array at 60,000 men . I doubt whether he had 20,000 men actually in the field - after deducting the strong garrisons stationed along the coast from Pevensey to Hastings -- the crews of the ships that were not destroyed , the lives that were lost in the storm , and the division cut to pieces at Romney. To form some judgment on this point we must recollect that Harold's plateau measured in its extreme length 2,200 yards, and that the nature of the ground only admits of the position being attacked in front.
We learn from William of Poitou, and Orderic, that the infantry were drawn up in two lines :-- the archers in front, the heavy infantry in the second line ; if we take these to number 10 ,000, and no writer puts them at more, and assume each line to have been in three divisions (Roman de Rou), two deep , the front rank would consist of 2 ,500 men. Now , our rifle drill[1] tells us that 1,000 men would extend over a distance of 700 paces, or nearly 600 yards; 2,500 men would therefore cover a space of about 1,500 yards, and allowing an interval of 350 yards between the centre and the wings, the line would face the whole extent of Harold 's position.
The horse, which we will also take to be 10, 000 in number, was divided , according to WACE, in three unequal divisions ; but other writers allege that William arranged them in five divisions ; this seeming discrepancy disappears, if two of the divisions were stationed as a reserve, one perhaps -
- ↑ Field Exercise and Evolutions of Infantry , p .61.
