(Big Game) Ramillies - Cavalry "Sash and Sabre" [Game 2] Post #4

The cavalry battle began in earnest both sides hammering chunks out of each others formations. The French chose to send in their elite Guard early, meeting their Dutch counterparts (see below, Dutch Guard meet the French Guard bottom left):

The Dutch Guard are victorious but it is a Phyric victory as the survivors hardly muster more than a "Mad Hatter's tea party" (see below, one third [two horses] remain):

Across the battle field waves of cavalry clash. After the initial besting of the French Guard a strong force Dutch Guard fancy their chances at the French "Second Line" Cavalry (see below, the French were putting much in store by the tactic of blocking two lines together in a condensed mass - great if you win disaster for all if you lose):

The first row of French Cavalry was removed in a desperate action that was so quick that it was not captured on camera (see below):

The last full unit of French Guard are committed at an ordinary Dutch unit but surprisingly are held, squaring and trading blows in disorder (see  below, the French Commander is exasperated at the lack of success with his best weapon):

Another bloody round sees the valiant Dutch routed but again at extreme cost to the battered last stand of French Guard Cavalry. The French Guard "wing" has gone but the Dutch still have unspent elite to press home attacks with (see below): 

Meanwhile at the other end of the table, dragoons face off against each other, over the most horrible of 'boggy' terrain (see below, sniping ensues and the blast of the occasional cannon but no main combat):

Over back on the "Cavalry end of the table" both sides now commit their "Second Lines". The French have again compressed their units together in dense formations. The Allies respond by similarly compressing theirs (despite having had a remarkable run of success sending in a less numerous [one line] attack but with a subsequent follow up against victorious but disordered cavalry). The juggernauts hit "head on" (see below):

The results of this clash could be decisive as both parties gamble the fate of two units a piece in two separate furious melees! That is a good quarter of the total engaged cavalry.