Hi Chris,

the question you pose re the clash of the 52nd with the guard at Waterloo deserves a simple answer but there are a number of facets to bear in mind.

A French line battalion of 1812-15 would of course have its own light company which could of couse deploy wholly or partly in skirmish order. If it was expected that enemy cavalry would be in the vacinity then perhaps half of the company would stay in line, say 100m in the rear of the skirmish line. In theory, if the voltigeurs were deployed in this way then the battalion column is unable to use the column of 'divisions',column of campanies would be used.The former formation was used in the later period as it gave the battalion greater firepower and it enable a battalion line to be formed more quickly.

Part 2

As regards the actual attack you refer too, the french unit was a battalion of the Chasseurs of the Guard, which being a light Infantry unit, each company could deploy into skirmish order.However, a least one very creditable source( a senior french officer who took part in the attack writing in 1821) states that the guard actually advanced in open square!(remember what had happened to D'erlons corps in the morning), and therefore it isn't likley that a seperate company or the third rank of each company would be delployed as it would have ruined the integrity of the formation.

It is quite possible that the skirmishers were from other formations which had been badly depleted in the days fighting and joined the attack of the guard in an ad hoc way, rather like a general advance, Officers and men who wished to continue the fight but whose higher formations were no longer present or willing to advance. When the 52nd wheeled into line on the flank of the guard it would have made sense for such sub-units to have moved to counter the attack.

I am sure other members can think of other factors to discuss as weel.

Hope that the above helps, though it might not!

David

Thanks Keith/David that information fills some holes in my knowledge, I guess it also goes to say that we cant really re-enact such manoeuvres in current numbers and without joint practice with voltigeur/ light inft. type units, which despite their regular attendance at similar events act seemingly totally independantly of our line column formations, there is little opportunity to work/ practice together at such events even assuming there is a willingness to do so. So much to read, so much to learn, so much to try, what a great hobby.
Christopher

According to Siborne "Letters from Waterloo" the 52nd Foot wheeled forward to form a line on the flank of the column, they then deployed skirmishers moving them forward quickly to fire into the flank of the column "at any range" ( the intention being to disrupt the advance rather than to cause heavy casualties) the left wing of the column then wheeled into line opened fire on the 52nd, they apparently lost about 150 men in 3 or 4 minutes. The column was then attacked in front (by 3 or 4 companies of the 95th supported by the 71st).

In conclusion it would appear that the Guard remained in line rather than deployed as skirmishers.

Keith