Beginner questions...

[tgardner]

The French assault column had pierced the Russian line. But only pushed the Russian extended line back 4" and their pursuit was halted. A Russian
assault column charged the French at a weird angle. If you drew a line across the front of the French unit, the Russians were sitting on the edge.
I could barely draw a line from the front middle of the Russian unit to the front middle of the French unit. The Russian unit could charge the French,
but there was no room for maneuvering. Is this a case of charging home to contact the French and then let the French volley or is it a case no shooting
because of the angle?

Also, can you recover from disorder while being in contact with and enemy unit. A French unit was disordered in combat. He beat a Russian extended line, and pursued
and after 4" came in contact with another unit. It said that the combat would be fought next turn, so they stayed in contact.

[Blathergut]

I'm not quite sure of your positioning.

The Russian unit needs to be directly front of at least some part of the French unit in order for the French unit to fire. (Extend the French left and right sides forward. Some part of the Russian unit must at some point be in this zone.)

If so, then the French may fire IF they can extend a line from the front center-point of their unit to some part (not necessarily the front center) of the Russian unit. It does not even have to be the front edge of the Russian unit.

If you cannot draw that line, the French may not fire.

[Blathergut]

Yes, you may recover cohesion if in contact with enemy. Not every soldier or even battalion is necessarily fighting hand-to-hand.