Placed the French mostly in the larger town, with the ENG on the bridge and an INF to delay in the town. The plan was to blow the bridge and then for the ENG to help them flee across the river. Unfortunately the ENG celebrated their pending victory the night before with too much wine and were unable to ever blow the bridge. The Germans moved quickly into the woods. The French sent four cavalry and a couple leaders to the east side of the river to tie up the Germans. This helped delay them, but resulted in a number of casualties that helped the German victory conditions. Those fanatical Germans with a leader and AFV are pretty strong during an assault. Once the Germans killed the ENG and took the town next to the bridge it was downhill for the French.

I think the best plan would be to make sure the bridge gets blown and then put everything into defending the ford. The 25's took out trucks carrying the 75 INF guns when they were moved forward to join the HMG to improve the direct fire. Napoleon would have been proud of their art with the gunnery, even though it failed to turn the tide of the battle.