The Irish standard., 1891-05-09
THE BATTLE OF FONTENOY.
How the Irish Brigade Led the
Grand and Decisive
Charge.
STORY OF THIS FAMOUS BATTLE,
When the French Columns Were Broken
Irish Valor and Genius Won
the Day.

Foltenov, writes George l.. Kilmer,
was the turning battle in the war in
Flanders between the French and the
allies supporting Maria Teresa tor the
German throne, and the charge Of the
Irish brigade on that bloody field in
less than ten minutes time Wrested
victory for the French from impending
disaster. The battle was not model
one on the part OF the French. Under
command of Louis Nv. and Marshal
SAKE they were laying siege to Fournay
on the Sheidt. and when the allies.
5000 to 60,t strong, came up in the
rear 10 raise the siege SAKE swung 40, 900
OF his troops around on TO the slope,
presenting two faces to The enemy.
His lines thus had two directions and
met in an angle at the center, the same
as the unfortunate position occupied by
Sickles' corps on July 2 at Gettysburg.
The French ranks rested On the Sheldt
on the right, and In an impenetrable
wood on the left and the front was
strengthened by heavy Iedolbts having
d dlYerging fire that swept the whole
plain beyond. The left side of
the angle had hut two redoubts. one at
the point and one at the extreme left,
The right side was better supplied.
Marshal SAKE stated that he did not
believe that commander existed bold
enough to attempt to put his troops
through the raking fire from those two
widely separated reioubts. It proved a
weak spot. however.
The allies were formed under three
commanders-Gene IngoIdsbY on the
right. to charge the isolated redoubt at
the edge of the wood on the extreme
left; the young Duke Of Cumberland
with Anglo German troops in the CEN
tire, and Priace de Waldeck On the left
with the Dutch troops, The action
began at o'clock in the morning, May
IL, 1745. and ragged as an artillery duel
for four hours. Then the allied infan-
try took it up and made grand ad-
vance all along the line. The Dutch
infantry in heavy columns, supported
by cavalry, gallantly faced the terrible
artillery fire that raked their lines cross
wise aud lengthWise. The French had
a sixteen FOUNDER battery on bluff at
the extreme right of their position and
swept the Dutch lines from end to end .
No soldiers could be made to endure
such cannonadlng without some diver
sion from other sources. And at a
critical time there was prospect of
such diversions. for the Duke of Cum
berland at the head of Is 600 British
and Hanoyerian infantry, and accom-
panied by twenty cannon, carried the
left side of the angle from the redoupt
at the wood to the point at Fontenoy.
The redoubt at the wood assaulted by
Ingoldsbp had not been carried, owing
TO the cowardice or inefficiencY of the
leader of the attacking column. But
the duke passed on inlo the very centre
of the French lines, more than 300
he carried confusion with him. Louis
XIV, and the danphin were in the camp
If the Dutch could do az well on their
side as Cumberland had done On his
the French were lost, for owing to the
situation there was no avenue of es-
cape in case Of defeat. Despair settled
down on the French councils. The
favorite troops had given way before
Cumberland's blows.
The steady musketry fires of his
celums seemed to the French as some
thing Internal, and his advancing can
non knocked to pieces whole brigades
of the kings choice infantry. The
French had ll0 pieces of cannon In
their redoubts, but these were all need
ed to do their work there. Four guns
only had been left iii reserve, and an
officer OF the Irish brigade, Colonel
Lally, suggested that they be brought
into action to oppose Cumberland's
advance. This idea coming to the ears
of the king was adopted, aud the guns
were brought into action in front of
the victorious allies, whose shouts of
triumph resDunded over the plain. The
move placed the impetuous Cumber
land into difficult position. He had
cut bis way through gap for the
French batteries on both tanks of his
column remained intact aud fired upon
the alliesewho attempted to follow up
to the dukes SUPPORT. His column was
exposed 70 attack on the front aud each
flank. it the French had the yigor and
foresight to act up TO the emergency.
Already orders had been given from
the French headquarters to prepare for