The Allied infantry are pulled as if by a magnetic force to the river to engage with the more advanced elements of the French "defending" (and beware they do get a defensive fire bonus for that. As an Allied cavalry commander I do hope this is advance to contact and pinning of the French infantry as opposed to a full-blooded assault as the unhistorical dispositions of the French make the likelihood of success unfavourable IMHO (see below, a good point to note is that the Allied infantry seemed to have at least gained a local superiority):
Ramillies is now finally reduced to rubble (albeit still classed as hard cover) and despite the infantry saving throws the defending Irish are taking casualties (see below, foreign mercenaries in French service seem to be put in situations where they seem to attract cannon and musket balls):
Meanwhile the satisfying feeling of cold vengeance is being served to those French Hussars as their disorganised mass feel the cold steel of the Dutch Mounted Dragoons (see below, they had watched the spectacle of the opportunistic Hussar charge at their artillery [which was rebuffed by skilful and courageous gunnery] and their counter-charge, pursuit and slaughter of the noble Dutch Guard Cavalry and their blood runs cold with no mercy):
The slaughter is complete in a single round of combat, no need even for the danger of a disorganised pursuit exposing themselves as every other brigade of cavalry seems to do (see below, the French Hussars learning the true meaning of a 'dispersed formation' - that still has "the ability to charged unformed or disorganised formations" - [not bitter but suspicious that the true meaning of the rule is being somewhat misinterpreted - moving on]):
Another (but harder to win) mounted Allied Dragoon combat takes place (see below, with its last strength this French Line Cavalry ends up sacrificing itself):
A mutual rout occurs (see below, though the French have much less space to play with and hence fewer rally attempts):
Towards where "the Line cavalry fought Line" on the Cavalry Wing, what was the last "full unit" combat of the originals comes to and end as the brave French are overcome (see below, with dignity they fought and with haste they broke and ran - in the process they took the Elite Cavalry Line below the important 50% strength threshold, therefore in one sense 'job done'):
Their rout distance was too short and they are caught (see below, the green marker n the Allied cavalry denotes that they are 'pistol' armed):
And destroyed (see below, although I fear the victorious Allied Cavalry are now "too near" the new Bavarian formed enemy, while themselves disorganised - ho hum):
The French have a problem of having to try and stop routing 50% and below units, without formed friends nearby and without the presence of their General and Cavalry C-in-C within Command Radius (see below, a router that is destined to keep running):
Off table (see below, the 'French casualty table' now has more cavalry on it than they still have over the whole of the remaining battlefield):
The victorious French Line Cavalry from last turn becomes a victim of this turn, caught disorganised it tried to charge into something less viscous than the Allied Cavalry Reserve coming up but alas this was not to be (see below, caught in the pursuit, no mercy is shown - "First New Blood" is spilt):
Yet here again we see the "New Blood" is in an isolated advanced position (see below, and there are always eyes looking for a counter charge opportunity):
Drawing back a little and the danger of the advanced position can be seen (middle right) as the leas Bavarian unit may fancy a charge. On the middle left the remains of the first and second wave of Allied cavalry is being reorganised (see below, I predict the Bavarians will trigger the seemingly endless cycle of charge/counter-charge combat to start again):
The situation on the far left of the Allied line looks clear of troops as the French have but a routing half strength Line Cavalry brigade (outside stand, top left), a disorganised half strength Dragoon Brigade (middle) and a half strength Dragoon brigade (inside stand, top left). That is three physical stands. The Allies have a very strong full brigade of mounted Dragoons (bottom) and another in the hamlet (off camera to the left) as well as battered Line Infantry (see below, the French cause is seemingly 'lost' here):
So much so that the Allied commander orders that the troops under his command are no longer to defend the village. They will be of more use chasing the French and pressurising what will become an obvious vulnerable "L" in the French Line near Ramillies (see below, the second unit of Dutch Dragoons exit the town to mount up for pursuit):
Between the extreme Allied left and the centre of the Allied "Cavalry Wing" battlefield there seem to be a vacuum where there are more French Generals than stands of cavalry facing the Allies (see below, testimony to the breaking point of French Cavalry being reached, three Generals [top left], a French Line Cavalry 'Stand' [top middle] and the start of the Bavarian Cavalry formation]):
As predicted the Bavarian Cuirassier's "charge" and the disorganised Allied (British) Line Cavalry counter-charge (see below, the odds are in the Bavarian's favour but again they will find themselves most probably exposed in disordered pursuit):
Standing back, the Bavarian/British combat (middle) is seen in the context of the Allied formations reordering (bottom), Bavarian reserve (top) and British Reserve (off camera to the right). The third cycle of cavalry combat has started (see below, the only difference being that this is the "last committed" cavalry that can be sent in time to make an outcome on this wing):
An artistic shot. In the background the four uncommitted brigades of the Bavarian Curassier Reserve (one unit being already drawn into the combat), in the foreground the last remaining French Cavalry Brigade (down to 50% strength) of the original "French Cavalry Wing" in total (see below, I can proudly attest that this 'base' is one I have painted - and my mission for next turn is to try and destroy it):
The destruction of complete formations from the French Order of battle should start to have an effect on their Command and Control dice roll and the formations being activated!
