© Alberto Giorgi
Infantry
The soldiers are glued on wooden bases. Each infantry base represents a company; Normally, it measures 4 x 1.5 cms (1,5" x 0,6") and contains three toy soldiers, but the base of the British and some allies measures 3 x 1.5 (1" x 0,6") cms contains two toy soldiers. Infantry fought by battalion, and it was the unit by which generals of that period reckoned the strength of their infantry. This maneuver group on the tabletop represents a Napoleonic tactical unit. At the beginning of the battle, the minimum infantry unit is the battalion of 9-18 soldiers (3-6 bases for the French style infantry). Simultaneously, the maximum is 18-24 (6-9 bases of 2 soldiers for the British infantry and or 6-8 bases of three for Austrian) soldiers. The arranging of the company bases on the table represents a different formation. The formations can be: Column by company, Column by division, Line, Double Line, Square, skirmish order, and one imperfect configurations called Shaken.
Formations
Change formations
Shaken units
To change formation from Column by Company to Column by division, it needs ½ move, the same from Column by division to Line and a whole movement from Column by C. to a single Line.
After a melee, in some situations that we will see later, the unit become Shaken and is represented by slightly spacing the bases apart. As far as the vulnerability to fire, Shaken units are not considered in open order but in close formation. The unit must take half a move to return on formation, and therefore cannot fire at the same phase.
Maneuver gaps
A slight gap between one unit and the other must always be maintained to enable the various units to be distinguished. It is necessary, instead, to leave at least the distance of a base between two battalions deployed in Column per Company, while, two columns of division, but not more, can be adjacent but shall maintain at least one base of distance from each other, if any, with units arranged in columns.
Light company
Tactical use of the light company
The French, British, some allies, and from 1810 also the Russian battalions, have a light infantry Company inside the battalion. The inner edge of the Light infantry base is colored yellow to distinguish it from other Companies. When they are inside the formation, they combat as the other Line Companies. The Light company can be detached and positioned at the head of the battalion and protect it by enemy fire or can be separated and act as an autonomous unit. In these cases, it fights in skirmish order.
Artillery
Artillery bases consist of three types:
1) A 6 x 4 base for one Cannon or Howitzer and gunners (two gunners for the 4 lb and Congreve, three for 6/8/9 lb, and four for the 12 lb). It is also possible to have the gun without a base or with its independent base and the gunners in a single one (4 x 1,5 cm 1,5” x 0,6”).
2) A 8 x 4 cm (3” x 1,5”) base for horses and limber
3) An additional 4 x 4 cm (1,5” x 1,5”) bases for towing of the Horse Artillery
Artillery moves only limbered.
We will prepare bases with cannons and gunners and separately those with a tow. To make the gun ready for the fire, we will separate the cannon base from the tow, and we will aim the arm to the enemy. To move it, we will invert the front of the cannon and attach it to the tow. You can also replace a cannon base with a limber one with the space to insert a gun. The size of the limber's support does not need to be precise because, during the battle, they will only serve to indicate the battery status limbered/unlimbered. Tow is not the target. If cannons want to hit the battery, the aim is only the cannon base. Artillery deployed to fire is as if it was in open order and is entitled to the protection test (which we will see later) against enemy fire.
Cavalry
Each cavalry base is cm. 3 x 4 cm (1,5" x 1") and contains one knight.
The maneuvering group on the tabletop is the squadron for Austria, Prussia, Russia, and the regiment for the rest of the nationality. This difference is to make the forces in the field equivalent since the first ones had squadrons numerically similar to the second's regiments. The Cavalry unit is composed of two to eight toy soldiers. Cavalry moves deployed in Line, Column, or Open order according to the needs of the terrain. On the roads, it moves necessary on Column formation. The change of the deployment has no costs but it cannot be done in the same move as an attack for heavy cavalry and only at the beginning of the move for the light one. To take advantage of the Charge bonus (in close combat and movement), Cavalry must have the first rank of at least three bases. After a melee where (winner or loser) has suffered at least one loss the unit is Shaken. Don't worry if you have the Cavalry bases already in pair or with slightly different size for other wargame rules; the difference won't be very relevant to the game.
© Alberto Giorgi