The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-12-26
The Ilish Brigade at the Battle of Fon-

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tenoy.
Fontenoy, from which the battle takes
its name, is small will ge of Belgium,
providence of Hainault, five miles south.
east of Tournay. In May, 1745, Louis
XIV, King of France, laid siege to the
latter city with an army of $4,000 men
under the command of the celebrated
Marshal SAKE. The allied forces, English
Dutch, and Austrians $4,000 strong,
commanded by the Duke of Cumberland,
marched to its relief. At the approach
of the Duke, SAKE and the King-leavne
$4,000 to continue the siege, and 6000 to
guard the Schedt-ayanced from Tourn
ay. When the Allies came up, they found
the French encamped on the gentle
heights which rise from the right bank OF
the ScheIdt, with that river and the village
of St. Antoine on the right, Fontenoy aud
a narrow valley in their front, aud the
wood of Barri on their left Fontenov
and ST. Antoine were fortified and well
garrisoned; strong redoubts were thrown
up between these two villages, and there
was an abbatis on the left, in front of the
wood of Barri but the left centre was
not guarded by anything save slight lines.
Diving in the French pic9uets and cut.
posts, the allies advanced, but night fell,
operations were suspended. and the troors
lay on their arms till the following morn
ing, May IL.
At four o'clock in the morning a brisk
cahnonade began on both sides; before
six the two armies were closely engaged
The right wing, composed of English, and
the Dutch, who formed the cehtre, under
Major~G Zazfrow, were to form in
four lines to the left, AS far as the wood ot
Plerrenne they were to march up in three
columns; the first column, composed Of
cavalry, was to march up the road of Mons
along the village of Veron; and the third
to stretch into the plain between Fontenoy
and St. Antoine. Cumberland being in
formed that there was in front Of the vii.
age of Veron a battery of common, with
500 or 500 men, ordered General In
goldsby, with four battalions and three
six FOUNDERS, to dislodge them, whilst
Prince Waldeck attacked The village o.
Fontenov But the Dutch we're driven
back in disorder, and Ingoldsby, with his
English division, had TO retire with dis,
honor.
Cumberland at length determined to
make finale effort. Selecting from bis
veteran English regiments 5000 men, he
formed them into a single column. AT
its head lie placed six cannon, and as many
more on its Aanks, and gave the command
10 Lord John Hay This was the forlorn
hope of the allies, in which they trnsted to
retrieve their former i'll success, and drive
the French army from its entertainments
They reckoned, however for once in their
lives, without their host. They forgot
that there was body of men in the
French army, who were chafing under the
restraint which held them in reserve as
the last resource-men who had besoucht
Heaven morning and evening for such an
hour and such an opportunity. The
g Irish Brigade" was there-ihe reserve
mere idle spectators up to this juncture
of the battle, though burning for the or
der to charge.
The English column now moved slowly
but steadily. With bayonets fixed, the
British soldiers plunged down ravine
which separated them from the French
lines, and while artillery moved down
their ranks from right to left, they march
ed forward with rapidly diminishing nun
bers but unfinching courage. They gam
ed the hill in a solid mass, cut down al
opposition, and got behind FoDtenoy =
As soon as SAKE saw the object Of the
column, he hurried his troops in upor
them. The French cavalry retreated,
scattered by the death dealing bnlles o
the English. They disdained to rush a
the picked infantry Of France: Ass after
mass was broken on their impenetrabIt
front and the column advanced, reduced
but apparently irvncible. BY the advice
of the Duke of RicheIieu, four pieces o
cannon were brought to bear on the Brit
ish front. while the household troops sur
rounded them, and in repeated charges
wore down their strength bat ;he French
were equal sufferers in these Onslaughts
King Louis was about to order a retreat
to be sounded, and leave the fed while
old Marshal Konigse2g was c0ngratuIa,
ting the Duke Of Cumberland on his vic,
tory. But his compliments were pFema
ture. At this juucture, Marshal SAKE
was reduced TO his last and principal effort
to recover the fast fleeing fortunes Of the
day. This was in bringing mp the Irisl
Brigade, corps on whose courage and
behavior he relied for favorable decision
OF so great, so dubious and well contested
battle. The Brigade consisted that day
OF the regiments Of Clare, LaIly, Dillon
Berwick, Roth, and Buckley, with Fitz
james rhorse. O'Brien, Lord Glare, va
in command. Supported by the regiment
of Normandy and Naisseux, they match