Roman Army Drill

[Crispvs]

"(although the sqaure was used to great effect in the European armies in the Napoleonic era but please don't ask me to cite the VERY last use...my source is 1871)"

OT I know, but just to update your final date, when my great grandfather was killed in 1903 his unit had retreated in good order in the face of a vastly numerically superior enemy for around three and a half miles before they were finally overwealmed by the Mad Mullah's forces. They formed square when first charged by the Mullah's cavalry and then maintained the square to perform a fighting retreat. The effectiveness of the square as late as 1903 is demonstrated by the fact that they managed to cover three and a half miles before numbers were sufficiently reduced that the full formation could not be maintained. It was only after the square was broken they could no longer maintain a sufficient defence. The Mullah's army numbered thousands and they probably surrounded the square to attack it from all sides. So, still in use as an effective defence as late as 1903, despite the amount of lead flying about in both directions.

Sorry to drag this OT

Crispvs