Some general information before I go into detail for each individual battle.  

I might expand the guide with additional information and pictures if a demand should arise. 

It took me roughly 10 hours in total. I suggest you play each battle at least once to get a feeling for the battlefield and the troops on both sides and devise a rough battleplan. 


You should deploy your infantry in two ways. First you keep them close so they can deploy square quickly. Second spread them out for firefights to maximize damage and minimize casualties. 




Square is crucial for your infantry to repel cavalry charges. Unfortunately, due to the nature of Very Hard you will take casualties. If you can position Squares in a checkerboard formation so they can support each other.
 


Remember to use your light infantry behavior. Not only will it minimize casualties but also allow you to position Line infantry behind it to fire without hurting your own troops. 




THE AI CHEATS!!! 

On Very Hard the determining factor for your victory won't be your tactical genius but luck. The enemies' troops will inflict massive damage and barely rout. A normal and even firefight will not be in your favor. Even highly advantages circumstances like the square formation against cavalry will leave your troops bloodied.  

 

The game is not realistic and I doubt it was CA’s intention but you can actually deploy some of Napoleon's tactics. Divide and conquer. Split the enemy army into smaller parts if possible. Always engage the enemy with superior numbers, for one enemy Line infantry regiment you should field at least two against that, but three or four would be better. Supported by artillery and cavalry. This is necessary in most battles, most notably in Austerlitz, Borodino and Waterloo (France). Support your Line infantry with close quarters artillery = canister shot.


From my experience you will use up most of the allotted time. I finished Borodino, Ligny and Waterloo with around three minutes remaining.  





Don’t give into the temptation that is the fast forward button. Once activated all you ships will start to explode because the enemy will always hit your ammunition storage and enemy cavalry will teleport across the battlefield to annihilate some isolated Line infantry of yours. 

This is one of the easier battles. Still, it requires some deliberate actions on your part.When the battle starts pause the game to issue orders. Move up your infantry towards the town. Position Napoleon somewhere behind a house so he can't get hit but still inspires his men. 

Move up your artillery so it can shoot the small house and town hall.When both collapse you can move the artillery either on the hill or into the streets.




Both of your light infantry regiments should start harassing the stragglers on the hill.



Your cavalry will require your complete attention for a moment. You need to navigate the streets in the town, taking out the artillery and then cross the bridge. Your melee cavalry should take out the cannons and the ranged one should be able to kill the Austrian general. 






 
When the Austrian general and his artillery are dead start to engage the Austrian infantry. Always fight with superior numbers. Use your artillery and cavalry if you can.

Also, one of the easier battles. Unlimber your artillery and start shooting at both infantry units across the bridge. Give your grenadiers the order to run towards the bridge with Napoleon following.You can position one light infantry in front of the river so it can fire across. Its purpose is mostly to draw fire so your grenadiers and Napoleon can run across the bridge and take the town in melee combat.    


On the left-hand side in the marches deploy one light infantry and two regular infantry units to stall the Austrian infantry and win the firefight.



At the same time direct your artillery fire towards the enemy units in the march and then at the approaching Austrian army. The remaining two infantry units should stand before the bridge and engage the Austrian infantry units. If the light infantry survived support them. 



It could happen that the Austrians will send two regiments to attack the town from behind so you will have to repel them. When you cleared the march draw your remaining troop towards your artillery on the hill. The moment the Austrians reach the crossing point towards your artillery switch to canister shot. Your infantry should draw the fire. Pick your timing carefully and send Napoleon and the remaining soldier from the town towards your artillery and attack the Austrians in the rear. 

This battle can be a bit annoying. At first you should pay attention to your right flank. There is a small village and nearby are two of your infantry units and ranged cavalry. Move these forces inside the village so the enemy artillery won't shred them to bits. Enemy cavalry will charge towards the village, form squares and be careful because the enemy might ignore your infantry and charge the cavalry unit. Repel the attack and be ready for another wave of infantry converging on that position. 


 

To your left is a fortified artillery position. The enemy will also charge towards your main force from that position. When you beat the enemy back you might consider taking you cavalry and attacking that position from the rear. A frontal attack would be fatal. 




I decided to send a couple of units towards the village to fend of the infantry attack. There should also be another cavalry attack. With the ranged cavalry I destroyed the nearby artillery and then withdrawn all forces back to my main position. 

 

At the same time the enemy should go against you with an all-out attack. Try to utilize your canister shot to deal with the enemy infantry. Be wary of cavalry charges so be prepared to form squares. Should you still have cavalry at your disposal try to attack the enemy in the rear or flanks. It is also viable to sacrifice a cavalry unit by charging it into an enemy infantry just to pin it down so your infantry has time to rout it. 

 

I was barely able to withstand that attack but the enemy generals were just standing around so with my remaining couple of dozens of soldiers I approached carefully, formed squares and defeated them and thus won the battle. 

I am going to keep it short and sweat, mostly because I feel like the sea battles are just rolling dice and hoping for the best. Don’t try to from a line with your ships and simply exchange fire. Your best chance for victory is to position your ships so they can fire at the enemy, same as with the land battles try to get as many ships to focus on one target. Sooner rather than later the battle will devolve into chaos when the British ships penetrate your formation.  

 

Two things will win you this battle. Use sinking or surrendered ships as cover and if one ship of yours is drawing a lot of attention utilize the repair to keep it alive for as long as possible so the rest of your fleet can focus its fire.  

 

When the fiercest fighting has died down you can try to evade the enemy for a while to repair most of your remaining fleet. 

Everything from the Battle of the Nile applies here too but with one important addition. Wait until your Spanish allies start approaching and engaging the British and then focus your fleet on Nelson. Should he die continue with business as usual otherwise restart and hope that Nelson dies this time. 

Maybe the easiest battle, who knows. The Austrian army will sit around until you have beaten the Russians or until enough time has passed. If you are quick, you can order one of your Mameluke cavalry to charge between the gap of Russian cavalry and infantry taking out the first cannon and then attacking the second artillery regiment in the rear.  


The Russians will start advancing over the crest of the hill towards the town where a small portion of your troops are. Your artillery in the town will need to be moved for a clear line of fire. The one to the left should start firing at the Russian troops. Move a majority of your army towards the town to fight back the Russian army. You can send a couple of infantry units towards the Austrian and Russian generals. 


It should be business as usual, squares against the cavalry, attack the infantry from multiple sides and with superior numbers. At the time you have beaten the Russians the Austrians should start to move towards your left artillery piece. Turn army around and rush double time to meet them. Canister shoot should tear through their infantry. And again, attack the infantry from multiple sides and with superior numbers.

This can get dangerously close. Send your entire army towards the left flank where your allies are. Position your artillery on the hill. Either fire on the enemies that you are facing or try to support your allies in the middle. 



The first wave will attack, try to keep your allies alive but also keep your causalities low. The next wave will probably be a pincer attack. You will have to decide where and how you want to deploy your troops. The moment the enemy cavalry has been routed direct two of your own cavalry regiments towards the Russian artillery to destroy it. 

At this point your allies to the right and middle will probably have been routed and the rest of the Russian army will advance on your position. You can reposition your artillery or bring it closer to utilize the canister shot. Your cavalry should either pin enemy infantry so your own troops take less damage or try to kill the general. 

One of the more difficult battles due to the fact that you have to maneuver a lot and manage two fronts. 



On the left flank move your troops behind the town and towards the river. Your main force should move double time towards the outer rightmost edge of the map and behind the couple of buildings. The Russian artillery should almost exclusively start shell your own artillery. Since you will attack the enemy artillery from the rear focus your own bombardment on the enemy infantry so your troops will have an easier battle later. Target different units or focus fire. 








Your left detachment should move along the river and take out the enemy one by one. Your main force should swing around the Russian line in a big motion. Behind the buildings is a unit of cavalry. Rout it with squares. When your army has swung around attack the fleches, split up your army. A small detachment should take out the two infantry units to your left. The bigger force should start attacking the great redoubt in a pincer movement with the other detachment that fought clear the river. 



Then move your army towards the remaining enemies in the town, if you have cavalry attack from the rear and overwhelm. 

This one is a bit messy. Put a unit into the town hall and be ready to maneuver the other units in the vicinity in order to properly return fire or form squares.  




You should keep your cavalry ready to go behind the Russian and Prussian line when they attack to take out the enemies' cannons and then charge the enemies rear while you exchange musket fire. Even though I didn’t do it is probably wise to retreat your units on the left flank back before they get routed by charging cavalry back across the bridge to create a chokepoint and negate the enemies' superior numbers. 

 

The units on your right flank are isolated and will probably be destroyed but their sacrifice will enable the nearby artillery unit to unleash hell with its canister shot. Behind this unit is another bridge that you should utilize to create a chokepoint. 



Use Napoleon and your reserves where they are needed. It will be bloody but it is doable. 

Like Borodino a frontal assault will lead to your defeat so you have to outflank and attack the enemy in the rear. But unlike Borodino the Prussians will send a large detachment of troops from two directions towards your position on the hill which you have to defeat to be able to maneuver at all. 


To your left should be artillery, one unit of cavalry and a couple of units of infantry. Fire at the building in front of you where a Prussian unit is hiding and once that building is destroyed try to inflict as much damage as possible at the infantry holding the bridge. Move the other units on your left towards the other bridge. You can try to lure the enemy over the bridge but it would be better to go further up the stream where you can cross the river and then try to engage the enemy one by one. 



Gather all other forces behind the hill. Towards your right across the river should be a couple of enemy units which should attack you at first. If you are quick to can get in a couple of shots with your artillery. But when the assault on your right flank begins the Prussians will send also infantry and cavalry through the town towards the hill. At this point the procedure should be clear. Overwhelm the enemy with superior numbers and close support from your artillery. It is possible that Blücher will lead the attack, if you can kill him good. He got stuck in my game on the fortified bridge so if that happens forget him for the time being. 




When you survived the combined attack send your main force thought the outskirts of the city taking a detour so you arrive in the Prussian army's rear. While you are maneuvering your army your smaller detachment should have engaged and wiped out at least the cavalry and infantry unit that were guarding the bridge.  




With your army now in the Prussians rear, slowly inch forward with your infantry to bait the remaining enemy cavalry. After that direct your army as you see fit to take out the rest of the Prussian forces. 

As Wellington said this is a close call. The French will attack in two huge waves crashing against your fortified position. Unfortunately for you your artillery is stuck in their respective positions which makes these units almost useless. If you are lucky the French infantry will maneuver itself into range of your canister shot. 

 
You can use your cavalry in a couple of different ways. You can try to attack the attack French infantry in the rear. But that leaves you open to enemy artillery fire and a French cavalry counter charge. You could try to take out the French artillery early but from my experience the French will try to prevent that. Or you keep them in reserve for later when your infantry is almost spent. 

 
You will have to react and decide how you will utilize your slowly depleting army. 

 
When some time has past you will see that the French are starting to move their reserves away to welcome the arriving Prussians. Napoleon and his artillery will be vulnerable at this point. But that also means that Napoleon will send his Old Guard against you which even this late into the battle could be a crucial turning point. 

 
Especially since the Prussians can either beat back the French which should result in your victory or they will start to lose which will require assistance from you.

This is it, the biggest meat grinder in the game. As far as I am aware there is only one way to win this. 

 

When the battle starts move your entire army to the right. Hide your cavalry behind the slope. With your infantry you form an L shape so your line of fire covers the way up the hill. Where your two infantry lines would meet you position your horse artillery. If your foot artillery survived you can position it between your infantry units. 



Move a unit forwards until you see the Prussians spawning from the edge of the map. Wait until they start turning towards you and run back behind your formation. What should happen is that the Prussian will throw most of their army towards you. You infantry in support with the canister shot from your artillery should cut through the Prussian infantry like a hot knife through butter. Soon the Prussian cavalry should follow. You know what to do. 





When you annihilated almost the entire Prussian army deploy your infantry between the little farm and the big hill with the artillery in between your units. Depending on how and where you exactly position your units the British can behave differently. Best case scenario is when they more or less start moving their entire army towards you. It could also happen that they send some light infantry or cavalry up the way you came. Worst case is a where your foot artillery got shredded but rallied somewhere at the other edge of the map and the British send mostly their light infantry to kill them and at the end of the battle you have to face like four combat ready regiments which will cost you the battle. 




Assuming they move their entire force against you use the basics. Your cavalry is of vital importance. Either to draw enemy infantry attention so your frontline faces less threats or in a typical approach to attack from the rear or sacrifice itself. 

 

The aftermath should result in your tattered and bloodied troops beginning their final march towards the British artillery and Wellington. The artillery might fire on you so move behind the British line. Let your troops rest but don’t dally because time should be running out. Kill Wellington and you will have achieved victory.