Belgium Campaign 1815

[bibouba]

so if this position is plausible, it means that the artillery is deployed on the initial position of the first corps, folowing the road from la belle alliance (due to the space needed for the convoyes).

[Alfiere]

@bibouba.
If you maybe return to battlefield , do not forget to make some digital photos from 100 mt more advance of road of Belle Alliance.
So is possible to see little dale in confront with my picture with map editor.
Also to judge the map editor rendering and risolution of srtm , if they are enough good to give a idea.
If you want,is clear.

[bibouba]

I can scan again the photo in the Adkins book for the moment. I live in Brussel not far away but prefer to go during spring (too cold for the moment).

[Alfiere]

When you want,this year,next year , next two years is not a problem,but if you maybe return to visit a battlefield.....

[Alfiere]

I found this,6 th photos,but view by above.
http://walkingwaterloo.blogspot.com/2009/04/napoleons-hq.html
I notice a little ondulation on terrain,but not much.

[Jacquinot]

Im place French units in "ravine" and saw on them from English line at 3 different positions and at all positions Britans have clear shot and as you can see French battrys behinde on ridge can fire over infantry head but range too long for artillery at that times.

[Alfiere]

Good idea

[Jacquinot]

Hello,

On the following map I highlighted the part of the "ravine" with an elevation lower than 4 metres from the ridge of la Haye Sainte. In this area even a tall man with shako on his head is always 2 meters below the top of the ridge that hides him from allied fire.
This area is about 1000 metres long and 300 metres wide in the widest part and still 100 metres in the most narrow part.

The diagram below shows how could have been formed the french divisions of the Ist corps for the first attack.
There were about 125 m wide for 75-80 m deep.
There were 4 columns (Bourgeois brigade, Donzelot division, Marcognet division and Durutte division)

On the whole area they have enough place in depth to form columns and they just use about 500 m wide. They still have enough place to leave space between each column of about 100 m and remaining hidden from allied fire.

Of course the word "ravine" is exagerated to talk about this small dale but it was the word used by Corporal Canler and it is technically usable to hide columns from battery fire.

It is of course not a proof that this was the position of the Ist corps at the beginning of the attack but it shows that it was possible

I hope it can help

Regards

Frédéric   



Uploaded with ImageShack.us



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Thanks for this information.

[Frédéric]

@bibouba.
If you maybe return to battlefield , do not forget to make some digital photos from 100 mt more advance of road of Belle Alliance.
So is possible to see little dale in confront with my picture with map editor.
Also to judge the map editor rendering and risolution of srtm , if they are enough good to give a idea.
If you want,is clear.

Hello,

Yesterday evening, at dusk, I went to the battlefield and went down the small dale between both ridges.
My digital camere is currently out of use but I tried to show on map and picture what I saw (and didn't) from this position

The light yellow area shows the part of the fild out of my line of sight. I was totally hidden from the Mont Saint Jean ridge until the convent at the right (near the culminating point 133).


To make it more clear I did the same on the picture found on the link you gave yesterday. For people not familiar with the Battlefield I put a legend of the most important points of this topic




I hope it helps

Regards

Frédéric

[Alfiere]

Thank you very much Frédéric .
The situation is now always more clear.

I was totally hidden from the Mont Saint Jean ridge until the convent at the right (near the culminating point 133).
This is a confirm important.

[bibouba]

I just think about another possibility :
the great battery deployes in the mount KM 21.
The first corps is behind the road. Just have a look to this link , you  could see that there is a second hill behind the hill with another hollow
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3821901
with this proposition there is place for the artilllery convoyes

[Alfiere]

Using my map with doubled slope,the three french INF are not visible , only flag for two the other is totally hidden.
Note the road that disappear.
But wait Jacquinot for some experiment.

[bibouba]

but is it the Frederic proposal or the one behind the road ?

[Frédéric]

I just think about another possibility :
the great battery deployes in the mount KM 21.
The first corps is behind the road. Just have a look to this link , you  could see that there is a second hill behind the hill with another hollow
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3821901
with this proposition there is place for the artilllery convoyes

According to me the ridge with the crop circle is the the hedge KM21.
The ridge where peoples are is the continuation of the little mount where the gravel pit was (should be situated at the right of the picture)

The hedge of la Belle Alliance is the one where we can see a hedge in the center right

Regards

[bibouba]

look this one, normally according this website the first mount is near the road.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1678021

This is my idea


Uploaded with ImageShack.us