The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-04-24
samuel Lover.l

the Irish people. Their ardent milital
.. spirit, which was one Of the results of the
Celtic origin, had been wasted through man
centuries, in savage feuds among themselve
or in fruitless resistance to their invaders
and when at length it had become disciplined
under Sarsfeld and st. Ruth, and acquire
force which might have yielded Englan
the greatest service in her ensuing wars,
was lost to her through the intolerance whic
prescribed the religion of a Fation.
The laws of the period, which forbad
Catholics to bear arms under the Englls
crown, blindly renowned all the advantage
to be derived from their devotion, and com
PEELED the army of James H., when dis
banded at the Peace of Limerick, to pas
over to the Continent, and enroll under it
various monarchs. Almost every throne o
Europe profted by the bold hearts an(
stalwart frames of the buoyant sons of thu
Emerald Isle, except only that the one tina
still nominally claimed their allegiance while
repudiating their services. 1t was in France
however that James army was found prin
cipally to eassemble-owing probably, tt
the greater sympathy of the ALDERMAN and
the Celtic temperaments-and there formed
themselves into a body, which soon became
distinguished under its title of the "Irish
Brigade"
These gallant emigrants, who left behind
them all their social and domestic ties, car
ried abroad with their untarnished honor and
their indomitable courage, all their uncon-
querable gayety and their undying love for
their native country. Almost as deep, how
ever, perhaps, was their love for their native
music. So strong was it. indeed, 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 such
passionate longing for home, that it often
led to desertion; while in the poor Irishman,
whose home was lost to him, no such danger
was to be feared.
A continuous evil resulted from the expat-
ration of these men. The brigade, which
was stub luLO cAllo w uOD OfCi 11sVOO ctTOIS,
was always actively recruited in Ireland,
however Illegally, and at some risk-that
thus, year after year, the valorous youth and
ought to have fought under the flag of Will
liam and Marlborough, went abroad to
espouse the cause and swell the forces of
their enemies-until, at length it fell to their
lot to face the heroes they should have
shouldered, and to infict on England her
greatest military disaster throughout the CEN
fury. 1t was the impetuous charge of the
Irish Brigade that won for the French the
battle of Fontenoy. Well might George II.
exclaim, on reviewing such fact, Sad
indeed are the laws that deprive me Of such
soldiers"
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 staunch fidel
ity and its daring, decisive courage might be
quoted from the military records of those
days; but one especially may be selected,
which in its singular combination of the
heroic and the grotesque must be regarded
as very national. .s.... q.
Cremona, besieged by Prince Eugene, and
defended by the French, was surprised one
morning before dawn, and would inevitably
have been lost but for the promptitude of the
Irish. While the punctilious and ornate
Frenchmen were deliberately buttoning up
their regimentals, the former, at the sound
of their trumpets, jumped out of bed and
simply staying to buckle ON their crossbelts
and cartouch boxes, seized their guns and
hurried to the Square, where, on forming in
fighting order, their commanders words,
"Halt-dressp were, at least in one respect,
superhuous. Their indifference to appear
ances on this occasion was all the greater that
the period was midwinter, and the city was
near the Alps In this condition they were
charged by the Austrian Cuirassiers. 1t
was steel coats against night-shirts; but the
linen trade of Ireland proved the more
formidable of the two. The Austrians were
driven back, and the French had time to
form and recover possession of the town.
For this brilliant service the brigade was
honored with the emphatic thanks of Louis
XIV, and also had their pay increased.
But these fearless fellows, as may be sup
posed, carried abroad to their new service
not only their courage and fidelity. but all
their exuberance as Irishmen. Their roll
licking spirit and love of fun were quite as
great as their love of fighting, and at times
were so opposed to propriety and discipline,
that the martinets of the French ranks had
to make formal complaints on the matter.
It was on one such occasion that a great com.
pliment was paid them by the brave Duke
of Berwick, who however, had good reason
to love them for their devotion to his father.
"Marshal," said the King to him, 'this Irish
Brigade gives me more trouble than all my
army put together" "Please your Majesty
replied the Duke, ''your enemies make just
the same complaint of them"
The idol of the brigade was the celebrated
Marshal SAKE, whose great bravery. in union
with his jovial, mirthful temperament, gave
him character that was so engaging and SC
kindred to their own. 1t wasin reference tc
him originated one of the plumbers of poor
Pat that has been so often repeated and local.
lied everywhere. The Marshal was wounded
in some engagement, and, moreover, 1t wa
reported-in his back. None OF the brigade
however, would believe il. "When did h
ever show his back to them2" was the gen
eral exclamation. Wasn't it his face they
knew most of, and wasn't it their backs tina
he knew best2" At last solution of tn,
mystery was hit upon-"He was purshuint
'em, you see, and just to make the villin
think that, on the CONTRARY, he was retrat
| ing, he buttoned his coat behind himpv
Of the anecdotes and jokes told Of the bri
gade during their extended foreign service
proofs of humor and ight-heartedness which
even exile could not subdue-the, number i
indeed legion. Gallo vanity forced then
often into .he attitude of censors, and severs
of their repartees are excellent, and as full
of sense as they are of pleasantly. Anon
the mass of these is one that has been ofte
referred to other sources-when a French
man, claiming for his country the inventio
of all the elegancies named among othe
things rpf1e, and Pat answered: 1--WE in