Idea for next campaign season.
I actually found the battle and drill at Detling boring. This came as quite a shock.
Can I suggest (without knowing really what work is involved)
a) skirmishing & escalade tactics
b) use of musket and bayonet at close quarters
c) true picket duty and rotation routines
d) fencing and sword work.
Perhaps a workshop day on these and better themes. Not a criticism on anybody just thinking of variety and historical interest.
and maybe one extra: how to kill english gun crews that keep coming on even after been overrun several times would be useful.
Christopher

good points Christopher will need to be discussed obviously re the "enemy" cooperation will have to be agreed before hand I feet it best to talk with individual units for special actions on the field is the best approach. But more will have to be discussed. you raised good points

Hi Cristopher
When we had to do drill at Detling it would help if other French units attending did their bit. This would take the pressure off the N.c.o's and unit . The length of time we had to cover was far too much for one unit. Granted there were British units doing their bit, but only the light units doing skirmish order, we are a line unit not light infantry, we do use skirmishers from time to time but not that much. We also had new members who need drill experience so to suddenly jump into new things would be very confusing for them. We could try these ideas in the camp but for me not in the hours of drill. (My view only of course)James

Thanks for the feedback guys, I want us to explore different things, outside the main drill displays or have a one day workshop on these ideas e.g. has anybody tried climbing a ladder with a musket and hobnails ? has anybody explored what you need to do to deflect a bayonet thrust ? do we know how to mount a picket and all that ? third campaign in and I want to explore these type of things (as well as line into column, column into line, demi tour, chargez en douze temps which we must always be on top of).
Vive l'empereur
Christopher

The purpose of the drill is to make a unch of individuals look like a unit of soldiers. We have the problem that we're not together every day for months on end, and that we have new recruits at almost every event, so that when we are together we have to put in the time to bring the Regiment up to scratch and perform as a fully trained unit during the battle.

I agree that the "Battalion" drill on the final day can be incredibly boring, though contemporary reports suggest that the average soldier considered every day, even battle-days, pretty much the same, so perhaps we've got that bit right.

Skirmishing, I agree we could do more skirmishing, it would give me a chance to fire off more cartidges, we need to think about what sort of skirmishing we should portray.

Keith

Keith