Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: olicana on 05 June 2024, 10:39:39 AM
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Hi, my Napoleonic library is pretty decent but lacks any volumes (I know there are many) specifically detailing the Light Division and, in consequence, I find myself unable to answer this simple question.
"Did the Light Division (whilst deployed in Spain) have a battery of artillery attached to it, and if so, was it attached pretty much as standard?"
I'm tempted (on lack of specific evidence) to say it didn't but, then again, I'd probably be hard pressed to find specific evidence (in my books) for most divisions having an artillery battery dedicated to them in most instances - it's just not mentioned. Is 'dedicated, divisionally attached artillery' simply a wargame mechanic so often used that we have become historically deluded? I don't mind if it is a wargame thing, indeed if that's the case in a lot of ways it makes things easier.
If anyone knows of a book about how British artillery was assigned in the Peninsular, please reference it.
For those who know, please forgive my ignorance on this subject. It's just one of those things, from memory, that isn't covered in my books to any great extent.
BTW, my Napoleonic library is detailed here:
https://olicanalad.blogspot.com/search/label/Book%20List%20-%20Napoleonic (https://olicanalad.blogspot.com/search/label/Book%20List%20-%20Napoleonic)
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I am sure the Light Division had an attached 6pdr RHA battery attached it was even named. I am at work right now though so not near my references.
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It was Chestnut Troop RHA (also known as Ross' Troop) raised in 1793 and commanded by Hew Dalrymple Ross.
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His Wikipedia page states his battery being attached to The Light Division and mentions 11 Peninsular battles it took part in.
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That's weird. I, also, can't find anything in my books.
The Nafziger collection orders of battle have British artillery listed as it's own division or Corps and has no artillery specifically attached to any division. https://www.napoleon-series.org/resources/the-nafziger-collection-of-napoleonic-orders-of-battle/
Perhaps artillery was assigned on an ad hoc basis. The only order of battle where there is divisional artillery seems to be in 1814 https://www.napoleon-series.org/nafzigger/814ASAB.pdf
I hope this is of some help, but I expect you have already looked at these references.
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Perhaps the reason that the artillery isn't listed with the division is because artillery (and engineers) didn't report to Horse Guards, as the rest of the army did. Danged if I can recall who they did report to now and I'm too full of dinner to look it up.
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Perhaps the reason that the artillery isn't listed with the division is because artillery (and engineers) didn't report to Horse Guards, as the rest of the army did. Danged if I can recall who they did report to now and I'm too full of dinner to look it up.
The Board of Ordnance, I believe.
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The Board of Ordnance, I believe.
Yes, although they would often be busy with their maps…