The Irish standard., 1900-12-01
The Sons Of Hibernia Distinguished Themsec
Battlefelds Of Continental Europe
Historical Sketch Of Their Military Deeds and Of
Commanders Who Led Them Victory.
The Graphic Description Of tho Memorable Battles Of
Fonteney and Cremona by Thomas Davis.

and now at the end of January all
was ready.
Cremona lies on the left bank of
the River Po. 1t was then five miles
round, was guarded by strong castle
and by an enciente, or continued forti-
fication all round it, pierced by five
gates. One of these gates led almost
directly to the bridge over the Pc.
The bridge was fortified by re-
doubt.
Eugene's design was to surprise the
town at night. He meant to penetrate
on two sides, south and north. Prince
Charles of Vaudemont crossed the Po
at Firenzola, and, marching up the
right bank with $500 foot and 500
horse, was to assault the bridge and
gate of the Pc, as soon as Eugene had
entered on the north. AS this northern
attack was more complicated, and as
1t succeeded, it may be best described
in the narrative of events.
On Jan. 81 Eugene crossed the Og-
lilo at Ustiano, and approached the
north Of the town. Marshal Villeroy
had that night returned from a war
council at Milan.
At o'clock in the morning on Feb.
1 the Allies closed in on the town in
the following order: LOO men, under
Count Kufstein entered by the aque-
duct; 300 men were led to the gate Of
st. Margaret's, which had been walled
up, and Immediately commenced re-
moving the wall from it. Meantime,
the other troops under Kufstein,
pushed on and secured the ramparts
to some distance, and as soon as the
gates were cleared vanguard Of
horse, under Count Merci, dashed
through the town. Eugene, Starem-
berg and Prince Commerci followed
with 1000 horse and foot. Patrols
Of cavalry rode the streets; Starem-
berg seized the great square; the bar
racks Of four regiments were sur
rounded, and the men cut down as
they appeared.
Marshal Villeroy, hearing the tu-
multi, hastily burned his papers, and
rode out attended only by page. He
was quickly snapped up by party Of
Eugene's cavalry, commanded by an
Irishman named Mcdonnell. villeroy,
seeing himself in the hands of SOL
der Of fortune, hoped to escape by
bribery. He made offer after offer.
A thousand pistoles and a regiment Of
horse were refused by this poor Irish
captain; and villeroy rode out of the
town with his captor.
The Marquis of Mongon, General
Crenant, and other officers, shared the
same fate, and Eugene assembled the
town council to take an oath Of allie
glance, and supply him with $4,000
rations. All seemed lost.
All was not lost. The Pc gate was
held by thirty-f1ve Irishmen, and to
Merci's charge and shout they an
swered with a fire that forced their
assailant to pass on to the rampant,
where he seized battery. This un-
expected and almost rash resistance
was the very turning point Of the at
tack. Had Merci got this gate, he had
only to ride on and open the bridge
to Prince vaudemont. The entry of
5000 men more, and on that side,
would have soon ended the contest.
Not far from this same gate Of the
Po were the quarters Of two Irish reg.
iments, Dillon Zone of Mountcashers
old brigade) and Burke (the Athlonc
regimenD, Dillon's regiment was in
Colonel Lacy's absence, commanded by
Major Mahoney. He had ordered his
regiment to assemble for exercise at
day-break, and lay down. He was
awakened by the noise of the Imperial
Cuirassiers passing his lodgings. He
jumped up, and finding how things
were, got off to the two corps and
found them turning out in their shirts
to check the Imperialists who
swarmed round their quarters.
He had just got his men together
when General D'Arenes came up, put
himself at the head of these regiments,
who had nothing but their muskets,
shirts and cartouches about them. he
instantly led them against Merci's
force, and after struggle, drove them
from the ramparts, killing large mum.
bers, and taking many prisoners, among
others Mcdonnell, who returned to
fight after securing Villeroy.
In the meantime Estrague's regl
ment had made post of a few houses
in the great square. Count Revel had
given the word, French to the ram
parts" and retook All Saints Gate
while Praslln made head against tht