Talavera In 3D - Turn Three

Map

Situation after two turns

My three activation dice land 4, 2, 2. I reroll a 2, but get another 4.

I start in area 2 with my forward cavalry, attacking the two-base French cavalry. The four dice are increased because my men are on higher ground, but I roll what on the face of it is a disappointing 5, 4, 4, 3, 2. This eliminates one enemy base, and forces the other to retreat two hexes. However, after falling back one hex, they are blocked by friends from withdrawing any further, and so lose another base, which means the unit is destroyed. My other cavalry unit advances diagonally left to get on the hill, but does not advance further as I do not want it shot at by the French infantry and/or artillery.

In area 4 my further-back infantry finish crossing La Portiña, and shoot at the French directly ahead. The four dice are decreased for moving and for firing through trees, but they land 5, 3, eliminating an enemy base. My other infantry in area 4 similarly get across La Portiña, and shoot at enemy infantry directly ahead, but this time there is an extra -1 modifier as the enemy unit is not only screened by trees, but is taking cover in another copse. Only one die is rolled, and this lands as a 4, forcing the French to withdraw a hex.

The early stages of the battle feel, to me at least, as if they have gone well for the Allied cause

The AI's four activation dice land 5, 3, 2, 1.

In area 1 the infantry form square and then shoot at my forward cavalry, the three dice decreased for being in square, but they roll a pair of 6s, eliminating two bases.

In area 2 the infantry shoot at the same target, again losing one die for being in square, and their dice land 2, 1. The artillery also shoot at my cavalry, the two dice increased by two for firing at short range, and they roll 6, 4, 3, 1, destroying my unit's final base. My men's luck at surviving after advancing so far ahead of the rest of the army well and truly ran out.

In area 3 the infantry, no longer menaced by my cavalry, leave their square formation.

In area 5 the French cavalry enter the copse directly ahead, then charge out of it to attack my furthest-forward infantry, the six dice landing 6, 6, 4, 2, 2, 2, eliminating two bases and forcing the survivors back a hex. Both infantry units in area 5 advance a hex.

The well-timed French counterattack seems to have caught my men off-guard