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    Start of French Movement 
    How can infantry alone withstand the combined assault of enemy infantry and cavalry?  Figure 1 shows the French line at Waterloo defending against the Prussians.  A large number of cavalry at "A" in Figure 1 threaten the French infantry, which has formed itself into squares at "B".  The Prussian infantry battalions at "C" have destroyed or pushed back the skirmisher line in front of the squares during the Prussian's previous melee phase.  If the French hold this poition, the French battalions are left to absorb hideous fire during the Prussian defensive fire phase this turn.  The Prussian battalions are typically 400 to 800 SP and mostly in good ordered line formation.  (The units outlined in white in the figures are disordered.)  An 800 SP battalion in line firing at a square or column at 1 hex range with no die roll modifiers will kill 1 to 5 SP per fire. 

    Also note the battery at "D".  It could remain where it is and get a 2X to its firepower due to firing grape shot at range 2 hexes or less.  It also might be overrun in the next Prussian player turn.  The second brigade of this division is in line formation at "E" and is out of sight of the Prussian.  Should the French hold the line or drop back? 
     
 
 
Figure 1.  Begin French Movement 
    End of French Movement 
    To prevent large losses in the squares by Prussian fire, it is better to withdraw the squares and place skirmishers between French battalions in line formation and the Prussian battalions in line formation.  The problem is line formation is only allowed during the defensive fire phase.  How to form line now?  In Figure 2a, the French have swapped the second brigade originally located at "E" in Figure 1 with the forward brigade located at "B" in Figure 1.  These second brigade battalions in line formation are now forward at "A" in Figure 2a with skirmishers in front.  The squares in the first brigade changed to column and scooted back to "B" in Figure 2a.  These columns are out of sight from any hex currently occupied by the French skirmishers.  It is expected these skirmishers will be meleed out of the way in next Prussian turn.  The columns can be changed to line in the next French defensive fire phase, while the forward battalions in line formation can be changed to square if the Prusiian has formed holes in his attacking infantry line during the next Prussian Movement Phase through which cavalry may charge. This swapping of forward squares with rear lines can continue for quite awhile, pouring a high volume of French offensive fire into the Prussian line but keeping squares formed during the French defensive fire phase.  The only caution is that a battalion can become disordered during formation change from square to column when in the ZOC of control of an enemy battalion.  If that happens, get it out of the way as normal, place a line in front of it, and make sure  you have good command & control so that the unit will reorder quickly.  Figure 2b shows a typical stack located in hex marked "A" in Figure 2a. 

    Note that the artillery at "C" has packed up its bags and scooted.  It's better to run away and fight another day than be meleed and wiped out during a charge phase.  Finally, note the placement of the 50 man skirmisher at "D" in Figure 2a.  This is a risky placement, but given that a shot at the cavalry 2 hexes away can be obtained, at 8 SP per cavalry SP this risk is probably worth it.  If a hit is scored, the cavalry may also disorder, which in this situation would be a real plus. 

    Had there been French Cavalry in the vicinity (there isn't) it could have been brought up to counter the threat of Prussian cavalry charges. In lieu of that, this example shows one way that solitary infantry can withstand the combined assault of enemy infantry and cavalry.
 
 
Figure 2a.  End French Movement
 
 
 
Figure 2b.  Units Typical in Hexes Marked "A"
 
 
    Lessons Learned 
    1. Try not to leave infantry in squares in front of formed infantry in columns.  Your squares will get decimated by line fire while your squares' fire power is reduced.
    2. When infantry is defending alone against combined infantry and cavalry, ideally use two brigades in depth to "swap" line formations with squares during the movement phase and reform squares and lines during the defensive fire phase.
    3. It is better when threatened to limber artillery and move away to fight another day than to get one juicy, close range artillery fire but never fire again.
    4. Use your skirmishers as breaks between larger enemy battalions and your own.  Fire through a skirmisher gets a "-1" die roll modifier.
 
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