I posted this on the lordz as well just wanted my brother opinion.
I know that alot of people get very upset about the last second square when used against them but love it when they need to use it. I have been doing alot of research on cav vs square combat from multiple sources. I have noticed an interesting trend with combat reports as well as historians views. The main thing all have had in common are:
1. 99 times out of 100 the square will win even against excellent cav.
2. cav vs square was a morale battle and not a blood bath.
3. most squares that break are isolated (morale) and or militia units.
My question for the game is, is there a way to simulate cav vs square as more of a morale combat so if your cav is caught by the last minute square it suffer low losses and can bounce from the square easily instead of bouncing after alot of losses are suffered. Many reports I have read show examples of squares fire at 60 paces causing under 10 losses to the cav but causing them to retire. I think squares kill cav way to easily to be historically accurate. Most reports talk about how terrifying it was for the infantry to see all the cav advancing on them and defensive volleys were more of a morale killer then a true killer.
This reference is from :http://www.napolun.com/mirror/napoleonistyka.atspace.com/infantry_tactics_4.htm#infantrycombatsquares4
Squares in combat (part 1).
The cavalry-vs-square it was morale thing only.
French cuirassiers attack Nassauers at Waterloo. When cavalry had chosen its objective and was ready to move, it set out at a walk, officers in front, their sabers unseathed. If, at this moment, the infantrymen in the square started to fidget a bit too much, the cavalry officers could risk acceleration the pace to a trot. Should the musket volley be fired badly - too soon or too high - the cavalry could pass to a gallop, and then the infantrymen, in all probability, would lose their nerve, break their ranks and flee. The result would be massacre.
For the squares, the first attacks were usually the ones that came closest to causing panic. "The first time a body of cuirassiers approached the square into which I had ridden, the men - all young soldiers - seemed to be very alarmed. They fired high and with little effect, and in one of the angles there was just as much hesitation as made me feel exceedingly uncomfortable" - wrote an officer of British Royal Engineers at Waterloo.
If the square was broken very many infantrymen were killed and wounded, many lost fingers and hands as they sought to protect themselves from sabers by holding their muskets over their heads. Others threw themselves down. Horses were unwilling to step upon prone body. The excited cavalry usually passed over their heads, they quickly rose to their feet and either run to the rear or fired at attackers' backs. This is what the Russian infantry did at Eylau, the British at Waterloo, and the Prussians at Strigau. Kincaid writes: "[at Waterloo] hundreds of the [alles] infantry threw themselves down and pretended to be dead, while the cavalry galloped over them, and then got up and ran away... I never saw such a scene in all my life.".
However, the infantry square was THE best formation against cavalry. The square presented rows of bayonets ahead of them and no horseman armed with saber would have been able to strike at them without exposing himself and his horse to the sharp points of bayonets. Horses were unwilling to impale themselves on bayonets.
Prussian colonel Muffling mentions that in 1814 three newly raised Russian battalions were attacked by French cuirassiers. The Russians delivered volley at 60 paces killing not a single man or horse. The cuirassiers however turned back and retired !
A British officer writes: "[At Waterloo] No actual dash was made upon us [our square]. Now and then an individual more daring than the rest would ride up to the bayonets, wave his sword about and bully; but the mass held aloof, pulling up within 5 or 6 yards ..." (- Mark Adkin)