D'Erlon's Attack

In an attempt to figure out the battle results of French infantry against British infantry for the purposes of determining good wargames rules ... I decided to examine the attack of D'erlons corps. I'm sick to the stomach of people just quoting reasons why the British should defeat the French in theory. I want to know what happened in the field.

And what a shit fight it is to find out anything. No one can agree on anything.

Many write that D'erlon deployed his brigades in columns with one behind the other. The idea being that troops from the rear could fill gaps created. But this raises a question ... does this mean troops from one battalion move up to form in the ranks of another? Or is this between companies INSIDE a battalion which withdraws to let another advance from the column?

And what type of columns in meant? References to "five paces" have been explained by five paces between battalions beside or five paces behind the first. What is it? The above image shows one battalion wide columns. But what do the blue lines actually represent? There are 8 blue lines in Donzelot'l column but 9 in the battaltion (did I miscount on the map above?) so which is it?

Again above, in Marcognet's brigade there are but 6 blue lines representing battalions but his brigade had 8 battalions? Picky I know but what the arse do these represent?

Another problem is many mentions of the British in lines 4 deep. Does this mean the entire attack is a bad example of Frenchn vs Brit combat? How are they lined up four deep? Does this mean a double thick line OR a company in the usual 2 deep formation supported by another company ... in a kind of double line formation. (Almost an attack column!)

Now the above confuses all the above. Here regiment battalions are clearly placed beside each other rather than in a deeper formation. Now what does this say about support from the rear? And in any case it certainly isn't what is shown in the above diagram. What the deuce is actually happening? 

Many write that D'erlon chose his formation based on his experiences in the Peninsula. And then people describe usual French tactics. Did he say he would change then get nervous and forget? What the arse is happening?

Need much more time to study the events.