Infantry marching in step (history)

The Seven Years’ War was fought across the globe and called by some the first “World War” as virtually every major power participated. In the center of events was Prussia, almost constantly at war and lead by the now legendary Frederick the Great.

Relive the exciting and trying days of Frederick the Great in Horse and Musket: Volume I, the improved and expanded combination of the previous Prussian War Machine and Prussia’s Glory titles. Horse and Musket: Volume I is a reboot of the successful Horse and Musket series, including not only two solid historical titles in one package, but also many new game features, a powerful new editor, and a complete graphics overhaul to an already acclaimed gaming system.

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amrcg
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Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:47 am

Infantry marching in step (history)

Post by amrcg »

One admirable feature of infantry maneuvre in the 18th century was marching in step with the characteristic slow cadence (approximately 90 steps per minute, if I'm not in error) marked by the sound of musical instruments. Was this significantly changed during the Napoleonic period? How/When did this evolve between the SYW and the ACW?

Cheers,
Antonio
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Suvoroff
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Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2005 6:22 am
Location: In Bremerton, WA

RE: Infantry marching in step (history)

Post by Suvoroff »

As far as I know, the only real change between the Seven Years War and the Civil War was a tendency for the rate of speed to increase. Most troop used about 75 paces per minute (which looks paralyzingly slow to us today) around the SYW, later a faster (around 100 ppm) light infantry pace was introduced, and finally many nations moved their whole infantry to the light infantry pace. I *think* that's where the American troops were in the Civil War era, at around 100 ppm.

Yours,
James D. Gray
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