Charging and Division Orders

[Alan Charlesworth]

I ran into this problem in a game recently.

A Division Order was given to a group of infantry units to Charge the enemy to their front. Some of the enemy were close order troops and others were open order troops. Some of the open order troops Evaded. At the end of the Turn the chargers whose target had evaded were more than 6" away from the chargers that had contacted the close order line troops who had stood.

The rules say that units moving with a group order must start and finish the turn within 6" of each other.

It doesn't seem to be optional to not complete the charge move if the enemy evade. But if they move their full distance they break the 6" rule?

Any ideas?

[Big Al]

Hi Alan

I've just re-read the relevant sections and believe that your answer lies in the first paragraph of the second column on page 28 of the book. This covers the rule you mentioned about units starting and ending the move within 6 inches of another unit in the group. If you read the rest of the paragraph it tells you that the 6 inch rule overrides any order issued and goes on to use an example of a mixed division of cavalry and infantry. By the same token, I would suggest that the unit whose target evaded would not be forced to complete its charge move because of this overriding 6 inch rule.

[Alan Charlesworth]

Thanks Alex. Yes I would agree with your comments. The rules do say that keeping together as a group overrides everyng else.

You may recall I asked a similar question on the Yahoo Group about a mixed division of cavalry and infantry charging together where the situation might allow the cavalry to reach the target and not the infantry, in such a way that the cavalry were left more than 6" in advance of the infantry.

Rick responded to that with the answer that the 6" rule ruled above other considerations. So by extension it would seem logical that the same would apply here.

I wanted a sense check on it as this became a contentious issue in the game in question between some of the players.