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The new issue of America’s Civil War has an article on the battle of Kolb’s Farm. In this engagement the 123rd N.Y. and the 14th Ky. (U.S.) were ordered out in a strong skirmish line. When they were forced to withdraw the commander of the 14th reported that they fell back in orderly fashion “from the left by companies.”
Would this not be a very complicated maneuver under fire? With an entire regiment on the skirmish line the front would be very long and in the terrain they were in (heavy woods, marshes, hills) command and control would seem to be very near impossible. A regimental size skirmish line could cover a between ¼ and ½ mile. It is important to remember that these troops were not falling back to a new line but, according to Rice Bull of the 123rd “We continued to run, with them calling on us to surrender.”
Is it possible that this was actually by the left of companies to the rear rather than from the left by companies? By the left of companies to the rear would put the company into column to the rear. They could be halted, faced about, and by company into line. While this would also be rather cumbersome, at least the Captain would have his men together instead of an extended skirmish line that be would be in danger of loosing control and would also mask the main line.
I have no reason to doubt the words of someone who was there but I wonder if something changed in transcription.
Would this not be a very complicated maneuver under fire? With an entire regiment on the skirmish line the front would be very long and in the terrain they were in (heavy woods, marshes, hills) command and control would seem to be very near impossible. A regimental size skirmish line could cover a between ¼ and ½ mile. It is important to remember that these troops were not falling back to a new line but, according to Rice Bull of the 123rd “We continued to run, with them calling on us to surrender.”
Is it possible that this was actually by the left of companies to the rear rather than from the left by companies? By the left of companies to the rear would put the company into column to the rear. They could be halted, faced about, and by company into line. While this would also be rather cumbersome, at least the Captain would have his men together instead of an extended skirmish line that be would be in danger of loosing control and would also mask the main line.
I have no reason to doubt the words of someone who was there but I wonder if something changed in transcription.