"I am not sure by what you mean by "defensive offensive actions", but while the British infantry at Talavera and Albuhera sustained heavy casualties, isn't the relevant point that the British infantry were victorious? This begs the obvious question - why?"
Hi Paul
Defensive actions of British against Offensive actions of French or vise-versa when British are attacking.
"You claim that the "big difference" in explaining British tactical success was because of superior logistics - but I don't understand how this affected battles between British lines and French columns? Can you point to any examples to support your opinions?"
No, that is not what I said at all! I was trying to make the point that why Armies win or lose battles is sometimes out of the control of those who fight them, no matter how hard they keep trying whilst starving, fatigued and diseased. Supply It is one element out of a soldiers control that will affect his morale, poor morale affects discipline, poor discipline affects combat effectiveness, as you can well imagine.
There is no one factor to explain why French columns failed against British line,
but when you're packed like sardines into a column falling over itself, being shot at by artillery then have a volley delivered into your face at point blank range blowing away 1/3 rd of your formation time after time it must get a bit demoralising!
This is why the firepower of columns need reducing so that some redress of game play between columns 2/1 advantage versus one line.
"Of course, at Barrossa, Salamanca, Vittoria the attacks were made by well ordered lines (ironically against French defending uphill!). On the tactics and mechanics of an attack, read Rory Muir's wonderful "Salamanca"."
I don't have that one, only his "Tactics and the Experience of Battle in the Age of Napoleon"
Whom is stating "well ordered lines" Rory or part of a quote in his book?
If this is the attack I'm thinking of, the French began shooting too soon, therefore waisting the first volley. Is that the one?
"I suspect the example you are thinking of of a rare British column fighting is that of the 29th Foot at Talavera."
Could be.
Here is a good explanation of the internal dynamics of a column charging:
http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/infantry_tactics_4.htm#_infantry_columns
cheers