I hope someone can shade a light on this subject.
The only detailled battle report i read (Bressonnet's study as discussed by Gen Petain) mentions the Schmettau's division deployed in two lines (one brigade per line) and approaching the Hassenhausen-Spielberg road in that formation, possibly with the schuetzen converged in a light unit to cover the left side. After the "parade" firefight arisen between the front brigade and the french defending the line, it says the second brigade was intermixed with the first occupying the spaces left in the first line.
Same process for the Prince Henry's brigade which came to support the left side.
Now, was this a common way to fight for the prussian before the 1812 reform or just an excemption due to battle constrain. Could be that the battalions of the second line were employed one by one as the first line began to open spaces due to movement and losses. I know prussian style was rather strict and geometrically so this report looks strange to me.
Furthermore where the grenadier battalion usually deployed? On the firing line or in the rear to support a weak point?
Maybe in Jany and Hopfner this subject is covered as well.
Thanks
Riccardo
The only detailled battle report i read (Bressonnet's study as discussed by Gen Petain) mentions the Schmettau's division deployed in two lines (one brigade per line) and approaching the Hassenhausen-Spielberg road in that formation, possibly with the schuetzen converged in a light unit to cover the left side. After the "parade" firefight arisen between the front brigade and the french defending the line, it says the second brigade was intermixed with the first occupying the spaces left in the first line.
Same process for the Prince Henry's brigade which came to support the left side.
Now, was this a common way to fight for the prussian before the 1812 reform or just an excemption due to battle constrain. Could be that the battalions of the second line were employed one by one as the first line began to open spaces due to movement and losses. I know prussian style was rather strict and geometrically so this report looks strange to me.
Furthermore where the grenadier battalion usually deployed? On the firing line or in the rear to support a weak point?
Maybe in Jany and Hopfner this subject is covered as well.
Thanks
Riccardo
Kommentar