The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-11-01

Inc story OF the Irish Brigade is one OF
the most interesting episodes in the history
! of the Irish people. Their erdent military
spirit, which was one of the results of their
Celtic origin, bad been wasted through
many centuries, in savage feuds among
themselves, OF in fruitlees resistance to
their invaders-apd when at length it had
become disciplined, under Sartfield and
st. Ruth, and acquired force which might
have yielded England the greatest service
through the intolerance which prescribed
the religion of nation.
The laws of the period which forbade
Catholics to bear arms under the English
crown, blindly renowned all the advan-
tages to be derived from their devotion,
and compelled the army Of James H., when
disbanded at the peace of Limerick to pass
over to the continent, aud enroll under its
various monarchs. Almost every throne
of Europe profited by the bold hearts and
stalwart frames of the buoyant sons of the
Emerald Isle, except only the one that still
nominally claimed their allegiance while
repudiating their services. It was in
found principally to reassemble-owing pro-
badly, to the greater sympathy of the Hib
ernian and the Celtic temperaments-and
there formed themselves into body,
which coon became distinguished under it's
title of the "Irish Brigade"
hCCo S0lout OH WHO leu UenIuu
them all their social and domestic ties, car
ried abroad, with their untarnished honor
and their indomitable courage, all their
uucoDquerable gayety and their undyiog
love for their native country. Almost as
deep, however, perhaps was their love for
their native music. So strong was it, in
deed, that they refused TO march to the
French tunes, and on all military occasions
insisted on the use of their national airs
a qualification that was conceded to them,
though the same favor was denied to the
Swiss. For this, however, there was
reason. The music of the RAM des
Vaches" awoke in the breast of the latter
often led 60 desertion (; while in the poor
Irishman, whose home was lost to him, no
such danger was to be feared.
During the course of almost q century
the Brigade was enrolled in the French
army, and had an honorable share in all the
latter's brightest achievements in Flanders,
Spain, and Italy. Many instances of it's
courage might be quoted from the military
records of those days but one especially
msy be selected, which in its singular COM
bination of the heroic and the grotesaue,
must be regarded as very national.
Cremona, beseiged by Prince Eugene,
one morning before dawn, and would in
evitobly have been lost but for tho promp-
titude Of the Irish. While the punctilious
and ornate Frenchmen were deliberately
buttonipg MP their regineDtals. the former,
at the sound of their trumpets, jumped out
Of bed, and simply etayipg to buckle on
their cross-belts and cartouch boxes, seized
their guns and hurried to the square,
where, on forming in fighting order, their
words, f'Halt !-dress!n were,
1T least in one respect, superfuous. The
Indifference to appearance on this occasion
was all the greater that the period was mid
winter, and the city was near the Alps. In
his condition they were charged by the Aus,
'rian cuirassieIa. 1t was steel coats against
night shirts but the linen trade of Ire
and proved the more formidable of the
;wo. The Austrians were driven back, and |
The French had time to form and recover
of the town. For this brilliant |
service the brigade was honored with the |
emphatic thanks of Louis XIV, and also
lad their pay increased.
But these fearless fellows, as NAV be
imposed, carried abroad to their new SER
'ice not only their courage and fidelity,
nut all their exuberauce as Irishm men. Their
spiri; and love of fun were quite
Is great as their love of fighting, and at
lines were so opposed to proprety and
discipline, that the martinets of the
French ranks had to make formal COM
'laints on the matter. 1t was on one such
occasion that great compliment was paid
hem by the brave Duke of Berwick, who,
owever, had good reason to love them for
heir devotion to his father.
"Marshal," said the King to him, "this
IRISH Brigade gives ms more trouble than
II my army put together"
Please your majesty, )" replied the duke,
your enemies make just the same COM
laint of them !"
The idol of the Brigade was the celebra
ed Marshal SAKE, whose great bravery in
MON with his jovial mirthful temperament
ave him a character that was so engaging
nd so kindred to their own. 1t was in
eference to him originated one of the
lunders of poor Pat that has so often been
epeated and localized everywhere. The
larshal was wounded in some engagement
nd, moreover, it was reported-in his
ack. None of the Brigade, however,
-ould believe it.
"Wben did he ever show Iia back tt
lem Z" was the general exclamation.
Wasn't it his face they knew the most Of
nd wasn't their backs that he knew best ~
At last a solution of this mystery wac HIT l
II 3.