Types of military forces in the Napoleonic Wars

The types of military forces in the Napoleonic Wars represented the unique tactical use of distinct military units, or their origin within different European regions. By and large the military forces during the period had not changed significantly from those of the 18th century, although their employment would differ significantly.

Military forces during the Napoleonic Wars consisted largely of the three principal combat arms, and several combat support services, and included the infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineers, and logistics troops which were called the army train during the period. The period gave a start to what are today military staffs to help administer and organise forces in the field and in garrisons, and supervise training of conscripts and recruits. Much of the staff work was performed by staff officers and often Aide-de-camps to senior officers, and included the officers of the Quartermaster general.

Combat Arms

Combat Arms of the Napoleonic Armies were those troops that did most of the killing and dying on the battlefields of the wars. For most of the troops this meant either facing their enemy's musket and rifle fire at about 150 yards, being fired on by artillery firing cannon balls and canister ammunition, or fighting with the sabres, lances and bayonets.

Infantry

The infantry Arm during the Napoleonic Wars had stopped using the grenades of the previous century, and was largely divided into the "infantry of the line" which fought in close order formation, and "light infantry" which fought as skirmishers in open order. Although many units were named guards, they functionally confirmed to the division of the close and open order formation, with light troops often assuming the close order also. More notable were the grenadier units which traditionally had the pick of the largest and strongest conscripts and recruits although this changed over the course of the wars to include the more experienced soldiers.

* Grenadiers:The grenadier units had, by the time of the Napoleonic Wars, ceased using the hand-thrown grenades, and were largely known for being composed of physically big men.

* Infantry of the Line:Infantry of the line were so named for the dominant combat formation used to deliver a volume of musket fire. Forming the bulk of the Napoleonic armies it was the primary offensive and defensive Arm available to the commanders during the period. Movement in line formation was very slow, and unless the battalion was superbly trained, a breakdown in cohesion was virtually assured, especially in any kind of uneven or wooded terrain. As a result, when movement over such terrain was required over a significant distance troops would move in columns and then deploy into line at their destination.

:In addition, the line formation was extremely vulnerable to cavalry charges, particularly from the flanks and rear, and these attacks usually resulted in the complete breakdown of cohesion and even destruction of the unit unless it was able to "form square".

* Light infantry :The light infantry variously known in different armies by different names where first introduced into the regular armies during the wars of the 18th century as irregular troops, but became permanent parts of regular Napoleonic armies either as units in their own right, or as companies in the line infantry battalions, but always perceiving themselves as elite troops due to being required to engage the enemy in small groups ahead of the other troops, requiring greater initiative.

Cavalry

The cavalry of the period had retained its role from the 19th century, although the mounted grenadiers had also abandoned their grenades, and only retaining their names. For the most part the cavalry were an offensive Arm, either used to find the enemy, or as a manoeuvre force to deliver a physical shock to the infantry, dependent mostly on their sabres and lances for causing casualties. The largest component of all armies during the period were the dragoons, but due to lack of adequate sized horses light cavalry soon became a large part of the armies.

* Battle cavalry:Battle cavalry were all cavalry units that mounted large horses and were used to deliver a physical shock to either enemy cavalry or infantry. They were so called from the 18th century belief that they were the decides of the battle, always kept as a final reserve to be used to break the enemy ranks. Although many still wore the cuirass, and therefore many regiments were called "cuirassiers" during the previous century, and were descendants of armoured cavalry before them, many like the carabiniers did not, and were later referred by writers as "heavy cavalry" for the size of their horses.

* Dragoons:Dragoons were the less glamorous but most numerically significant part of the cavalry Arm although their origin was in mounted infantry. Due to lack of horseflesh in Europe, during the period dragoons were used in both the battle cavalry role and the role of light cavalry in addition to their traditional role. Through the period they always retained their characteristically long dragoon muskets unlike the carbines used by other cavalry.

* Light cavalry:Possibly the best dressed of all the Napoleonic troops, the light cavalry epitomised the period, particularly the hussars which were now found in all armies and were not recruited in Hungary except by the army of Austria. Notable among the light cavalry were the Uhlans which were armed with lances and Cossacks that proved to be among the best troops to use in harassing the enemy lines of communication and conducting raids.

Artillery

Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars continued to use the cannons and howitzers of the previous century. These were smooth-bore, heavy, cast artillery pieces moved by limbers, usually at a slow pace.

* Siege artillery:Siege artillery were very heavy cannon, howitzer and mortar artillery pieces used to force surrender of fortresses during a siege.

* Field artillery:Field artillery usually employed cannons and howitzers to fire directly into visible enemy troops, firing either ball or canister ammunition measured in the weight of the cannon ball (in pounds). The heavier pieces were sometimes known as "position artillery" and were deployed in the same position for the duration of the battle due to the difficulty of moving them.

* Horse artillery:Artillery in which the crews rode rather then walked with their pieces became known as horse artillery, and was also an innovation of the previous century, but became more widespread during the Napoleonic Wars. Usually attached to the cavalry units to provide them with supporting fire from smaller cannon then their field artillery counterparts, they rarely if ever galloped around the battlefield due to the high probability of their heavy pieces overturning and causing numerous casualties on the surrounding troops standing in close order formations.

upport Services

Support services were all the multitude of troops that ensured the Combat Arms could manoeuvre and fight.

* Administrative staffs:The administrative staffs of the armies were largely responsible for the operational matters relating to the conduct of campaigns such as obtaining intelligence, transmitting orders, and ensuring the delivery of ammunition to troops.

* Quartermaster staffs:The quartermaster staffs during the period were largely responsible for ensuring the armies had adequate living quarters and provisions (water, food and clothing) for troops and animals to continue the campaign. They also often served in the intelligence gathering capacity as Quartermaster scouts due to their need to be located somewhat ahead of the marching troops when surveying the locations for suitable camp-sites or bivouacs.

* Engineers:Usually part of the artillery Arm, the military engineers were responsible for the building and destruction of field defences, conduct of sieges, and construction and demolition of bridges.

* Pontonniers:The pontonniers continued in their 18th century role of erecting the pontoons that were used to cross rivers where no bridge was available, or where one was destroyed by the enemy.

* Sappers :Sappers, also known as pioneers, were originally the troops that were used for digging trenches and fortifications during sieges. By the time of the Napoleonic Wars a detachment of sappers was usually serving with infantry and cavalry regiments to help with demolition of gates and fences to allow easier movement by these units. A distinctive piece of equipment of a sapper was the axe, usually a double-handed implement with a broad head.

* Miners:Less well known during the period, the military miners had a long history, and were used to mine the tunnels during sieges in which the explosive charges were emplaced to demolish parts of the fortification's wall, creating a breach.

* The army train:The Army train was the Service that ensured, with varying degree of efficiency during the period, of delivering to the troops everything they could not carry themselves. Often divided among the regimental and general trains, the French Service was considered the best in Europe during the period.

*Medical services:Although the military medical services ware rudimentary during the Wars, they existed, and the experience of military doctors and surgeons during the conflicts contributed significantly to advancement of medical science later in the century.

Irregular troops

Although arguably the best known of the troops that did not serve as permanent parts of the Napoleonic armies were the Cossacks, almost all major armies of the period employed these, with the Spanish guerrilleros later giving their name to a new form of guerrilla warfare.

Further reading

* Muir, Rory, "Tactics and the Experience of Battle in the Age of Napoleon", Yale University Press, London, 2000
* Black, Jeremy, "European warfare 1660-1815", Yale University Press, London, 1994
* von Pivka, Otto, "Armies of the Napoleonic Era"David & Charles, Newton Abbot, Devon, 1979
* Hughes, B.P., (MajGen, ret.), "Firepower: Weapons effectiveness on the battlefield, 1630-1850", Arms & Armour Press, 1974
* Rothenberg, Gunther E., "Napoleon's great adversaries: The Archduke Charles and the Austrian Army 1792-1814", B.T. Batsford Ltd., London, 1982