The Irish standard., 1886-08-14

and the stimulating cry of :'Cumimh
nigidh ar luimneac agus ar fheile na
Sacsanach, ['Remember Limerick and
British faith. J was reochoed from man
to man.
The fortune OF the field was no long
er doubtful, and victory the most de-
cisive crowned the arms of France.
The English were weary with long
days fighting, cutup by cannon charge
and musketry, and dispirited by the:ap-
pearance of the Brigade-fresh, con-
sisting of young men in high spirits
and discipline-still they gave their
fire we'll and fatally; but they were lit
orally stunned by the shock, and shat
tered by the Irish charge. They broke
before the Irish bayonets, and tumbled
down the far side Of the hill, disorgan-
lied, hopeless, and falling by hundreds.
The Irish troops did not pursue them
far; the French cavalry and light troops
pressed on till the relics of the column
were succored by some English cavalry
and got within the batteries Of their
camp. The victory was bloody and
complete. Louis is said to have ridden.
down to the Irish bivouac, and person
ally thanked them; and George H., on
hearing it, uttered that memorable iu1-
precation on the Penal Code: "Cursed
be the laws which deprive me OF such
subjects" The one English volley land
short struggle on the crest of the hill,
cost the Irish dear. One-fourth of the
officers, including Colonel Dillon, were
killed, and one third Of the men. The
capture of Ghent, Burgess. Ostend and
Oudenarde followed the victory of Fon-
tenoy.l
Thrice. at the huts Of Fontenoy, the English
column failed.
And, twice, the lines of Saint Antoine. the
Dutch i'll vain assailed;
For town and slope were filled with fort and
Z thanking battery,
And we'll they swept the English ranks, and
Dutch auxiliary.
AS vainly through De Barri's woods. the British
soldiers burst,
The French artillery drove them back, dimin
ished. and dispersed,
The bloody Duke Of Cumberland beheld with
And ordered UP his last reserve, bis latest
chance to try.
On Fontenoy, on Fonrenoy. how fast his gener-
ais ride!
And mastering come his chosen troops, like
clouds at eventide.
Six thousand English veterans in stately cOl-
uInn trced,
Their cannon blazes in front and flank, Lord
Hay is at their head;
Steady they step adown the slope--steady they
climb the hill;
Steady they load-steady they fire, moving right
Betwixt the wood and Fontenoy, as though
furnace blast.
Through rampant. trench, and palisade, anu
p N bullets showering fast;
And on the open plain above they rose and
kept their course,
With ready fire and grim resolve, that lnockcd
Past Fontenoy--past Fontenoy, while thinner
grow their ranks
They break, as broke the Zuyder Zee through
Hollands ocean banks.
More idly than the summer flies, French trail
leurS rush around;
As stubbJe 10 the lava tide, French squadrOnS
streW tho ground;
Ho1nb-sheil and grape, and round-shot tore,
still on they marched and tired-
East, from each volley, grenadier and voltige'1r
Push on, my household cavalry!" King Louis
1nadly cried;
TO death rhey rush, but rude their shock--not
unavenged they died.
On through the camp the column trod--King
Louis turns his reign;
Not yet, my iege,'' Sake interposed, 'the
Irish troops remajn:
And Fontsnoy, famed Fontenoy, had been e.
Waterloo,
We're not these exiles ready then, fresh, vehe-
ment, and true.
"Lord Clare he says. you have your wish,
there are your Saxon foesl"
The marshal almost smiled to see, SO fll1iously
he goes!
How fierce the look these exiles wear, who're
wont to be so gay,
The treasured wrongs of fifty years are in
their hearts to-day.
The treaty broken, ere the ink Wherewith 'tt7As
writ, could dry,
Their plundered homes, their ruined shrines,
~. their women,s parting cry,
Their priesthood hunted down like wolves, |
their country overthrwn,--..
Each looks, ss if revenge for an were staked
on him alone.
Rushed on to fight ncbler band than these
proud exiies were. |
OBmens voice is hoarse with JOY, as, haltng, |
FIX a. bay'nets ~" charge. like mountain
storm rush on these fiery bands!
Yet, must must ring ali the strength they have. they
make q gallant show.
They dress their ranks upon the hill to face that
Their bayonets the breakers foam; like rocks.
the men beh1ndl
One yolley crashes from their line, when,
through the surging smoke,
With empty guns clutched In their hands, the |
headlong Irish broke.
On Fontenoy, on Fontenoy, hark to that fierce
huzza!
Revenge! remember Limerick! dash down
the Sassenagh" |
Like lions eaping AT fold when mad with
hungers pang, it@
Right up against the English line the Irish
e1liles spranE: /
Bright was their steel, tbs bloody now their |
guns are filed with gore;
Through shattered ranks, and severed files,
and trampled flags they tore;
The English strOve with desperate strength,
paused, rallied, staggered, heo-
The green hillside is matted close with dying |
and with dead;
Across the plain, and far. away passed OH that
hideOus wrack, 6t..
their track.
On Fontenoy-on Fontenoy, like eagles in the
With bloody plumes the Irish stand-the field
ts fought and won!
At the meeting in Dublin. August 4,
The following motion was proposed by
Parnell and seconded by Harrington:
we deem it our duty to warn the
Government that the depreciation in
prices OF farm produce since the ju-
licial rents were fixed makes it