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(Click on the images to enlarge.)
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| Fort Bard – it blocks the valley, but not the heights. |
Grenadiers Sans-Souci and La Cravate reinforced the garrison of Fort Bard. On Sunday, they were ordered to explore the heights east of the fortress and look for passable footpaths. We climbed up more than a 1000 metres in height. Neither our heavy backpacks, nor the weight of our muskets, nor several heavy rainstorms with thunder and lightning could overcome our habitual good grenadiers' mood. We used the night to have our soaked clothes dry a bit, and the next day to bring our rusty muskets and bayonets back into a decent condition.
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The pathways were steep, and became even steeper. But this helped us to gain height quickly. From above, we inspected the village Albard, from where the First Consul had inspected the defences of Fort Bard. We passed several abandoned houses and hamlets, until we arrived in the hamlet Verale, just below the pass Col-de-la-Cou. Two very hospitable brothers who were living here, regaled us with beer and wine and biscuits. |
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Nearly in full strength, and reinforced by three cannoneers of the 1er régiment d'artillerie, we defeated the Prussians.
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| We instructed, discussed, marched, fought and enjoyed our life in bivouac, in spite of the cold. | ||||