Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 5, 1897

66
THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
Part VIIF. — {Contuuieil from page 48.)
Battle of Malplaquet. — Continued.
|p^|HE crisis of this sanoruinary battle bad
V^ now arrived. The Prince D' Anvergne,
'^S> who commanded the Dutch cavah-y,
■while forming them on the other side of the
French works was charged by the French
cavalry, but he gallantly repulsed them. This
■wave of attack was quickly followed liy another.
Mar.shal BoutHer.s, ou learning that the allies had
broken through his centre, ordered the House-
hold Horse of France to follow, and hastened
to the spot, where he found the Gens d' armes
ready to charge. After a cheery address, he
placed himself at their head, and fiercely
charged his antagonists, who were extending
their lines through the openings of the captured
works. Notwithstanding all the efforts of the
gallant Anvergne with his Dutch, he was
driven back to the intrenchments, but Orkney
was prepared for the contingency. He had
taken the precaution to post his infantry upon
the parapets, and by a most destructive tire
repulsed them in their turn. Three times
were these charges repeated by Boufllers, and
thrice were the impetuous assailants repulsed
by the comliined fire of the musketry and cross
batteries on the flank.
In the midst of this arduous struggle, ]\Iarl-
borough, who viewed it from a distance, came
up with the British and Prussian cavalry,
amongst which were conspicuous the Scots
Greys. They fell upon the discomfited squad-
\V DrummonJ-flor.
rons who were attempting to withdraw, and
would soon have swept them from the field.
At this moment a new line of champions were
seen advancing, a formidable body of 2,000 of
the choicest French horsemen clad in armour,
and in the firmest array. The earth literally
trembled beneath the rush of this splendid
host, led by Boufflers in person to the charge.
It swooped upon the scanty ]5ritish squadrons
like an avalanche upon a wood of pines, and
the British reeled before the shock, dragoon
and cuirassier went tumbling to the ground,
horse and rider were crushed in the terrible
fray. British valour could not prevail against
so formidable a force, and broken and scattered
they retired behind their infantry. Covered
by their fire they reformed, and Ijeiug rein-
forced, they rode straight against the foe,
whose turn it now was to succumb to the
assault, yet, rallied by Boufflers, the French
horsemen returned to the charge. The British
now bent upon victory, with flashing sabres
hewed a path through the wavering French
troopers. Marlborough called up his infantry,
Orkney advanced in front, while other divisions
moved to attack the flanks. The Prince of
Orange, seizing the opportunity, brought up
his infantry, and carried the French intrench
ments facing him. .Malplaquet was won !
The entire French alignment ceased to be
defensible, their whole army, retreated in