The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-10-03
THE IRISH BRIGADE
Az INTERESTING SKETCH OF A MEMORABLE
COMMAND.

selves, or in fruitless resistance tC
| then invaders and when At length
1t become disciplined. under SarstielC
and St. Ruth, and acquired force
which might have yielded England
| the greatest service in her ensuing
wars, it was lost to her through the
intolerance which prescribed the re-
| ligion of nation.
The laws Of the period, which for
bade Catholics to bear arms under tbt
English crown. blindly renounced al
the advantages to be derived from
their devotion, aud compelled the ar
my OF James II, when disbanded a
| the Peace of Limerick, to pass over tC
| the continent, and enroll under its var
i0us monarchs. Almost every throne
in Europe profted by the bold heart:
and stalwart frames of the buoyant
sons of the Emerald Isle, except only
| the one that still nominally claimed
their allegiance while repudiating
| their services. 1t was in France how
eter that, James army was found
| principally to ble-OWlng
probably, to the greater sympathy OF
the Hiberian temperaments- and there
formed themselves into body, which
soon became distinguished under It's
title of the Irish Brigade :"
These gallant emigr5nts, who left
behind them all their social and do
| mestic ties, carried abroad their un
! tarnished honor and their unconquer
able gayety and their undying love
for their native country. Almost as
| d9ep. however, perhaps was their love
| for their native music. So strong was
1t, indeed. that they refused to march
| 70 the French tunes, and on all mill
| tary occasions insisted on the use Oi
| 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 Naches
| aw0ke such a passionate longing fol
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.
| 4 continuous evil resulted from the
| expatriation of these men. The brig
ade, which was sent into exile Wher
over 1900 strong, was always active
ly recruited in Ireland, however ille
gally, and at some risk-and thus, yeaI
after year, the valOrous youth thai
ought to have fought Under the fag
of William and Marlborough, went
| abroad to espOuse the cause and swell
| the forces Of their enemies a
length, il fell to their lot to face The
heroes they should have shouldered
and to infict on England her greatest
military disaster throughout the cen
tury. It was the impetuous charge
o1 the Irish Brigade that won fol
the French the battle Of Fontenoy
Well might George II, exclaim, on re
| viewing such fact Sad indeed are
the laws that deprive me Of such sol
bers."
During the course Of almost q C II
tury the brigade was enrolled in The
| French army, and had an honorable
share in all the latter brightes
achievements in Flanders, Spain an(
| Italy. Many instances OF staunch fl
dellty aud It's daring, decisive courage
might be quoted from the military
| records Of those days; but one especi
ally may be selected, which in it,
singular combination of the herolt
aud the grotesque must be regarded
as very national.
| Cremona. besieged by Prince Eu
gene, and defended by the French
was surprised one morning befor,
| dawn, and would inevitably have beer
lost but for the promptitude of tht
Irish. While the punctihous and or
nate Frenchmen were dehberatel,
| buttoniDg up their regimentals, tin
| former at the sound of their trumpet
| inmped out Of bed and, simply stay
| ing to buckle on their crossbelts ant
cartouche boxes, seized their guns
and hurried to the Square, where oil
forming in fighting order, their com
| mander' words: "halt-dressw wer
at least In one respect, supertiuOus
Their Indifference to appearance ol
this occasion was all the greater tia
the period was midwinter, and the cit,
was near the Alps. In this condition
| they were charged by the Austrian
Cuciassiers. 1t was steel coats agains
night-shirts; but the linen trade o
| ireland proved the more formidabl
OF the two. The Austrians were driv
en- back, and the French had time t.
| form and recover possession OF tn,
town. For this brilliant service th
| brigade was honored with the emphat
ic thanks Of Louis NV. and also hat
their pay increased.
But these fearless fellows. as ma,
be supposed, carried abroad to thei
new service net only their courage ant
idelty,i. but all their exuberauce a
Irishmen. Their rollicking spin
and love for fun were quito as grea
as their love of fighting, and at time
we're so opposed to propriety ant
discipline, that the martinets of tn
French ranks mad 10 make formal com
plants on the matter. 1t was on on
such occasion that n great complimen
was paid them by the brave Duke 0
Berwick. who, however. had gooi
reason to love them for their devotion
to his father. Marshal" said tn
King to him, this Irish Brigade give
ne more trouble than all my arm
pat together Please your Majesty.
replied the Duke, your enemies max
just the same complaint of them
The idol of the brigade was the Gel
ebrated Marshal SAKE, whose grea
bravery, in union with his jovia
mirthful temperament, gave him
character that was so engaging an
so kindred to Their own. 1t was /
reference TO him that one of the blur
ders of poor Pat originated, an
which has so often been repeated an
4Caal;zo3 ax-orDyybara Tho Marsh. .