Marengo – battlefield photo

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I went to the battlefield of Marengo for one final visit in June 2017. This view shows the farmhouse at Marengo as it would have appeared to Austrian troops after they fought their way across the Fontanone Brook. I was there in the morning and the weather was perfect – just as it was described in the battle.

One can see what a formidable obstacle this farmhouse presented, but imagine if you will Rivaud’s infantry battalions drawn up in front of this farm, firing volley after volley into the advancing Austrians.

I will show some other photographs of the farm in future posts. But one can imagine the fate of the wounded who gathered inside only to fall victim to Austrian shellfire.

The fire-fight in front of this farm was described as the most intense of the wars of the French Revolution.

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Published by terrycrowdy

Terry Crowdy is an author specializing in the study of the French army during the Napoleonic and French Revolutionary Wars. With numerous published books, articles and papers, Terry Crowdy is a Member of the Society of Authors. He has written on a variety of military, espionage, and ‘secret war’ subjects, and in addition to TV and radio appearances, has presented papers in the United States to the Raleigh Spy Conference, and International Spy Museum in Washington DC. His first interest is for the daily lives of Napoleon’s soldiers. He wrote “Incomparable” - the first published history of a Napoleonic French infantry regiment since the Great War, one hundred years ago. He has also conducted detailed research on the battle of Marengo. His new book, “Marengo – the victory that placed the crown of France on Napoleon’s head” is published this month by Pen & Sword. Professionally, Terry Crowdy is a historic buildings fire risk specialist. He is a Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers, and works for Historic Royal Palaces, the charity which manages the Queen’s unoccupied palaces.

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