distance, en colonnes d'attaque par bataillon." 
Military Theory and the Line of Science is quite fascinating (-at least for myself)... there is so much to learn in these matters...so I do hope that we shall be able find ourselves discussing other issues in the future. 
Respectfully Et Best Regards, 
 Art 
 
Je fus chargé d'attaquer avec l'infanterie; nous marchâmes en colonne centrale jusqu'à un quart portée du canon. Alors, comme nous perdions du monde, les généraux Dumouriez et Beurnonville m'ordonnèrent de faire déployer des colonnes. J'avoue qu'il est impossible de mieux exécuter un mouvement aussi compliqué et sous le feu très vif et très rapproché de 40 bouches à feu. Le mouvement se fit comme à une manœuvre de paix (1); je le commandai à 200 pas en avant de ma troupe, du côté de l'ennemi. Aussitôt que les huit bataillons eurent achevé le déploiement, je les fis marcher en avant et battre la charge; 
 
Account / relation de Dampierre :
 
Jonquière de la : La Bataille de Jemappes, Paris 1902, page 165
 
G'Day Jim
As I promised here is PART II
Synopsis for: l'etude de la colonne tranchee – Colonne d'Attaque and the Reglement de 1791
For the colonne d'attaque, I will only deal with the innovations and general principles from the French Revolution to the Empire.
It is commonly thought by the general forum that the principle benefits of the colonne d'attaque, was its ability to deploy both wings simultaneously before the enemy, thereby giving it potentially more fire power than a colonne par division while deploying into line. This is mainly due to the reason that most forum members conceive the colonne d'attaque as one single body of troops.
When referring to a colonne d' attaque (colonne tranchee in the Reglement de 1791), it is separated into two demi-bataillons.
When referring to a colonne d'attaque par bataillon (colonne tranchee in the Reglement de 1791), it is the entire battalion formed together. 
Since the colonne d'attaque was not a single body of troops, it is therefore contrary to the principles of the colonne d'attaque to be deployed on line in the French military system (doctrine).
Nowhere in the French repertoire is it found that a colonne d'attaque while assaulting the enemy position, was it to deploy en ligne of three ranks, but it could and did deploy en bataille sont deployer after executing a passage of lines, or charging the enemy.
On the other hand the colonne d'attaque par bataillon was expected to deploy in accordance to the old military system, but as the French became more efficient with their manoeuvres with their new system, it became nearly nonexistent, except when being staggered, or checked due to surprise.
Nevertheless French Generals and Commanders in the late Empire (documented in 1813) expected that their troops were to be trained weekly in maneouvres of the colonne d'attaque par bataillon. To be able to use musketry while deploying due to the possibility of being staggered, or checked due to surprise. 
The entire concept of the colonne d'attaque had two primary guiding principles:
First it had to have the ability for the bataillon to separate into two demi-bataillons, and secondly to protect itself while en bataillon isolé in a disposition against cavalry, whether as one bataillon or as two separated demi-bataillons.
Since the colonne d'attaque was divided into two separate bodies or demi-bataillons, the primary distance between the two demi-bataillons was 25 paces, and employed the bayonet in the assault..
When the colonne d'attaque marched, it was able to march to its front, rear, left, and to its right. If the colonne d'attaque was in closed column en mass, it could face any direction, simply by a demi tour a droite, vers la droite ou par un a gauche.
The peloton of grenadiers would be positioned centered behind the two small columns of demi-bataillons, or if the two demi-bataillons were manoeuvring separately, the grenadier peloton would then center behind one demi-bataillon.
During the Revolutionary period, a great body of troops would have the first line of battle entirely en tirailleur without any formed reserve, while the second line of battle was in colonne de attaque par bataillon or colonne d'attaque with grenadiers centered behind the two small columns. 
During the period of 1805 to 1807 the French developed a new Divisional System where a great body of troops, would no longer have the tirailleurs entirely deployed in the first line of battle, but now had a formed reserved, which was a colonne d'attaque. The battalion as a whole was capable of deploying one or two pelotons as skirmishers, since the bataillon was not in colonne d'attaque par bataillon.
If you recall in my prior posting, I pointed out that a colonne d'attaque was able to form square with an even or odd number of pelotons while separated in two demi-bataillons. This was also possible for a colonne d'attaque par bataillon.
In the light infantry instructions for a bataillon en colonne d'attaque (bataillon of 6 pelotons) with trailleurs en grande bande, it explains how the odd peloton or grenadier peloton was centered behind the two demi-bataillons. then the two demi-bataillons would form square if together or each demi-bataillon could form square in the same manner as a bataillon en colonne par pelotons:
‘Si un bataillon, marchant en colonne par pelotons, a distance entiere et la droite en tete, est harcele par la cavalerie, le chef de bataillon fera serre la colonne a distance de section…Le bataillon pourra continuer sa marche dans cet ordre, mais, si l'ennemi approache, le chef de bataillon fera serrer la colonne en masse…Si la charge s'annonce, le chef de bataillon arretera la colonne et commandera: formez le carre…Cette colonne est sans contredit plus solide, et peut-etre plus maniable que le carre simple, puisqu'elle peut, sans aucun mouvement preparatoire, marche en tous sens, changer de direction, augmenter ou resserrer les distances entre ses subdivisions etc. , comme les colonnes ordinaires. 
The new order called l'ordre francaise ou l'ordre perpendiculaire" now replaces the old ordre prussien in the French Divisional System of 1805, which officially permitted the colonne d'attaque to use all of its innovations. 
French Divisional System of 1805
Ligne d'approche ( skirmish chain )
2 obusiers – Tirailleurs – 2 batteries ( soit 12 canons ) – Tirailleurs – 2 obusiers
The parent bataillons of the Tirailleurs were formed in colonne d'attaque with a distance of 25 paces between each colonne, the grenadier peloton was centered to the front or rear of the two demi-bataillons . 
1ère Ligne de feu
one Régiment en ligne – one Régiment en ligne
2ème Ligne de choc
two Régiments with bataillons formed en colonne d'attaque par bataillon or two Régiments with bataillons formed en colonne d'attaque par régiment.
3ème Ligne en soutien ( if there was one )
Régiment de cavalerie de tirailleurs (to rally) -one Régiment with bataillons formed en colonne d'attaque par bataillon or Régiment with bataillons formed en colonne d'attaque par régiment. 
When the great body of troops were formed en colonnes serrées et de la ligne déployée, en colonne vuide (such as the one formed by Marechal Macdonald in 1809), or in a "Flanking Brigade", the bataillons were en colonne d'attaque par bataillon ready to form colonne d'attaque and separate into demi-bataillons if needed, so as to be in a disposition against cavalry, or deploy tirailleurs. 
Of course the variations for how the great body of troops were formed when in a colonnes serrées et de la ligne déployée, colonne vuide, or even in the Flanking Brigade, all depended upon the general situation, and due to l'ordre perpendiculaire, the repertoire of options increased. 
Next comes Part III
Best Regards
 Art
 
 
artpdn
27 Jan 2015 1:59 p.m. PST 
 Formularbeginn
 
 Formularende
 
 
 Formularbeginn
 
 Formularende
 
G'Day Gents…
Sorry for being late, but I was   off and about..
The colonne d'attaque is found to be in   existence as early as 1701, and was called various names as e.g.,   "colonne Folard", "colonne couplee", "ordre de   charge", "ordre de choc", colonne epagogique" , "colonne   de marche", "colonne sur le centre", "colonne   accolees", colonne jumelle", "colonne simple",   "colonne double", colonne serree, colonne d'action, colonne   d'ordonnance, colonne en masse, colonne par divisions, colonne serree en masse,   colonne tranchee, and the list can go on…
"The term of attack column is   quite vague, and it is a term that has more than one interpretation. Which   always served to express an unspecified quantity of troops in any order of   march. It doesn't have to be only one battalion, nor is it a term that has an   exact sequence per-determined for combat in a battle." 
In most accounts during an   engagement it was normally associated with any assaulting column, whether a   small body or great body of troops.
But when one is referring to a   "Tactical Column", there are 12 sub-categories, each with a general   principle, general rules, and each used with a defined tactical purpose.
As for why I only use French   terms, about two years ago there was a topic about French formations and   everyone attempted to use the English name for French columns and it was a   disaster, which Bill can attest to, there was an individual who had read that   Napoleon in Italy had used the colonne par compagnie, and thought it meant a   colonne par pelotons, or column of platoons, and one error manifested into   many, became heated by all Anglophones, and that is when I decided never to   attempt to use the inappropriate English translation.
As an example; quite often an   observer in an action / battle with an untrained eye to French columns, would   refer to an advancing column as a column of platoons incorrectly, when in   fact it was perhaps a colonne d'aile, or colonne simple deployed, and each of   these colonnes have a tactical purpose. 
(I did make one typo which has   created confusion, and it should read: – Why would the French start their   movement in colonne par regiment (peloton) and not colonne par bataillon or   colonne d'attaque par bataillon?…sorry about that)
I mentioned four coonnes in my   last posting, sub-categories, that belong to a "Tactical Column"   but I shall add two more: 
1….colonne par bataillon: which includes   colonne par regiment, colonne d'attaque par bataillon, which also includes   colonne par demi-bataillon.
- a colonne par regiment: is a   regiment that is a single colonne with one lead command, each bataillon is a   sub-tactical element of the colonne, such as a division is to a bataillon.   The regiment has each battalion formed in colonne par pelotons or colonne par   divisions, aligned side by side with an interval of 8 toises or approximately   16 meters
- a colonne par bataillons: is a   regiment (there are a few recorded exceptions' that this formation consisted   of a brigade) this is a single colonne with one lead command, each bataillon   is a sub-tactical element of the colonne, and is formed from bataillons in a   colonne par divisons, either directe or renversee. The regiment has each   battalion formed one behind the other at distance of 30 to 40 paces
- a colonne d'attaque par   bataillons: is a regiment that is a single colonne with one lead command,   each bataillon is a sub-tactical element of the colonne, and is formed from   bataillon in colonne d'attaque. The regiment has each battalion formed one   behind the other at distance of 30 to 40 paces
- a colonne par demi-bataillon: is   a bataillon formed with one demi-bataillon trailing the other by 30 to 40   paces 
2…colonne d'attaque: formed on its   center, which is also called a colonne simple or colonne d'ordonnance when   referring to its sub-category called tranchee , such as a colonne par   compagnies (four small colonnes)
3…colonne directe: which is a   colonne par pelotons or colonne par divisions with the right leading.
4…colonne renversee: which is a   colonne par pelotons or colonne par divisions with the left leading
5…colonne double: is a colonne   simple / colonne d'ordonnance deployed in two colonne de pelotons at 25 paces   or more.
6…colonne d'aile: a colonne par   pelotons that is an open column for a flanking action. 
Now that everyone has an   understanding of how these colonnes are formed, you may take the   British/American/Prussian/Russian equivalent and use their general rules and   to determine how each of these colonnes are expected to be used in a tactical   role…and at the Battle of Albuera…
Meaning that it was not a case   of…'hmmm today I feel in the mood to use a colonne par divisions…" ;-) 
As for what it means to deploy or   ploy for the French: to deploy means an increase in a body's frontage, while   ploy means to decrease a body's frontage. Therefore it is possible for a   colonne par regiment to ploy to colonne par bataillons. Or a colonne simple   to deploy to a colonne double or colonne par compagnies.
Why is it important to understand   how tiraillerus were detached from a bataillon, because it affects the   bataillon structure and its role. 
Werles had a detached bataillon   d'elites, so it affects those line bataillons that detached the grenadier   compagnies, their position in the order of battle, and thier new role. 
We also have the British siting   examples of French soldiers leaving a bataillon…therefore one can actually   understand to a fuller degree what was actually transpiring, depending if it   was colonne simple or colonne directe…
I believe that it was observed   that a body of troops was formed in a ‘column of platoons"…now we know   there are three reasons for such a formation to be used…
Right……
Prior to 1804 there were 8   sub-divisions or Fusilier pelotons in a battalion (grenadiers not included).   The French battalion and demi-battalion were required to have 4 divisions   while in column manoeuvring, and the general principles of the structures from   the sub-divisions in a French Battalion only permitted tirailleurs to be   detached from the third ranks only. 
When the Battalion was formed en   bataille, the tirailleurs had to return because the profounder of a battalion   in line had to be 3 ranks deep; therefore tirailleurs came from a leger   battalion, the battalion's grenadier peloton, or another battalion formed in   column, such as a battalion in column from the 2nd battle line. 
When a voltiguer company was added   to the battalion; when the battalion was in column, 4 divisions were still   required. Therefore there were two ways in which to detach tirailleurs. The   first way was by tirailleurs en compagnie-peloton, taking from the third   rank. 
The second method was to totally   detach the voltigeur peloton and have the voltigeurs become a compagnie. This   execution now requires a single fusilier peloton to become the 4 division on   its own, to form in the rear, centered on the third division. Once the   voltigeurs are totally detached, then the fusilier pelotons are not permitted   to detach from the battalion column en tirailleurs en compagnie-peloton (from   the third rank). –but now we know they did…which is very important 
When the battalion changed to six   pelotons, the battalion was under the regles d'endivisionnement and needed   three divisions when in column. Under the regles; this means that when a   battalion was en colonne par division, the grenadier peloton could not detach   itself, it had to be in colonne d'attaque without going against the general   principles (the endivisionnement of a fusilier and grenadier peloton was   considered wrong by military theorist). 
Only one peloton from the 3rd   division (the voltigeur peloton and a fusilier peloton) was permitted to   detach en tirailleur . When the peloton was detached, it was the entire   peloton en compagnie-division, which required the other peloton to become the   3rd divison and remained centered behind the 2nd division.
Because of this, everyone is   misunderstanding Davouts correspondence of 1811. Battalion Commanders were detaching tirailluers   en compagnie-peloton, which was breaking the regles d'endivisionnement, and   article 7, du décret impérial du 18 février 1808. 
Therefore the fusiliers that were   in the same division as the voltigeurs, were to assist in the duties of the   voltigeurs. This means that the fusiliers now had to learn how to operate as   tirailleurs en compagnie-division, and not to be detached later as   tirailleurs en peloton-compagnie, which did happen. 
Bill, At the Battle of Albuera the   French advanced in colonne par regiment (peloton), next ployed to colonne   d'attaque par bataillon, then deployed to colonne de attaque. Examples of   these colonnes are found in all battles.
Best Regards
   Art

Hello H-K,

i agree it's not as scientific as it seems, there is nevertheless a real science on the part of the commanders, about what column to use, when, in what context .

The list is simply intended as some sort of cartography of the French repertoire, for anyone wanting to dig the subject.

I also strongly agree with the idea/need of skimming "quite a few memoirs", talk about an understatement ! 😁

it was a pain to find infos for the colonne par regiment, and it's also a pain to find precise details for colonne par bataillon-colonne par bataillons ... *if* someone has materials on those two columns, please don't hesitate to post them here .. in contrast sub diversionary columns are easy.

here's a plate for n° 3-2-14, which seems to match with Bardin description, and which is clearly noted as is. (from Meunier).

We would have to skim quite a few memoirs as to what kind of columns the French did employ, their terms might me not as scientific was we think, a colonne d'attaque might differ from the drill regulations - this interesting, Vionnet did command a Young Guard regiment, in case the first two pelotons are in skirmish order, that woud leave just a line of two pelotons - I wouldn't describe it as colomme serrée par division then.

Colonne serrée par division
 
 
L’ennemi occupait le Gros-Garden, jardin qui n’est pas à une portée de pistolet de la porte, il faisait un feu de file terrible et son artillerie tirait à mitraille sans discontinuer. Ce fut en débouchant de la porte et sous un feu de plus meurtrier que le régiment se forma en colonne serrée par division et au pas de course ; le deux premiers pelotons furent envoyés en tirailleurs, le premier bataillon marcha à l’angle du bois et le second se porta droit à l’ennemi qui fait culbuté sur tous les points. (Schlacht bei Dresden, Junge Garde)
 
Vionnet de Maringoné : Campagnes de Russie et de Saxe (1812 – 1813) Paris 1899 (google books.) p. 125 ff (google 156)

A-To follow, it seems useful to give a "framework" to locate the main categories of troop columns

1- SKEUOPHORIC COLUMN

2- STRATEUMATIC COLUMN

3- TACTICAL COLUMN

B- Then, we can detail the subcategory of the tactical column

3-1: Compact column

3-2: Epagogical column

C - We continue with the sub-subcategories of Epagogical columns

3-2-1: Direct column

3-2-2: Reverse column

3-2-3: Attack column

3-2-4: Sub-Divisional column

------- 3-2-4-1: column by Section

------- 3-2-4-2: column by Platoon

------- 3-2-4-3: column by Division

------- 3-2-4-4: column by Half-Battalion (?)

3-2-5: - column of attack formed on the center

3-2-6: - Retirement column formed on the center

3-2-7: wing column

3-2-8: Route column

3-2-9: Open Column

3-2-10: Half-Open Column

3-2-11: Tight column

3-2-12: Double column

3-2-13: Mesoplésionaire column

3-2-14: column by Battalion (?)

3-2-15: column by Regiment (?)

3-2-12: Battalions column of attack

---

are there any missing columns ?