Below the Pratzen heights, to the right of The Pheasantry on the map, was located the French right. It was the spot that the Allies had decided to attack and crush and prior to the great French assault it was lightly held by a thin line of troops. During the battle reinforcements that had marched all night long came up and held the right side. Part of the final crushing blow was recalled when the Allied commanders realized they had been duped by Napoleon into emptying the heights of nearly all their troops.
This is a portion of the pheasantry wall where a French artillery contingent tore down portions of the wall to push the barrels of their guns through.
Here I am with my youngest daughter and our interpreter Igor. He was a student at my wife's school and, fortunately for us, volunteered to come along at the last moment.
On the other side of the pheasantry is the village of Sokolnitz where Igor asked for directions for us. After an amazing flurry of words he leaned back into the car and rolled up the window. He then started laughing and laughing and turning to me he said, "Did you hear that woman's accent?"
To tell the truth, I couldn't tell the difference. :)
You can't tell from these two pictures but he's still laughing here...
On the other side of the pheasantry is the village of Sokolnitz where Igor asked for directions for us. After an amazing flurry of words he leaned back into the car and rolled up the window. He then started laughing and laughing and turning to me he said, "Did you hear that woman's accent?"
To tell the truth, I couldn't tell the difference. :)
You can't tell from these two pictures but he's still laughing here...
and here...
And the rest of the way home...
For those who are interested about these things you can gauge the distance that 8 lb. guns were spaced from this picture.
And the rest of the way home...
For those who are interested about these things you can gauge the distance that 8 lb. guns were spaced from this picture.
