For the record, infantry cannot pursue cavalry in SotE - pursuit is counted as a charge and infantry cannot charge cavalry, as has already been mentioned. (p.40, bottom right, for those proud owners of the rules).
Regarding column vs. line, I was of course prepared for criticism and discussion on this point. I will only say here that I firmly believe that attacking columns were not the unstoppable battering rams that some believe they were. A quote from Philip Haythornthwaite expresses the conclusion I came to:
"...attack by column was ideally preceded by a horde of skirmishers and after the enemy line had been bombarded by artillery, so that the opposition might be wavering before the column even arrived within musket range."
Mr Haythornthwaite maintains that it was "under these circumstances" that assaults by column would be effective. I follow his view, which seems to me to be supported by such evidence as I could find in secondary sources.
As for cavalry charging infantry in line, my own conclusion is that the basic realities of the SYW were indeed maintained - as Brent Nosworthy has written:
"By the Napoleonic era, it was generally recognised that if the defending infantry consisted of veteran troops, well-led and determined to hold their position, they would be difficult or even impossible to overthrow."
Nosworthy goes on to to make the obvious point that infantry unprepared, weakened by fire or of lower quality would indeed be vulnerable. Where to draw the line in a set of rules is tricky, but I thought it best to make those considering a frontal charge against decent infantry in line think twice, as it appears cavalry commanders in Napoleonic times did. To quote Nosworthy again:
"it didn't make much sense to throw a regiment against every infantry formation encountered during the ebb and flow of battle. [...] regimental commanders sought to avoid needless failures."
Concentrating 2 cavalry regiments against 1 infantry battalion formed in line is an obvious tactic to break infantry in line which is allowed by the rules. More generally, the idea is to get on the flanks of infantry formations or attack only weakened or inferior troops, which I personally believe broadly represents the Napoleonic experience. Of course, I accept that others may disagree.
Readers might want to check the exchanges on these topics on the SotE website:
https://www.shadowoftheeagles.com/forum/questions-about-the-rules
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February 18, 2010, 05:03:37 PM