The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-18
THE IRISH BRIGADE.
An Interesting Sketch of a Memoir
able Command.
Samuel Lovers Description of the Vic
tors at Fontenoy-How English
Laws Drove the Youth
of Ireland into the
Army of France.

spirit, which was one of the results Of their
Celtic origin, had been wasted through many
centuries, In savage feuds among themselves,
or In fruitless resistance to their invaders
and when at length 1t had become disciplined.
under Sarsfeld and st. Ruth, and acquired a
! force which might have yielded England the
greatest service In her ensuing wars, 1t was
| lost to her 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 refused all the advantages to
be derived from their devotion, and compelled
the army Of James IL, when disbanded at the
Peace of Limerick, to pass over to the eonti-
nent and enroll under Its various monarcbs.
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 al
legiance while repudiating their services. IT
was In France, however, that James's army
was found principally to reassemble-
probably, to the greater sympathy of the
Hibernian and the Celtic tempera ments- md
| there formed themselves into a body, which
soon became distinguished under Its title OF
the Irish Brigade"
These gallant emigrants, who left behind
ried abroad with their untarnished honor and
their indomtable courage all their unconnuer-
able gayety and their undying love for their
native country. Almost as deep, however.
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 mill
tary occasions insisted on the use of their
national airs-a qualification that was con-
ceded to them, though the same favor was
denied to the Swiss. For this, however, there
I'M he.
Vaches awoke In the breast of the latter such
a passionate longing for home, that it often
led to desertion; while In the poor Irishmap.
whose home WAS lost to him, no such danger
was to be feared.
A continuous evil resulted from the expa-
triatton OF these men. The brigade, which
was sent into exile when over IA 900 strong.
was always actively recruited In Ireland
however illegally, and at some risk-and
thus, year after year. the valoroUs youth that
ought to have fought under the flag of VIII
liam and Marlborough, went abroad to es-
pouse the cause and swell the forces of their
enemies-until, at length, 1t fell to their lot
to face the heroes they should have shoul-
dered, and to infilct on England her greatest
military disaster throughout the century. 1t
was the impetuou5 charge of the Irish Brig
ade that won for the French the battle of
Fontenoy. Well might George III exclaim.
on reviewing such fact Sad indeed are the
laws that deprive me of such soldiers"
During the course OF almost 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 it's singular combination of the heroic
and the grotesque must be regarded as very
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 prompltude 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 sim
ply staying to buckle on their Drossbelts and
boxes, seized their guns and hurried
to the square, where, on forming In fighting
order, their commanders words, "Halt-
dressl'' were, at least In one respect, SUPER
fluous. Their Indifference to appearances on
this occasion was all the greater that the pe-
riod was midwinter and the city was near the
Alps, In this condition they were charged
by the Austrian cuirassiers. It 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 em-
phatic thanks OF Louis XIV, and ALEC had
their pay increased.
But these fearless fellows, as may be SUD-
posed, carried abroad to their new service not
only their courage and fidelity, but all their
exuberance as Irishmen. Their rollicking
spiritan love OF fun were quite as great as
their love OF lighting, and at times were 80
opposed to propriety and discipline, that the
martinets OF the French ranks had to make
formal complaints on the matter. 1t was on
one such occasion that q great com mpliment
was paid them by the brave Duke OF Berwick, |
who, however, had good reason to love them
for their devotion to his father. "Matshal,"
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 iovial, mirthful temperament, gave
him IL character that was so engaging and
80 kindred to their own. 1t was In reference
to him originated one of the blunders of poor |
Pat that has 80 often been repeated and local
lied everywhere. The Marshal was wounded |
In some engagement and, moreover, it was |
his back. None OF the brigade, |
however, would believe 1t. "When did he |
ever show his back to them?" was the general |
wasn't 1t his face they knew |
most of, and wasn't 1t their backs that he |
knew best2" At last a solution OF the mys- |
terry was hit upon-"He was purshung 'em, |
you see, and just to make the willing think |
that, on the contrary. he was retreating, he
OF the anecdotes and jokes told of the brig
ade during their extended foreign service
proofs OF humor and Observation-Disclosures which |
even exile could not subdue-the number is |
Indeed legion. Gallo vanity forced them
often into the attitude of censors, and several |
Of their repartees are excellent, and as full Of
sense as they are of pleasantly. Among the |
mass of these Is one that has been often re.
ferred to other sources-when a Frenchman
claiming for his country the invention Of all |
The elegances, named, among other things, q
ruffle, and Pat answered: "We improved on
tive put shirt oit."
In the same spirit, but less known, was his
retort upon shopkeeper In some petty town
where he was quartered. The place had rather
a pretentious gate, and the grocer, diIating
On its grandeur, and asking what the Irish
would say. Ii they possessed 1t, Faith,
they'd say" was his reply, "we'll kape the
Dig gate shut, or the dirty little town will be
after running out of it." The sarcasm, how
ever, was deeper and more essentially Hiber-
nian when, on his going somewhere to dine,
after hearing great praises of French cook
'ry, he saw q pot of soup brought In with
Dit of meat floating on the top of 1t, upon