Page "Battle of Fontenoy" Paragraph 42

By now the Allied foot had penetrated the French lines for a distance of 300 yards, and into the French camp.

However, the incessant fire from the flanks – from Fontenoy and the Redoubt of Eu – followed by the constant cavalry and infantry attacks, had caused the British and Hanoverian infantry to yield ground, forcing them slowly back towards the crest of the plateau.

Endeavouring to restore order, Cumberland personally exhorted and inspired his men, halting their retreat, rallying them with the cry: Newly encouraged, the Allies once again began to move forward.

Gradually, however, the French onslaught had brought about a change in the column's formation.

The wings of the line had moved round on either flank in order to face the enemy to their left and right, thus forming a hollow, three sided square, against which Saxe now flung his second line of cavalry.

The brigade of the Maison du Roi, the Carabiniers, the Gendarmerie, the finest cavalry of France, charged and charged again, but each time were driven back by the steady discipline and fire of the British infantry.

The regiments of Vaisseaux, Hainault, Normandie, and part of the Irish Brigade, were all beaten back.

Ligonier later recorded, " Having had orders to make a second attempt, our troops … a second time made the enemy give way ; and they were once more pushed as far as their camp with great loss of men, which we too felt upon our side.