Mixed Order

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The Mixed Order (Ordre Mixte) was a tactical formation used by demi-brigades of the French Revolutionary Army and later by Napoleon's La Grande Armée to great effect.

The Mixed Order involved three battalions, one of veterans and two of conscripts or fedéres. The veteran brigade would deploy in line formation, as only it had the necessary training to retain its cohesion in this formation while moving or when under fire. The line formation maximised the firepower of the unit ( every man could fire ) but it was not resistant to sudden attack especially by cavalry and it could not manoever very well. The two fedére battalions were deployed in column formation, which required far less training to perfect, on the flanks of the veteran unit. The column formation allowed the unit rapid movement, a very effective charge ( due to weight of numbers ) or it could quickly form square to resist cavalry attacks.

As the overall quality of the French Armies improved, the mixed order remained a part of French tactical doctrine, and was used extensively by Napoleon when commanding La Grande Armée. The Mixed Order capitalised on the strengths of both the Line and Column formations, while avoiding some of their inherent weaknesses.