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[Req] Irish "Comeback" Stories
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04-06-2009 5:54pm#1
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When all seemed lost for the French army under Marshal De Saxe against the English, Dutch and Austrian Army under the Duke of Cumberland thanks to the fighting spirit of the Irish Brigade.
The English, Dutch and Austrian Army were on the advance to relieve the siege of Tournai when they encountered the French. Cumberland decided to pin down the French right wing by attacking with the Austrian and Dutch contingents between Antoing and Fontenoy. While these attacks were being made the English and Hanoverians would advance between Fontenoy and the Bois de Bary across what appeared to be open ground. The French Army however put up a formidable defence and the Allies found the advance heavy going, taking many casualties as they attempted to break their opponents line. But Cumberland pressed on and eventually forced his way into the centre of the French position. The troops opposing him began to buckle. It was the critical moment of the battle.
The battle looked lost with King Louis about to leave. At this critical point, Saxe ordered up his last reserve-the Irish Brigade. They were ordered to charge up a hill against the flank of the English with fixed bayonets without firing. Charging at the british up a slope shouting 'Cuimhnigidh ar Liumneac, agus ar fheile na Sacsanach,' (Remember Limerick and English faith) the English were immediately halted on the slope of a hill. In the vicious man to man fighting the English lines began to falter eventually breaking before the Irish bayonets, and tumbled down the far side of the hill disorganized, hopeless, and falling by hundreds. It happened on 11 May 1745 and surely must have been one of our greatest victories over the old enemy
"And famed Fontenoy would have been a Waterloo,
Were not these exiles ready then, fresh, vehement, and true . . .
Like lions leaping at a fold, when mad with hunger's pang,
Right up against the English line the Irish exiles sprang:
Bright was their steel, 'tis bloody now;their guns are filled with gore;
Through shattered ranks, and severed files,and trampled flags they tore.
The English strove with desperate strength;paused, rallied, staggered, fled --
The green hillside is matted close with dying and with dead.
Across the plain, and far away passed on that hideous wrack,
While cavalier and fantassin dash in upon their track.
On Fontenoy, on Fontenoy, like eagles in the sun,
With bloody plumes the Irish stand -- the field is fought and won!"0 -
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What do you mean " one of our greatest victories over the old enemy ". What other victories have the Irish ever had over Great Britain. The battle of the Yellow Ford in Fermanagh and that's about it.McArmalite wrote: »When all seemed lost for the French army under Marshal De Saxe against the English, Dutch and Austrian Army under the Duke of Cumberland thanks to the fighting spirit of the Irish Brigade.
The English, Dutch and Austrian Army were on the advance to relieve the siege of Tournai when they encountered the French. Cumberland decided to pin down the French right wing by attacking with the Austrian and Dutch contingents between Antoing and Fontenoy. While these attacks were being made the English and Hanoverians would advance between Fontenoy and the Bois de Bary across what appeared to be open ground. The French Army however put up a formidable defence and the Allies found the advance heavy going, taking many casualties as they attempted to break their opponents line. But Cumberland pressed on and eventually forced his way into the centre of the French position. The troops opposing him began to buckle. It was the critical moment of the battle.
The battle looked lost with King Louis about to leave. At this critical point, Saxe ordered up his last reserve-the Irish Brigade. They were ordered to charge up a hill against the flank of the English with fixed bayonets without firing. Charging at the british up a slope shouting 'Cuimhnigidh ar Liumneac, agus ar fheile na Sacsanach,' (Remember Limerick and English faith) the English were immediately halted on the slope of a hill. In the vicious man to man fighting the English lines began to falter eventually breaking before the Irish bayonets, and tumbled down the far side of the hill disorganized, hopeless, and falling by hundreds. It happened on 11 May 1745 and surely must have been one of our greatest victories over the old enemy
"And famed Fontenoy would have been a Waterloo,
Were not these exiles ready then, fresh, vehement, and true . . .
Like lions leaping at a fold, when mad with hunger's pang,
Right up against the English line the Irish exiles sprang:
Bright was their steel, 'tis bloody now;their guns are filled with gore;
Through shattered ranks, and severed files,and trampled flags they tore.
The English strove with desperate strength;paused, rallied, staggered, fled --
The green hillside is matted close with dying and with dead.
Across the plain, and far away passed on that hideous wrack,
While cavalier and fantassin dash in upon their track.
On Fontenoy, on Fontenoy, like eagles in the sun,
With bloody plumes the Irish stand -- the field is fought and won!"0 -
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