Half an Hour at Arcis-sur-Aube

This is map of a few photo's taken at Arcis-sur-Aube.  The photos are on the map and show the postion looking out from where the French were - with one exception, which looking  across the ground that the main Allied advance took from St Remy.  

The town has grown since 1814 but the land around is largely unchanged since the battle in March 1814. What did I get from being there?

1 What amazing cavalry country albeit maybe not in March 1814.  Have a click on the photos and they show wide open spaces.   The Cavalry of the Guard fought here against  Austrian and Russian Cavalry.

2 Napoleon fought with back to a river.  Zoom in on the map and since how little space there was for some of his troops to manoeuvre. It was really my first genuine appreciation of why it's such a difficult position to be in. There is almost room to rally any units before they hit the river - and then they might disintegrate.  The River itself is not easily crossed other than by the bridge. 

Here's a map that matches the one you see above 

I only had this book with me.

A fab diorama of the battle.