But if you read N in Oman, you will see that he asks `who were these divisions that let them (the guns) be taken?`
This implies that N was asking `why were these guns not protected?`
It was - and still is - normal practice for commanders to protect their artillery, either with infantry or cavalry, against capture by the enemy. Even Senarmont was protected by accompanying infantry.
I just don`t see any evidence of French commanders doing anything other than that which was done by all other armies.