French Basing Convention V1

Williamite Warfare
A Proto-linear system
French
Early & Late Franco-Dutch Wars 1672-78 (V.1)
Formations & Basing Conventions

Foot
Innovation and reform through the 1660s saw the French infantry battalion arrayed in five to six (5-6) ranks to give fire in either Caracole or Fire by Ranks delivery systems. With a narrower, more square formation than their Dutch counterparts, Williamite Warfare recommends representing Louis battalions five (5) deep which was to be consistent for the French army throughout the Franco-Dutch campaigns. The French administrative unit was the regiment which had one or more battalions each older regiments generally having several. Uniformity in battalion size was largely non-existent. The number and sizes on companies per battalion varied from two (2) through to twenty (20) companies but generally companied number between 45-50 men. The effectiveness of the French battalions even with a six deep formation was due to their size in this period the average official strength in 1678 being 902 all ranks half as big as their Dutch rivals1. At 1:20 troop scale representation we have an average 46 figures for the French battalion as follows: 12 pikemen (1:4 ratio) and 34 musketeers (including 2 ensigns, one drummer and an officer). All non-pike armed foot count as musketeers for fire calculations and whilst musketeers are identified in the following diagrams as M this does not limit their replacement by additional officers or sergeants. Whilst it remains popular amongst WAB gamers to base figures individually and utilise movement trays, Williamite Warfare strongly recommends the following basing conventions to allow for the three standard formations of Give Fire, March Array and Pike Defence. The Command base (Ensigns, Drummer and Colonel) are based four figures wide by one deep (4x1): Pikemen based in sixes, two figures wide and three deep (2x3); the Musketeers based three figures wide with two three deep (3x3) and two, two deep (3x2). Alternatively, pike blocks may be based in two bases of 4x4 and two of 2x1 to aid casualty removal. Similarly, musketeers may be arranged in four bases of 6x2 and two bases of 3x1.
Exceptions
There will be numerous exceptions and research may indicate sufficient details to field actual numbers for some battles. Specific diagrams for particular unit formations will feature in special postings on the Williamite Warfare Blog as they are developed.
Marechal de Puysegur: Art of War (as cited by David Chandler in The Art of Warfare in the Age of Marlborough).
Williamite Warfare
Give Fire
The usual formation to give fire using Caracole or Rolling Rank Fire is pikemen to the centre and rear with two sleeves of muskets (see Figure A). Note that the command element (officers, ensigns and drummers) counts as musketeers.
M M M M M
M M M M M
M M M M M
E P P P
D P P P
O P P P
E P P P
M M M M M
M M M M M
M M M M M
Figure A
March Array
Alternatively, a battalion might array its pike to the flanks (Figure B) but this was usually when deploying from march column when flank attach by enemy horse was guarded against en route. It will be rare in the field of battle once hostilities had commenced and should not be confused with the narrower frontage utilised in a column of march by divisions. E P P P P P P M M M M M M M M M M D M M M M M O M M M M M E M M M M M M M M M M P P P P P P Figure B
Pike Defence (Square)

In defence, and formed during the movement phase (not as a reaction to charge) a battalion may form into square. This is not the square of the later eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and wont look like it in this system (see Figure C). It is represented by moving the command rank to the centre, the pike to the front and drawing the musketeers with their backs to the centre facing outwards under the shelter of the pikes.
Williamite Warfare
P M M M M M M M M M P P E M M M
P P P D M M M
P P P O M M M
P P P E M M M M M M M M M M M M Figure C
Horse
No great detail is required for the cavalry formations of the Dutch in this period and both Dragoons (when mounted) and Horse arrayed themselves similarly. The two table-top formations will be the single squadron or demi-squadron in either line or column.
Squadron
Line
Column
Demi-Squadron
Line 3
Williamite Warfare
Column
Battle Order
The French army of this period followed the universally applied battle array which was to remain a constant throughout the Williamite period the cross or chequer formation. The army would deploy infantry two or even three lines with spacing between each battalion in line equivalent to a battalion frontage, the next line offsetting its battalions to cover the gaps and so forth. Cavalry were to the flanks and rear ready to charge and fight through the gaps.

French Basing Convention V1

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French Basing Convention V1

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Williamite Warfare

Formations & Basing Conventions

Pike Defence (Square)

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