FRENCH M.1812 SHAKO PLATE

Standard pattern with crowned eagle over raised center demilune with crossed cannons artillery insignia. Flaming bombs at the crescent tips. Waterloo Period and issue. Napoleon was an artillery officer, now deemed by historians to be overly dependent on artillery. Ideally cannon fire could produce multiple casualties as the balls bounced on the field. It was especially useful in hilly terrain, as Waterloo, where, with spotters, it could be fired from one hill side to an unseen enemy on the other. Waterloo was fought on a battle field soaked with rain and the French artillery was unable to produce the casualties anticipated by Napoleon, a major factor in his defeat. This fine specimen is from a Dearborn Michigan life time Napoleonic collection.