Funny enough, authors and researchers seem to be the least willing to give frontage measurements for artillery. I would generally maintain that it is safe to assume a battery took up 100-125 yards of frontage when deployed. This is based on the presumption of a 12-15 yard space between guns to allow limbers to pass through and each gun then taking a couple yards itself.
According to Nafzinger, a French infantry battalion at full strength, formed of 9 companies, took ~185 yards of frontage or formed up 6 companies, took ~160 yards.
Nafzinger quotes the French Ordonnance proviso ire sur l’exercise et les manoeuvres de la cavalerie (title I, article XIV) that each horse takes up approximately 1 meter and a squadron of heavy cavalry or dragoons (assuming a strength of 100 troopers) would take up just shy of 40 meters or just shy of 45 yards. Therefore, Nafzinger would likely tell you a 120 man cavalry squadron will take up approximately 50 yards of frontage.
Thus, both artillery and cavalry could be assumed to take up just a bit shy of the same frontage. If you’re assuming a French battalion is 6″, then I’d guess your artillery and cavalry units could be safely around 4″ of frontage and 3″ of frontage respectively.
Provided you’re satisfied with these assumptions 😉
Cheers,
The Bandit
