05-29-2013, 09:46 AM
A "column" could be any formation that has a "reduced" frontage. It need not have a depth that is more than its frontage because the comparison is made with the line, that is by default (in our case) extended for hundreds of yards - see Napoleonic columns for example. Of course you are right too, since sometimes terms may have multiple meanings, in which case, like now, clarification is necessary.
Unfortunately I do not know Latin, although I wish I could say "it was Greek to me", so I cannot comment on your interpretation. However, I wrote in the "Early Republic Army Depl." thread that "
"Thickening of the ranks would have been implemented in all ways proposed, even by lengthening the line for hundreds of yards, which often happened in antiquity for tactical reasons. Open maniples in open formation 24 deep would easily reform into open maniples in close formation 12 deep, which in turn as easily would reform into closed maniples in close formation 6 deep once the skirmishers had been recalled. And if open order was preferred for any tactical reason one could propose or imagine, closed maniples in open order 12 deep would be a choice. And then of course one should also think of the option to array in an internal checkerboard formation, which would mean that the files would not side step into the files next to them but just retreat to half the distance of the back rank, effectively forming a line 6 deep with 12 ranks in open formation. "
In my opinion, all these would have been used as circumstances dictated (march, advance at a distance of the enemy, charge - attack, retreat, open terrain, rough terrain, marching up a slope etc etc). As for the depths I choose to use, they are of little importance, as I simply take 6 as a base and you 8, which plays no role in the interpretation of the mechanics.
Unfortunately I do not know Latin, although I wish I could say "it was Greek to me", so I cannot comment on your interpretation. However, I wrote in the "Early Republic Army Depl." thread that "
"Thickening of the ranks would have been implemented in all ways proposed, even by lengthening the line for hundreds of yards, which often happened in antiquity for tactical reasons. Open maniples in open formation 24 deep would easily reform into open maniples in close formation 12 deep, which in turn as easily would reform into closed maniples in close formation 6 deep once the skirmishers had been recalled. And if open order was preferred for any tactical reason one could propose or imagine, closed maniples in open order 12 deep would be a choice. And then of course one should also think of the option to array in an internal checkerboard formation, which would mean that the files would not side step into the files next to them but just retreat to half the distance of the back rank, effectively forming a line 6 deep with 12 ranks in open formation. "
In my opinion, all these would have been used as circumstances dictated (march, advance at a distance of the enemy, charge - attack, retreat, open terrain, rough terrain, marching up a slope etc etc). As for the depths I choose to use, they are of little importance, as I simply take 6 as a base and you 8, which plays no role in the interpretation of the mechanics.
