Hello, supposing a French division of two brigades is deploying in the conventional two lines of battalions, can anyone point me to any guidance, regulations etc. that determine a preference for either the brigades deployed one behind the other or the brigades deployed next to each other?
Many thanks
Good day Scott,
Do you have a mean to share your notes on that question, ie. brigade formations ?!
To go further on those elements, one need to check the type of columns used in the context of brigade(s):Division(s) dispositions ..
see for example Shauenbourg instructions, and instruction # 19 for the type of column used in the second Line of Battle
https://www.austerlitz.org/download/schauenbourg.pdf
in the switch from order in column (ordre en colonne) to order in battle (ordre en Bataille), the commander should have (or not) anticipated the kind of deployment suited to his "mission", the disposition of the great body of troops before deploying in order of battle would influence the final battle array acted upon under various circumstances.