© Alberto Giorgi
Melee Vs non formation Units
Possible infantry reactions
Infantry has few options:
1) Fire and wait for the attack (2 soldiers will be eliminated for each intercepted base).
2) Escape by rolling 2 dice without shooting (If intercepted all bases are eliminated)
3) Try to pass the test to shoot and escape (If intercepted all bases are eliminated)
4) Try to pass the test to shoot and lie on the ground (loosing only one soldier for each base). We imagine that they can manage avoiding melee by lying on the ground, or pretending to be dead. Once they escaped the charge, it could happen that they managed to fire to the running enemy. If cavalry stops on place the next move can continue the melee anyway.
However, if is the cavalry who decides not to be distracted with a deep attack against infantry in open order, and continue the movement, it eliminate only one soldier for each base bypassing the survivors. Infantry in formation or artillery behind, will be able to perform the reaction fire against them only if the distance between itself and its advanced comrades is greater than 18 cm (half the maximum movement of the attackers).
All "survivors" infantry remain in place. They will already be able to act from the next move. To group, they will lose½ move in their phase of movement.
Infantry not in close formation under attack
Attack from the rear or from the flank
Attack against units from the rear
(the unit always tries to turn around with the reactivity test)
When a unit was attacked from the rear, because intercepted during a flight or because caught by surprise, the situation would have been particularly unfavourable for the unit attacked. For each infantry base engaged from the rear are eliminated two soldiers and the remaining bases are automatically routed. In the case of cavalry, each base reached is eliminated and the others are routed. In this action, the type of unit in attack or defense has no relevance.
Attack against units from the flank Unit engaged on its flank has – 4 points of malus
In some cases, the attacking unit can found enemy forces in open formation. Sometimes this happens by tactical choice, as Light infantry in skirmish or artillery placed for fire and, sometimes, because an escapes disordered them or because they are reached while they are changing tactical formation before completing the maneuver. Although it can happen that the same infantry attack non-formation units, the conventional weapon that quickly intercept enemy units in difficulty is cavalry. In general, the cavalry is well motivated and with the appropriate weapons for a melee while the infantrymen in open order are practically helpless. The bayonet is not a great weapon when used against a trained knight. The cavalry typology have little relevance. The Light cavalry act very quickly while the heavy cavalry compensate the less agility with the power and is equally effective. Each cavalry type is well trained for this type of combat and know how to assert its qualities. The events that can save the poor infantrymen are only due to lucky cases or the low attack's incisiveness. Hoping to stop the attack with musket fire is very risky. If the cavalry overcome the barrage it is a carnage.
Against artillery
Artillery under attack
Five possibility for artillery
Cavalry overtakes gunners
Artillery fire has some chance of stopping an attack. It could have fire at the enemy's approach, and in ideal conditions, he could have wait the Canister range to carry out a bloody discharge, but the risk is very high. If the effect produced had not been decisive, the gunners would have found themselves in a particularly tricky situation, being very vulnerable in close combat. Numerically very small compared to an infantry or cavalry tactical unit and devoid of any defensive deployment. The only possibility would have been to leave the cannons and escape being protected inside a Square or by a friendly unit on close formation.
Gunners can choose between:
1) Shoot a canister fire and wait for the attack (2 soldiers will be eliminated for each intercepted base).
2) Escape by rolling 2 dice without shooting (If intercepted all base is eliminated)
3) Try to pass the test to shoot and escape (If intercepted all base is eliminated)
4) Try to pass the test to shoot and lie down under the caissons (they loose only one gunner for each base)
5) Try to pass the test to hitch the guns to tow and escape with the guns. (If intercepted all base is eliminated)
However, also the cavalry, can choose between 1) stopping to saber the gunners (and eliminate 2 gunner for each artillery base), or, if there still is a movement to complete, 2) not to bedistracted, and eliminate only one soldier for each artillery base, and to continue the attack bypassing the survivors. Only one soldier is eliminated and all gunners remain in place. We imagine that they can manage avoiding melee by lying on the ground, under the cannons. They will already be able to act and eventually fire from the next move.
© Alberto Giorgi