I am now in 1888, as the British. Britain starts out with one regiment of highlanders, about 5 one element Gurkha units, a number of colonial brigades. There is no way to recruit more, even at the start of the scenario.
I had an elite force containing these units, which conquered the Sudan for me, among other exploits. Yet in my latest war with the Ottomans, I foolishly invaded Cyprus without scouting, and discovered a huge army in the city there. The next turn, they came out of the city, and destroyed my elites as they were trying to reembark.
If you get sloppy in this game, that is what can happen.
Very sad, and I rivaled Burnside as a commander on this one. I was bitterly disappointed to find that there is no way to replace the destroyed units in the recruiting screen, which I have looked at every possible way.
Any ideas?