Quote Originally Posted by katank
I don't know if the troop types are all that matters. tactics is another thing. In Napoleonic times, infantry can easily defeat cavalry while in square but would be soundly trounced if in line.

combined arms can thus present the enemy with a dilemma of facing superior infantry fire to lose the missile duel if you are in square or risk getting charged down by cav if in line.
Not always... Infantry can sometimes stand up to cav charges in a line. The stand of the 93rd Highlanders at Balaclava in 1854 makes great reading.

The Russian force of 25,000 rode down the road to Balaklava. It was countered, in part, by a clash with the British Heavy Cavalry, who charged uphill, led by the apparently fearless Sir James Scarlett. The rest of the Russian force (approx 5000 men) went on to charge the 93rd (approx 500 men).

Campbell is said to have told his men, "There is no retreat from here, men. You must die where you stand." Sir Colin's aide John Scott is said to have replied, "Aye, Sir Colin. If needs be, we'll do that." Campbell formed the 93rd into a line two deep --- the "thin red line" --- and had the regiment wait until very close quarters before the first line fired. The Russians continued to advance, and Campbell had his men wait until no more than 500 yards lay between the Highlanders and the charging Russians to fire the second volley. This broke the Russian charge. At that, some of the Highlanders started forward for a charge, but Sir Colin stopped them with a cry of "93rd, damn all that eagerness!"

It was the London Times correspondent, William H. Russell, who wrote that he could see nothing between the charging Russians and the British base of operations at Balaklava but the "thin red streak tipped with a line of steel" of the 93rd. Popularly condensed into "the thin red line", the phrase became a symbol, rightly or wrongly, for British sang-froid in battle.

When asked afterwards about his 'unconventional' tactics the commander replied that knowing the 93rd he didn't think it was worth the trouble of forming a square. lol