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Extra: A Closeup of Madonna della Serra
A Closeup of Madonna della Serra
Hey, not really an update here so much as a look at what I visualized for the Battle of Madonna della Serra, a.k.a. "the Corsican Bunker Hill where they actually win."
All pictures are expandable.
A drone's eye view of the chapel, looking south, giving you a sense of the compound layout. The granite rise behind the chapel is part of the "second ridge" from which the defenders would have rallied and repelled the French attack. The distance from the top of that ridge to the chapel is about 250 yards. That's rather long range for a smoothbore musket, but still at the range where lethal wounds could be inflicted, and though the Corsicans were not good at Frederician-style line combat they were said to be good shots. Entrance to the chapel can only be obtained by the stairs around the back (the south side), which would thus be in the field of fire of the second ridge.
While this is not the chapel that existed in 1738, as it was destroyed during the French intervention, the old chapel occupied the same location. The very fact that it was destroyed "during a siege" in 1740 suggests that even in its original form it was of strategic value, otherwise presumably there would have been no reason to destroy/bombard it.
Another drone shot, but looking north this time. Calvi and its citadel are plainly visible, giving you a sense of the proximity of the rebel position to the town. This view also shows the French path of advance, a shrub-covered slope funneled directly towards the chapel-redoubt which is largely treeless once you get within 300 yards of the chapel.
Okay, okay, this one is just scenery porn, so sue me. A very nice picture of the chapel, showing the access stair at the back, with the Corsican mountains in the background.
Fixed, and thanks very much!
Hey, not really an update here so much as a look at what I visualized for the Battle of Madonna della Serra, a.k.a. "the Corsican Bunker Hill where they actually win."
All pictures are expandable.
A drone's eye view of the chapel, looking south, giving you a sense of the compound layout. The granite rise behind the chapel is part of the "second ridge" from which the defenders would have rallied and repelled the French attack. The distance from the top of that ridge to the chapel is about 250 yards. That's rather long range for a smoothbore musket, but still at the range where lethal wounds could be inflicted, and though the Corsicans were not good at Frederician-style line combat they were said to be good shots. Entrance to the chapel can only be obtained by the stairs around the back (the south side), which would thus be in the field of fire of the second ridge.
While this is not the chapel that existed in 1738, as it was destroyed during the French intervention, the old chapel occupied the same location. The very fact that it was destroyed "during a siege" in 1740 suggests that even in its original form it was of strategic value, otherwise presumably there would have been no reason to destroy/bombard it.
Another drone shot, but looking north this time. Calvi and its citadel are plainly visible, giving you a sense of the proximity of the rebel position to the town. This view also shows the French path of advance, a shrub-covered slope funneled directly towards the chapel-redoubt which is largely treeless once you get within 300 yards of the chapel.
Okay, okay, this one is just scenery porn, so sue me. A very nice picture of the chapel, showing the access stair at the back, with the Corsican mountains in the background.
Fixed, and thanks very much!
- Carp
- Word Count: 330