The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-01-31

restore the battle, which had com
menced in a most unfavorable manner
and to achieve the complete victory
that was ultimately gained, adds-'The
king conferred numerous marks OF
favor on the brigade. M. Stapleton
lieutenant colonel in Berwick's regi
ment, was made brigadier. NJ. NJ. de
Lee and Cusack, lieutenant colonies OF
Bukey's and Roth's, got pensions of
1000 and GOO francs. Commissions OF
colonel and lieutenant colonel were
given to some of the officers Of the
different regiments, gratuities to the
majors and aides majors; the cross of
st. Louis to those at the heads Of the
several corps; gratuitics Of 600 and 400
francs to the wounded captains, and Of
300 and 200 to the lieutenants.'
There is another piece of English tes-
timony in regard to the conduct Of the
Irish at Fontenoy which deserves to be
quoted here 1t is, according to OCal-
laghan, from IAN annotator' Of For
man in 1851, or but six years after this
battle. This annotator says:
1.-THE victory of the French ut Fonte-
noy is chiefly attributed to the Irish,
for when the allies, to all appearance,
had the advantage by the bravery Of
their troops, the French king ordered
the Irish to attack the right wing Of
the allies, which they did with so
much resolution and bravery, not firing
a shot till they pushed their bayonets
into the faces of their enemies, that in
spite Of the intrepid behavior of the
English they were obliged to retreat"
Surely, then, if any troops Of the
several nations that fought on either
side on that memorable day deserve
special honor it is the heroic dead Of
Frances intrepid Irish Brigade, and
we see no good reason why there
should be objections to a memorial tab
let in recognition of their glory in the
walls Of the church in the little village
which their valor has helped to render
immortal in history.
Out of the two armies in the neigh
borhood of $4,000 British, etc, and 49,
OOO FrencM there fell of the British
and their allies, 10y their official ac-
acknowledgement, 1867 men killed and
wounded, of whom Il majority We're
British troops. The French, also by
official Acknowledgement, lost 7,139
men. They made 2,3nO prisoners, and
lost hardly any themselves; thus maxi
ing the loss Of the allied British, Han-
overans, Austrans, and Dutch more
than 10000 men, Or nearly One-iifth
of the number engaged. They also lost
nearly fifty pieces Of cannon, fifteen
Of which, according to O'Calaghan,
were captured by the Irish Brigade in
their glorious chargc-two OF the if
teen, together with two colors, being
taken from the COldstrcam Guards by
the Irish regiment Of Bulkley, formerly
memberships.
The historian plowdcn, quoted by
O'Callaghan IN footnotc, at page SGT
Of his "IIistory of the Irish Brigade
says that when George III. of England
heard of his sons defeat at the hands
of the Brigade he bitterly exclaimed
(referring to the Penal code then in
force against the Irish Catholics):
"Cursed be the laws that deprive me
Of such subjects!'
The victory of FOntcnoy saved
France from humiliation il not utter
ruin. Immediately following it, Tour
nay surrendered to Marshal Sake,
whose subordinate officers overthrow Il
detached AnglO-IIanOvCrinn corps at
NELLIE, while the Marshal himself cap
tured Client, Bruges, Oudcnarde, Den
dermode, Ostend, Nicuport, and Ath,
the king of France accompanying the
army throughout. He entered Paris
in triumph OH September Z, 1745, but
before leaving the field ordered Comte
d'Argenson (NIinister of Wa) and
Marshal Sake to distribute gratis to
the six Irish regiments the new cloth,
ing and equipments of the English
regiments found among the spoils OF
Client. AS the uniform of the Brigade
was scarlet-the colors of the House OF
Stewart-the gift from Louis "came in
handy" and enabled the Irish boys
who were very much out at the ell
bows, owing to hard and incessant
fighting, to make brilliant appear
ance among their threadbare French
and Swiss comrades.
Regarding the colors carried by the
Irish Brigade ut Fontonoy, we find the
only deinitively authentic account IL
Mrs. Morgan John O'Connell's Last
Colonel Of the Irish Brigade" Vol. l..
page 90 (foot note) thus:
"The banner Of the Irish Brigade
is portrayed in the series of plates OF
French eighteenth century uniforms
lent me by Lieut.-Gen. Martin Dillon
G. Il. The banner is half green ant
half red, the first and third quarters
being red and the second and thirt
green. A red cross is defined by {
single wide white line, and bears il
gold harp and crown and the motto
In Hoe Signo Vinccs' all on the cross
which is as wide and high rs the ban
ner. Each corner bears the device o.
a crown. The Irish regiments were nj