Hans-Karl wrote:

Ralph or rather Ney - explained it very well, a battalion column has usually a frontage of one company or peloton one behind each other, such was the understanding when the authors spoke of a battalion column.

Hans-Karl:

So, a "Colonne par peloton [or company] is the same thing as a 'colonne par bataillon'? I know the change from nine to six companies made an attack column awkward with companies having to split themselves one section behind the other to form the attack column on a one company front, and still be able to unfold/deploy to both sides. With only five companies [the lights being out] it didn't work very well to have an attack column 'par division'--with three companies on one side, two on the other.

Certainly that change could cause 'technical difficulties' in both function and terms.

Best Regards,
Bill H.