Action at Arroyo con Pollo - Scenario

Since Kevin is a Francophile in general and a devout Napoleonic Francophile in particular, a Napoleonic game set in Spain should be a welcome surprise when we gather at the gaming table on Sunday.  Arroyo con Pollo will be fought using a modified version of Old Trousers.

Having a string of reverses in the Peninsula, the British find themselves back on their heels, as the victorious French press on.  To gain time in order to allow the main body to make good its escape, a reinforced British brigade takes up a holding position across a defile.  The British holding force is tasked with preventing the French from advancing through the defile.  Failing that, the goal is to at least delay the French forces until the cover of darkness allows the holding force to sneak away.

View of the Defile

At this time of year, the arroyo running through the defile is dry with low scrub flanking its banks.  The ridges guarding the defile are rough ground allowing no cavalry or artillery maneuvers.  Before the arroyo disappears into the defile, a small enclave of farms can be found.  While the farm houses themselves are small, each farm is enclosed by adobe over brick walls and should provide some defensive benefit.  At one time these farms were used to produce poultry for the local markets.  

Poultry Farms

To hold the defile, the British have at hand, four line infantry battalions (two of them KGL), one KGL light infantry battalion, two six pound gun sections, and two squadrons of KGL hussars.  The line battalions can deploy two skirmishers each while the light battalion may deploy up to four.

The British Holding Force

In pursuit, the French muster four French line infantry battalions, one Swiss infantry battalion, one reserve grenadier battalion, one legere battalion, four squadrons of light cavalry, two squadrons of heavy cavalry, and two guns sections (one heavy).  French line infantry may deploy up to two skirmishers each while the grenadiers and the legere may deploy up to four.  The French have three commands: two foot and one horse.

The French Pursuers

The roster below illustrates the composition of each command.  Each MU is rated for Combat Effectiveness with the higher CE value representing a greater combat effectiveness, ceteris paribus.  Note that the British infantry show a modest CE advantage (6 to 5) over their French counterparts.

Roster

While British take up positions across the defile and behind the red line as shown in the photo below, the KGL light infantry may deploy forward of this line. The French march onto the table from the end shown by blue arrows.

The Battlefield

Given the situation as described and the order of battle listed, what would be YOUR initial plans of action for each of the combatants?  Can the advancing French pierce the British defensive line and push on through the defile?  Can the British blocking force hold on until nightfall? 

Of course, strategies and tactics are not confined to Old Trousers.  Assume this action will be fought using your favorite Napoleonic battalion level rules.  Battalion level in the sense that the basic maneuver unit is the infantry battalion or cavalry squadron.

I look forward to seeing suggestions on this tactical problem.