The Irish standard., 1900-06-02
English Troops Checked in their
Career Of Triumph.
nine THOUSAND WERE SLAUGHTERED
Caused Dismay and Mourning
Throughout England.

When sarsfeld had signed the treaty
of Limerick, which, if English honor
| were anything more than an empty
name, would have allowed the people of
ireland to live in full civil and religious
liberty, the Irish army, marching out
from Limerick with all the honors of
war, proceeded to Cork, whence they set
sail for France. They and the many
cargoes Of wild geese" who followed
them obtained civil or military employ
ment in France, in Spain, in Austria
and even in Russia. The majority en-
tered the military service of France and
became known to history as the Irish
Brigade SO famed in song and story.
They could not fight for their own dear
land; they could not aid her in any way;
few of them ever saw her more, for
"In far foreign fields, from Dunkirk
to Belgrade,
Lie the soldier. and chiefs OF the Irish
Brigade"
But they had the satisfaction of ad-
ministcring many a check to England's
military progress on the Continent and
of sratcl1ing victory from her grasp on
many well-fought field "Thc Wild
Geese, as they were called" says
O'Connor Morris, "fcw in thousands
from Ireland to join the army of
France. In less than century, it has
been said, quarter OF million OF Irish
recruits found place in her celebrated
Irish Brigade; and they amply justified
the noble words, 'Scmper ct ubique
fidelis,' inscribed on their banners They
turned the scale at Almanac and Fon-
tenoy; at Dettingen extortcd from
George II. the bitter words, Curse on
the laws that deprive me of such men,,
won the admiration OF Vilars. of Ber-
wick, Of Vendome, OF SAKE, in many a
well-contested campaign; and whether
in good or in evil fortune, were always
among the best troops of France" They
won splendid victory at Landcn, where
Sarsfeld fell regretting that his blood
was not shed for Ireland; at Cremona,
clad only in shirts and fighting with the
butt-ends of their empty rifles, they
routed the Germans. At Families they
captured two English regiments. Wher-
ever they fought they distinguished
themselvcs-at Cassano, at Malplaquet
and at Fontcnoy.
When Charles w. OF Austria died in
October, 174o, he was succeeded by his
daughter, Maria Theresa, but her right
to the throne was disputed by several
claimants, with the result that all Eu-
rope was plunged into war. Maria The
resa's cause was espoused by the Eng
lish, Dutch and Austrians and opposed
by the French and others. After many
battles, in which the fortunes of war
were sometimes with one side and
sometimes with the other, the French,
under Marshal SAKE, besieged the town
of Tournay, i'll Belgium, which the Eng
lish and their allies determined to re-
lieve. Discovering their intention,
Sake, leaving force sufficient to hold
Tournay, withdrew to Fontenoy vii
lage about five miles to the southeast
OF the beleaguered town. When the al
lies commanded by the Bloody Duke of
Cumberland arrived on the scene they
found that the French position was ex-
tremely strong. Fontenoy in the center,
Du Barriwood on the left, and ST. An
toine OH the river on the right were
most carefully fortified and entrenched
and defended by 26o guns. The forces
on each side were about the same-be-
tween $4,000 and 10000. Cumberland
directed the Austrians and Dutch to at
tack St. Antoine; the Highlanders,
with some other troops, were to attack
through the wood; whilst the English
and Hanoverians under his own COM
,nand were to attack the central position
at Fontenoy. This program was car
ried out The Dutch and Austrians ad-
vanced against and almost captured St.
Antoine, but finding themselves exposed
to terrific cross-fre, they retreated
and fought no more. The attack
through the wood was also unsuccess-
! full, and Cumberlands S own division was
three times repulsed at Fontenoy, but
making desDerate hurst through the Z
wood be slmQst routed the Erencl,.