The Allied infantry are making their first tentative steps towards the river line. The French infantry are intent on making effective use of the "Defend" order to improve their firepower attack (see below, the "brush" markers represent 'fascines' that could aid the crossing of the marshy river):
However the practical use of 'fascines' requires a selfless sacrifice [aka not firing] from the unit deploying them for three turns - survival from which seems a rather unlikely event with the French defending (unhistorical) at the river banks (see below, a musketry duel is the more likely outcome):
Back to the cavalry action. Again, a recurring cavalry theme, a valiant charge and victory leads to an overenthusiastic pursuit anb being subjected to an opportunistic counter attack while disorganised (see below, the final act of the last unit of brace Allied Dutch Line Cavalry):
Alas the valiant Dutch Guardsmen are too tired after their heroic efforts to evade the marauding French Hussars (see below, 15 inches move plus an additional 1d6 inches gives this silly unit wings - not that I am bitter about it - I merely have put a bounty on their heads):
The dread French Hussars run down the last valiant Dutch Guardsmen (see below, the Allied Cavalry commanders are already plotting these accursed fellows downfall):
The blade cuts both ways, French Line cavalry are once again routed by a spirited charge of Allied Dragoons (see below, the French are highly unlikely from stopping and rallying these agitated remnants before they 'leave the table'):
But the biter is in turn bitten (see below, a French Line Cavalry formation deems to recover its lost honour, being already at 50% casualties it is destined to face a severe morale test whatever the outcome, hopes to attack the Allied Dragoons while they are still disorganised - the outcome of this combat is unclear, the original French Line cavalry can be seen routing away behind this new combat):
Showing similar symmetry another 50% French Line Cavalry Brigade is thrown at a fresh unit of Allied Dragoons (see below, again the outcome from this battle is uncertain or in the Allies favour):
As the French Line cavalry discover to their horror, dying to a man at the hands of the Allied Dragoons (see below, 'all' the stands between the French baseline and the Allied Cavalry is the newly committed Bavarian Cavalry Reserve):
All does not go to the Allied cause for the brave Dutch fellows that rallied and turned to face the enemy are charged by their disorganised foes. Indeed their bravery in rallying has caused the French to be desperate in a disorganised attack (see below, the combat is destined to be a bloody one):
All that remains in the end is a disorganised French Line cavalry stand in close proximity to the Allied cavalry reserve about to charge it down (see below - the Allied Cavalry Reserve is off to the right f the photograph):
Meanwhile some disorganised and routing French Dragoons quit the field (see below, a fierce firefight with regular Allied Line Infantry followed by charging Allied Dragoons and Line Cavalry is all too much for this unit):
The fluid and unkempt nature of the battle on the Allied left. Missing units of half strength units are just waiting to be swept away (see below, in particular a fresh unit of mounted Allied Dragoons eyeing the 'hated' French Hussar unit laying disorganised in front of it):
The Allied Dragoons charge (see below, this combat has become very personal to the Allied commanders - the French Hussars have had too many lives and too much 'unjustified ability' to be like - dreams of snapping the figures come shamefully into the Allied commanders mind):
Seen here these two combats will be critical in deciding the fate of the extreme right of the Allied Left (see below, Allied Dragoons v French Hussars in the Allies favour, the Allied Dragoons v French Line 50-50):
Elsewhere of the cavalry wing, the Bavarian Cavalry Reserve jostle into position (top middle) while last French Line Cavalry formation that has more than half strength eyes up its "two" antagonists (middle of the photograph). These in effect are the surviving brigades of the original forces (see below, at the start of the battle the very table seemed to "sag" under their weight):
It seems inevitable that they charge one another (see below, the French commander noted that he remembered these fellows as they were "oddly based", whereas the Allied commander although "pistol armed" his fine fellows are Elite):
Three more cavalry combats now need to be resolved before the fresh cavalry reserves come into play.
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