04-01-2004, 11:37 PM
There are numerouos instances of individuals kleading charges, throwing standards into the enemy ranks and telling their troops to go get them back, etc.<br>
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I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss such a mechanism.<br>
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"Follow the leader" formations always are "wedge" shapped - otherwise the people (or horses or bison or whatever) wouldn't be following!!<br>
<br>
However teh usefulness of such a formation is arguable.<br>
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We do, positively, know that wedge and rhomboid formations were used by Greek cavalry - but we also know that that was primarily for command and control reasons - a simple turn towards one of the points always left an officer in front. Greek cavalry quickly reverted to more common rectangular formations with the increased contact with Persians and other "barbarians" after Alexanders time.<br>
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<p></p><i></i>
<br>
I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss such a mechanism.<br>
<br>
"Follow the leader" formations always are "wedge" shapped - otherwise the people (or horses or bison or whatever) wouldn't be following!!<br>
<br>
However teh usefulness of such a formation is arguable.<br>
<br>
We do, positively, know that wedge and rhomboid formations were used by Greek cavalry - but we also know that that was primarily for command and control reasons - a simple turn towards one of the points always left an officer in front. Greek cavalry quickly reverted to more common rectangular formations with the increased contact with Persians and other "barbarians" after Alexanders time.<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
