My Sources

[Gene]

I've received a lot of email asking about my sources. Most were kind in their request, inquiring as if prompted by curiosity, while a few others were more adamant in their views.

As I've expressed multiple times, it's best to ask your questions, air your opinions or make your suggestion in the forum. For whatever reason it isn't happening. But, as I've stated before, I will not answer email. My responses will be in the forum.

I use the same sources that most Napoleonic gamers have had access to, however, now that national archives are more accessible to the public and translation software is readily available, I've been using personal journals, battlefield reports and other such data sources to gather more information.

At some points the regulations (which it seems many books are based on) do coincide with the battlefield reality, mostly they don't. I put together a comparative listing that I use to remind me of the discrepancies that plague some of the histories, especially in battle.

One of the most glaring discrepancies is the number of men that actually made up the various formations and category of troop. Some numbers are based on a full complement, or "paper strength", which is a reflection of the Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E). However, this was hardly ever the base facts, as constant marching and battle invited attrition (loses, desertions, sickness, etc.) and the lack of readily available resources to replenish from, kept the actual numbers lower than what the TO&E indicated. Below is a table I use that has helped me design the rules for OMNB (Data in the tables below, are based on cross-referenced sources including Nafziger, Elting, Digby Smith, translated reports of the period, and period military regulations).

Napoleonic Battalion Strengths – Full vs Field

Nation	Unit Type	Full Complement	Typical Field Strength	Bayonet Strength	Notes
France	Line Battalion (1805)	840	550–650	450–550	6 companies; depot staff excluded from field strength.
France	Line Battalion (1813)	700–750	400–500	350–450	Rebuilt post-1812 with younger conscripts.
Britain	Line Battalion (1811)	1,000	600–700	500–600	Includes two flank companies; well-supported by regimental system.
Russia	Line Battalion (1812)	800	500–600	400–500	3-company structure; often understrength on campaign.
Russia	Guard Battalion	820	600–700	500–600	Maintained closer to full complement.
Austria	Fusilier Battalion (1809)	800	500–600	400–500	Part of brigade-structured regiments; variable recruitment.
Prussia	Musketeer Battalion (1806)	800	450–550	350–450	4-company structure; provincial variation in readiness.
Prussia	Line Battalion (1813–15)	700–800	500–600	400–500	Reformed army; supported by Landwehr and conscription improvements.

One other thing, actions taken on the battlefield by infantry, cavalry and artillery are not always optimal or so cut and dry. Often forces of all nations had difficulties when doing battle. However, in gaming we use the KISS principle, as it is best to keep the design simple and elegant. So, we really can't reflect too much of the reality in game terms without it becoming an unplayable morass. To help with that, I've distilled a lot of things that I've read into rules, that are more playable than realistic. Still, here is a table I created to use as another reminder.

Regulations vs Reality – Napoleonic Tactical Comparison

Topic	Regulations (Imperial Bayonets)	Battlefield Reality (Campaign Accounts)
*Infantry Line Formation	Preferred formation for delivering volleys; 2–3 ranks deep; ideal for firepower.	Rarely maintained in sustained combat. Terrain, fatigue, and enemy pressure often broke lines into uneven blobs.
*Infantry Column	Used for rapid movement; assault columns to close with the enemy and deploy into line before firing.	Often engaged in column due to pressure or confusion. Devastating against weak morale units but vulnerable to volley fire.
*Artillery Placement	Batteries placed with clear arcs between brigades or on hills; spacing and coverage were precise.	Terrain and urgency forced suboptimal placement. Some batteries had limited effectiveness or narrow fields of fire.
*Cavalry Charges	Used for decisive shock; reform required post-charge; pursuit limited unless ordered.	Often launched prematurely; pursuit frequently spontaneous; reforming mid-battle rare.
*Skirmishers	Deployed forward in pairs to harass and screen.	Crucial in broken terrain; sometimes operated independently. Overused by French in Spain.
*Volley Fire	Controlled volleys by file or rank at effective range; officers strictly regulated fire discipline.	Fire control broke down under stress; smoke and adrenaline led to premature or misdirected volleys.
*Square Formation	Rapid formation against cavalry; rear ranks also fired; highly effective if properly executed.	Very effective when formed in time. Raw or fatigued troops often failed to form and broke under pressure.
*Morale & Cohesion	Maintained through drill, hierarchy, and national pride (esprit de corps).	Highly unstable. Cohesion degraded rapidly under fire, fatigue, and poor visibility.
*Use of Reserves	Reserves held for decisive interventions or counterattacks.	Often committed piecemeal due to confusion, pressure, or breakdowns in command.

There you have it, I know I didn't directly answer the most oft asked question in the email, "What are your sources?" but as I've already explained that my sources are numerous and in different languages. They're not just the publish sources as to depend on books based on regulation wouldn't do the era justice, nor the game. However, I do invite you to begin your own search for sources. Let me know how it goes. Will you?