The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-02
Famous Memories of the Month.
BATTLE or ToNrENoY, MAY, IL.
(Manhattan Monthly.J

u
province of Hainault. five miles south east
OF Tourney. In May, 1745: Louis XIV,
King of France, laid siege to the latter city
vito an army of $4,000 men, under the
command of the celebrated Marshal SAKE:
The allied forces, English, Dutch and
Austrians, SIS 900 strong, commanded by
the Duke of Cumberland. marched to its
relief. At the approach of the duke, SAKE
and the king-leaving lS. O0O to continue
the siege, and 5000 to guard the ScheIdt-
advanced few miles from Tourney. 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 aud the village of st. An-
tome on the right, Fontenoy ana narrow
valley in their front, and thewood OF Barrl
on their Left Fontenoy and st. Antoine
were fortified and well garrisOned strong
redoubts were thrown up between these
two villages, and there were abattls on the
left, in front of the wood of BarrI but TIE
left centre was not guarded oy anyCnlng
save slight lines. Driving in the French
pickets and outpOsts, the Allies advanced,
but night fell, operations were suspended,
and the troops lay on their arms till the
following morning, May IL.
Early in the morning dispositions of the
troops were made. The Dutch and Austrians
were disposed to the enemy's left, opposite
the right of the French, and destined to
| carry st. Antoine aRd its works. The En-
| glish and Hanoverians were in the centre
| with their infantry in front and cavalry in
| rear, close by the wood of Barrl. "A brisk
cannonade began about four in the morning
| and by six the combatapts were forclhly
measuring each others strength. The En-
glish and Hanoverians were to march up
| in three columns the first column, COM
posed 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
| l. -. 80 ,oI hok sh in nf
the village of Veron battery of cannon,
with 500 or 600 men, ordered General ln-
gOldsby, with four battaliOns and three six
Founders, to dislodge them, whilst Prince
Waldeck attacked the village of Fontenoy.
"The map cantained in the memoirs of
Marechal SAKE" says Mitchell History Of
Ireland, p. Gay, "gives the disposition OF
the various corps on the French side and
we there find the place of the Irish Brigade
marked on the left of the French line, but
not the extreme left, and nearly opposite
the salient point of the wood of Barri. The
brigade was not at it's full strength and
we know not on what authority Mr.. Davis
lin the note to his splendid ballad of Fon-
tenoy) states that all the seven regiments
we're on the ground. There were probably
four regiments, certainly threeICiares,
billions and LaIIy's-Lord Clare being in
command. Neither Clare, nor Dillon, Eor
Lally, was irish by birth, but all we're sons
of Limerick exiles. Of their troops ranked
that day under the green flag, probably
! not one had fought at Limerick ffty-four
of the original 'wiIdgeese,' or Irishmen
who had migrated since, to fly from the
, degradation of the penal laws, and seek re-
verge upon their country's enemies"
| The intention of the Dutch having been
frustrated, and the English under lngolds-
, by having been compelled to retire in dis
honor, the Duke of Cumberland determined
, to make a fierce and final effort. He did,
( and was very nearly successful in driving
) the French into the Scheldt,. Several re-
> cent writer's give the number of Cumber-
a lands's column, under Lord John Hay, as
! six thousand, and perhaps have been led
D into this error by Davis. who, in his ballad,
says: "Six thousand English veterans in
stately column tread"
t Mitchell, correcting Davis, says: "The
Duke of Cumberland having made an en-
, trance between the wood of Barri and FOn'
/ tenoy, retired for a space and <rearrauged
Z his English and Hauoverians in three thir
\ columns which in the advance under
. heavy fire on both sides, were gradual
q crowded into one column of great depth
. full sixteen thousand strong. They haC
4 with them twelve field pieces 10 from
Q aud elk in the middle of their lines"
q With fixed bayonets, and with great eau
+ ton, the English column moved steadily
o forward. A ravine lay between them and
- the French. They descended into it amid
r Although their ranks were moved down OF
q the right and left, they persisted. On they
d went with rapidly leseening numbers bu
q undiminished courage. They surmountet
Il the hill on the other side of the ravine
overcame all opposition, and got behinC
o FOnteuoy.
a Perceiving the object of the English
Marshal SAKE flung troops after troops up
t on them. The French cavalry charged and
re-charged-and were as often hurled bacE
i by the deadly bullets OF the British. The
d advancing column seemed impenetrable
a and masses of the French were broken to
/. pieces on this apparently inviDcibe front.
@ SAKE believed the battle to be lost, and
>. sent twice to entreat the king to GROSS the
e Scheldt, and remove himself from danger
n which the latter refused to do. While ir
il this state of mortal anxiety, the Duke De
# Richelieu rode up with a suggestion, which
it is said originated with Lally,-to oyer
o with battery on the advancing column
u and follow up with a simultaneous attack
l. with all the reserves, including the house
It hold cavalry aud the Irish Brigade, which