The Irish standard., 1898-05-21
THE RED COATS WE'RE DEFEATED
BY THE IRISH BRIGADE.
FIGHTING IN The SERVICE OF FRANCE
DESCENDANTS OF THE SOLDIERS
AT LIMERICK'S WALLS
WITH GALLANT PATRICK sARSFIELD 0
AVENGED THE BRITISH VIOLATION
OF THE FAMOUS TREATY.

| dents OF this famous battle have been
sufficiently discussed and described to
make them generally known, but the
student OF history, reading the English
historians account, is surprised to find
no mention of Irishmen being at Fon-
tenoy at all: the French historians, with
a sentiment of national pride, wish to
appropriate to their soldiers, as far as
possible, the honor of one, of their proud
est victories, says the Ohio Pilot.
1t is well, then, to establish the sim
pie facts by reference to such authorities
as are beyond suspicion. In April, 1745,
Marshal de SAKE, commander Of the
French army, opened trenches before
Iournay, Holland. This place was very
! strongly fortified, and defended by a
Dutch garrison Of 5000 men, and Sake
| appeared before it with an army of Co.
600 men. The allies determined to raise
the seige, and the duke of Cumberland
(son of George OF England) took COM
mand Of the allied forces-Englsh,
Dutch, Hanoverian and Austrian-num-
bering $4,000 of the finest troops in
Europe.
The army was mustered near Brussels
on May 4, and set forth for Tournay.
On the 9th they reached Vazon, a town
six miles from Tourney. Saxe at their
approach, had thrown up some works to
bar their line of advance, with strong
batteries in the village of Antoine and
Fontenoy, and on the edge of a small
wood, called Boise de Barri. In these
works the French general took his posi-
tlon with $4,000 men, leaving part of his
force around Tournay and in neighbor-
ing garrisons.
On May II, after severe firing of artil-
lery on both sides, from 5 in the morn
ing till 8, the allies prepared to bring
the contest to a decision. The Dutch
and Austrians were on the enemy's left,
opposite the French right, and destined
to carry Antoine; the English and Han
overians in the center, with their in
fantry in front and cavalry in the rear,
close by the wood of Barri.
The three divisions moved, greater
success attending the center. At the
head of $4,000, the duke of Cumberland,
accompanied by twenty pieces of can
non, forced his way into the French
center. There was one dreadful
hour" alleges the Marquis d. Argenson,
in which we expected nothing less
than renewal of Dittingen; our men
being awed by the steadiness of the
enemy Then it was that We began to
despair OF our cause"
Meanwhile the Duke de Rchelieu.
having proposed to reconnoitre the for
midable column, met with Col. Lally,
impatient that the devotion of the
Irish brigade was not turned to ac-
count" and who, with due presence of
mind to perceive, unlike others, that
the unchecked progress of the column,
since it had gotten beyond the artillery
of the redoubt and village into the midst
of the French, was greatly owing to it's
employment of cannon, as we'll as
musllctry
Lally suggested TO Riclelieu that can
| non .be used with the French musketry
| This BATTLE says the French historian
Michelet, "was lost without remedy, if
the lrishman Lally, animated by his
hatred against the English, had not pro-
posed to break their column with can
non." AS IAN adroit courtier," con-
tinues Michelet, "the duke appropriated
to himself the idea and the glory of
| it's success"
Hurrying away with such useful
hint, he came to where Louis, SAKE and
other generals were: What news do
| you bring?' said the marshal. "My
news" replied Richelieu, 'ls that
the battle is gained. if we will it; ana
my opinion is that cannon be immedi-
ately advanced against the enemy's
front"
This move of the French proved of
advantage for some time, but SAKE
found that his batteries at Fontenoy
had used all their balls and were only
answering the enemy with discharges
OF powder. He believed the battle to be
lost, and sent several times to Louis
XIV, entreating him to leave the field,
but the king refused to do so. Marshal
SAKE was now in mortal anxiety, and
thought the battle really lost, when the
duke of Richelieu rode up, and men,
toned that the Irish brigade could he
spared from where they were, and why
not have them charge the enemy.
Sake, riding to where Louis stood view
ing the battle, again advised him to fly,
but Louis addressed his general thus:
"Can anything be done to preserve the
honor OF France?" SAKE answered:
eyes, my liege; there is gallant, in
trepid band, the Irish brigade, upon
which my hopes rest
summoning Count Dillon, SAKE said:
DILLON. let the whole Irish brigade