Montereau 18 Feb 1814
The Sequel
The Battlefield Today
by Major AW Field
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More by coincidence than design, I approached Montereau along the line of the main French advance, armed with the latest French map of the area (the Serie Bleue, 1:25000, Sheet number 2517 Ouest).
It is therefore possible to stand with your back to the high-rise flats, look towards the village of Forges and see much the same as the Württembergers did nearly two hundred years ago. Driving around the housing development it seemed the only indicators to the battle were the 'Napoleon Bar' and a roundabout named after it. Undeterred I parked by the school and walked to the high ground which overlooked the town.
On the road down to the town I found a monument to the Gendarmes who took part in the battle under Pajol's command. On the confluence of the two rivers, the Seine and Yonne, stands an impressive statue of Napoleon (at right); this is the major monument to the battle. The town has inevitably grown considerably since 1814, although the church, which features in many prints of the battle, still stands proudly and seemingly unchanged.
Many thanks to John Henderson of the German States Study Group who provided me with Württemberger in den Freiheitskriegen (Stuttgart, Verlag von Holland & Josenhans, s.d.) and Iris Waldron for the translation. More Montereau
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My first glimpse of the battlefield confirmed the fears that had been raised by an examination of the map: the heights of Surville (at right), which were the key to the battle, have been totally covered by a large and rather depressing high-rise residential area. This has virtually swallowed up the old village of Villaron, although some of the old buildings survive surrounded by the new development. The old chateau has also disappeared although the open ground across which the French attacked is still clear.
Here I came across the old terraces of the chateau and a stone, which commemorates the siting of the artillery of the Imperial Guard and its aiming by Napoleon. It was a shame that this had been somewhat vandalised, although most of the words could still be made out (see photo). Despite having studied the battle in detail it was still a revelation to look down upon the bridges where the Württembergers fled and to try to imagine the effect those guns would have had upon them, so completely were they dominated.
The street down which Coignet charged with the headquarters staff (at right) is also easily located. I was disappointed to find there was no museum or tourist office in the town, the centre of which is quite pretty and sleepy despite the industry which surrounds it. Montereau is well worth a visit and I hope the photographs help to bring the maps and commentary to life a little.