Use the artillery to fix the Northern force NW of the Bode River. Demonstrate or just start crossing the Salle on the W side of the Bode with 2 BNs. Send the third battalion to watch the Prussian Battalion at Bernuberg and prepare to force it if the Prussian Battalion moves toward the pontoon crossing site. That gives you two shots at crossing and puts you across with the Bode R between you and the equiv Prussian force
Cross the Saale in or just downriver of Nienburg with the pontoon bridge, embed in the town to defend the bridge against attacks from the near-peer Prussian force to our north. This should achieve the main objective of creating a secure crossing, as we will have a greater number of equivalently-armed infantry, superior artillery and a defensive position that effectively neutralises the enemy cavalry. Send small groups from one company (or a full company if our command structure doesn't permit further subdivision) W along the N bank of the Bode to investigate bridges in the area (thus the possibility that the enemy company in Bernberg may be able to rejoin the larger detachment), but with strict orders not to progress to a point where terrain restricts visibility, in case the enemy cavalry are scouting in the area and see an opportunity to destroy some of our men at little cost to themselves.
Can't you try to seize the bridge at Berburg before they detonate it, overwhelm the southern BN, and then build the pontoon bridge across the Bode near Nienburg and hold it while shelling the NW BNs until the main army arrives?
Use the artillery to fix the Northern force NW of the Bode River. Demonstrate or just start crossing the Salle on the W side of the Bode with 2 BNs. Send the third battalion to watch the Prussian Battalion at Bernuberg and prepare to force it if the Prussian Battalion moves toward the pontoon crossing site. That gives you two shots at crossing and puts you across with the Bode R between you and the equiv Prussian force
Could you please clarify two points:
1. Is it possible to cross the river Bode without a pontoon crossing?
2. Apart from the bridge in Bernuberg, do the other two cities have bridges across the Saale river?
Cross the Saale in or just downriver of Nienburg with the pontoon bridge, embed in the town to defend the bridge against attacks from the near-peer Prussian force to our north. This should achieve the main objective of creating a secure crossing, as we will have a greater number of equivalently-armed infantry, superior artillery and a defensive position that effectively neutralises the enemy cavalry. Send small groups from one company (or a full company if our command structure doesn't permit further subdivision) W along the N bank of the Bode to investigate bridges in the area (thus the possibility that the enemy company in Bernberg may be able to rejoin the larger detachment), but with strict orders not to progress to a point where terrain restricts visibility, in case the enemy cavalry are scouting in the area and see an opportunity to destroy some of our men at little cost to themselves.
Can't you try to seize the bridge at Berburg before they detonate it, overwhelm the southern BN, and then build the pontoon bridge across the Bode near Nienburg and hold it while shelling the NW BNs until the main army arrives?