Attached 6 Pounders

[david53]

Hi There

Just wondered if anyone can confirm what I have just found.

Reference:"Napoleon's Invasion of Russia," George F. Nafziger, Presidia Press, Navato, CA, 1988.

That Westfalian units in the 24th Division of VIII Corp had 2 x 6 Pounders attached to the following Infantry Regiments 2nd,3rd,6th and 7th.

If true was it common for regiments to have attached artillery still in this period.

Dave

[hazelbark]

don't know about that example. But it was not uncommon for sections of batteries to be employed in unison with infantry and operate apart from their battery. i.e. the battery often was not all in one place on the battlefield.

[david53]

Would this be the idea of the artillery attachment then?

[PeachPitParker]

I like to use "Napoleonic Armies: A Wargamer's Campaign Directory 1805-1815" by Ray Johnson. It also mentions these 6lb attachments and in his bibliography, I found these citations for Westphalia if this is the army you are interested in (I also recommend any book by Otto von Pivka such as "Armies of the Napoleonic Period for uniforms):
G Nafziger and M Gilbert "The Bavarian and Westphalian Armies 1799-1815 Rafm 1961
F Lunsmann "Die Armee des Konigreichs Westfalen 1807-1813" Leddion 1935

[david53]

Thanks for that I do have a few of the referances you have given I will look into seeing if i can get hold of the german text. I have also noted that the Saxon army had these attachments but 4pdr cannon.

regards

dave

[MikeHorah]

Would this be the idea of the artillery attachment then?

Not really. Regimental or battalion guns were usually manned by infantry. They were common in the 1790s in many armies usually ligther pieces like 3 pounders .They helped with the morale of the infantry but caused little damage to the enemy and could not concentrate their fire being in pairs mostly. They had fallen out of use by the main imperial period but Napoleon did reintroduce them for 1812. However they were a logistical drag. They still needed horses and waggons a which could become scareon campaign ( as in 1812) and were often the first thing to be ditched when the march got tough .

Attachments are more than that. They are " proper " artillery assigned to a sub divisional fomation either going forward with it or in defense in the line of battle , sometimes in sections or just as often whole batteries . A FOG(N) small unit is 12-19 guns and is artillery of position.Not immobile but not controlled by officers below Divisonal level. The batteries themselves could be used in either role so its about how they were used commanded and allocated on a given day and so not part of the formal infantry " establishment".