Fontenoy, 11th May 1745

By Mike Kirby

“For what we are about to receive may the Lord make us truly thankful”[1]

Lacking information on the French position, Cumberland's plan was to attack the French from two directions. The British would form the right wing, which would march through Vezon and assault the enemy positions between Fontenoy village and the Barri wood. The Dutch would attack from the south between Fontenoy and Antoing. At 2am, the 25 battalions of the British wing, covered by a cavalry screen, began their night march through the sprawling suburbs of Vezon. This took some time to execute but by 4am the advance guard of Austrian light troops had discovered the Eu redoubt and reported this back to Cumberland. The existence of this work meant that the right flank of the British attack could be raked with gunfire as it proceeded up the gentle slope towards the French lines. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fontenoy Church

Cumberland ordered a force of 4 battalions under the command of Colonel Ingoldsby to advance through the woods and take the position before the main attack went in. This force proceeded to move up slowly through the trees, Austrian free companies skirmishing with the Grassins Legion.

More delays hampered the movement of the army through Vezon, and it was 6.30am when they began to form up on open ground to the west of the town. The British cavalry covered the deployment of their infantry whilst coming under enemy artillery fire, but they stood their ground until the infantry arrived. They then filed off to await instructions in the rear when the battle-line had been formed, at around 9am. Meanwhile in the Barri wood, Ingoldsby's task force had come to a halt. Their commander had decided that the redoubt could only be taken with the aid of artillery support and he would not advance without it, during this time the British and Hanoverian corps waited for orders to attack. It was to be after 9am before a battery of field guns arrived[2] and Ingoldsby's advance continued, albeit very slowly.

On the Dutch front, Prince Waldeck formed up his army into two columns of infantry with his cavalry in the centre. He delegated the command of his left wing to Cronstrom, an aged but capable man, and tasked them with the assault on the town of Antoing. The rest of the Dutch army was under Waldeck’s direct command. At 9am Waldeck sent in the first infantry attack on the village of Fontenoy and the redoubts to the west of the village. With picked units of grenadiers leading the assault, the Dutch foot advanced to within close musket shot of the defences however, the flanking fire from the enemy guns in the redoubts, coupled with the fire from Fontenoy, stopped their advance then caused them to take cover in the ruins of the Hameau de Fontenoy. The French had burned this village the day before in order to open up the field of fire. The left column fared no better, taking fire from the redoubts, the defenders of Antoing and the French heavy battery on the west bank of the Scheldt. Cronstrom halted his troops and fearing a French cavalry counter-attack, formed up in square formation. The allied attacks had stalled.

Back with Cumberland’s wing, the attack through the woods was achieving nothing. It was decided not to continue this farce and instead to allocate two of Ingoldsby’s battalions[3] to the Dutch attack on Fontenoy. These troops arrived at their new position before the Dutch had organised themselves for their second assault on the village. Without waiting for their allies, the two British battalions flung themselves forward against the defences. Taking the concentrated fire of the enemy the British were driven back with loss. At about 10:15am Waldeck sent in a second attack which succeeded in taking several of the houses in the village, but the attack was stopped by the resolute French infantry manning the churchyard which had been fortified well. The Dutch were again driven out and they retired to lick their wounds, the Dutch cavalry having suffered greatly from the cannon fire broke at this point, several regiments routing off the field and looting their own baggage[4].  A further Dutch assault at 11am also petered out before coming to grips with the enemy.

Over on the right wing, the British infantry advanced into the gap between the Barri wood and Fontenoy. Under constant fire from the French artillery, they came up to the crest of the sunken road. At this point they were able to see the enemy arrayed some 40 yards in front of them. The British Guards battalions found that they had come up directly opposite to the French and Swiss Guards Regiments. What happened next is still in debate, the French account, as told by the official battlefield guide[5], states that Lord Charles Hay of the 1st Guards exchanged greetings with the enemy and invited them to fire the first volley. This appeared to insult the French officers who refused to fire until the British had done so. The British account of the battle says that the French did fire first but their volley had little effect. One thing is certain, the British volley was devastating, over 800 Frenchmen were laid low and the French Guards broke. Neighbouring French infantry battalions were severely shaken by this reverse and a gap opened up in the centre of the French position. King Louis was urged to quit the field, the battle now appearing lost to his attendants, but to wily old Maurice de Saxe this was the time to order the cavalry forward. In response to the new threat, the British and Hanoverian foot halted and began to form square. The Maison du Roi cavalry pressed their attacks very closely but were beaten off, taking some of Saxe’s infantry with them.

At 1pm Waldeck began to organise yet another attack on his flank. During this time Cumberland had made up his mind to order a general withdrawal and sent Ligonier to speak to Waldeck. Meanwhile Waldeck’s own regiment put in an unsupported attack on Fontenoy, again without success. Half an hour later the French reserve under Lowendahl arrived at the sunken road, they were joined by the now-rallied Irish Brigade, and together they mounted a counter-attack.  The British infantry now found themselves squeezed together on the crest of the sunken road, all the while taking a battering from the enemy guns. The Irish Brigade put in a bayonet attack on the British right while the French horse, supported by Lowendahl’s foot, charged them in front.  The British cavalry were unable to intervene, being at the rear of their infantry, who now began to retire. 

Antoing Castle

Only steady foot would have been able to perform this withdrawal without breaking up. The British battalions retreated slowly, loading on the move, each battalion taking its turn to face about and give fire. In this fashion the French were kept at bay, preventing a rout and preserving the army from a bloody French pursuit. The French, for their part, lost many men in this attack and therefore were in no fit state for prolonging the action.

At 2pm the British and Hanoverian cavalry were able to come forward and cover the retreat back through Vezon. The Dutch also retreating past their starting point and back to their camp. At 7pm that night, Cumberland retreated into the fortress of Ath, followed at 9pm by the Dutch who spent the night at La Catoine. The French lost some 7,000 men in the battle, the British 4,000, Hanoverians 2,000 and the Dutch 4,000.

 

Fontenoy 1745 - A Scenario for Volley & Bayonet.

This battle is fought at the ‘Regiment’ (1.500) scale.

Each map square contains 9 grid squares and therefore represents 1000 x 1000 paces of ground.

Turn 1 is 8am, night falls at 8pm for a total of 13 turns.

The French army deploys with the reserve divisions of Du Chayla and Lowenthal deployed between the north edge of the map and Hameau de Notre Dame facing east. Montagne’s right wing deploys between Antoing and Fontenoy facing south. To their rear and directly in front of Hameau de Guerone, is the cavalry corps of Clermont-Tonnerre facing east. The main French army is deployed facing east, to the west of the road between Ramecroix and Fontenoy. French garrisons are deployed as indicated in the orders of battle.

The Anglo-Hanoverian main army deploys up to one map-square in from the eastern map edge between the Bois de Barri and Hameau de Fontenoy with the cavalry in the rear. The right wing flank guard under Churchill, are deployed within the woods up to one map-square in from the eastern map edge.

The Dutch deploy up to one map-square in from the southern map edge between Pierone and Hameau de Bourgeon. Their cavalry form the centre column between the infantry. The Allies are the attackers.

All woods are open. The Rosoirbach is a stream. The pond is unfordable, as is the River Scheldt.

All buildings are wooden with the exceptions of Fontenoy, which has one stone block and one wooden block, and Antoing, which has two stone blocks and one wooden block. The Hameau de Fontenoy is represented as ruined.

The 5 redoubts are classed as 'hasty works', as is the abbatis. Each of the French redoubts has 2 dice worth of ‘battalion guns’. These may be used only whilst the French occupy the redoubts. If they leave the redoubts, the guns are abandoned, but if they return, and the allies have not occupied the redoubts in the interim, then the guns may be re-crewed and the 2 dice re-instated. 

All French Infantry Regiments have their grenadiers present. All British and Hanoverian Infantry Regiments have battalion guns and have their grenadiers present. All Dutch Infantry Regiments had pairs of light guns assigned prior to the battle and therefore count as having battalion guns but do not have their grenadiers present.

Victory Conditions.

To win the Pragmatic army must break through to lift the siege of Tournai. This is reached by the roads which exit the French side of the table to the north-east of the Scheldt. To break through, the Allies will have to drive de Saxe's field army away and to achieve this they must exhaust 7 of the 11 French commands while maintaining 7 of their own 14 commands not exhausted.

Order of Battle

The Pragmatic Army

The Commanders

  • Army Commander, Duke of Cumberland, (AC)

  • Austrian Contingent, Marshal Konigsegge, (CC)

  • Dutch Contingent, Prince Waldeck (AC), (for Dutch forces only).

Anglo-Hanoverian Corps, LG Ligonier (CC)

A10 Lewis’s Corps Reserve Bty.                 M5 [] Lt PPA

Right Wing Flank Guard, MG Churchill (DC), Ex = 4

  • F1 Austrian Freikorps Btn.                     M3 [] Sko

  • IR42 Semphill’s Black Watch Foot Regt.         M6 [][] Sh

  • IR4 Borschlanger’s Hanoverian Foot Regt.       M5 [][]

  • A12 Mitchelson’s Field Bty.                    M5 [] Fld PPA

  • IR12 Duroure's & Pulteney's Foot Btns.         M6 [][]

First Line, Earl of Albemarle (DC), Ex = 8

  • IRG1 1st Foot Guards Brigade.                  M6 [][] Sh

  • IRG2 Coldstream Foot Guards Brigade.           M6 [][] Sh 

  • IR1 Royal Scots Foot Regt.                     M6 [][]

  • IR21 Scots Fuzileers & Howard's Foot Btns.     M6 [][]

  • IR8 Handasyde's & Onslow's Foot Btns.          M5 [][]

  • IR25 Rothes' & Johnson's Foot Btns.            M5 [][] 

  • A13 Belford’s Howitzer Bty.                    M5 [] Hvy How PPA 

Second Line, MG Campbell (DC), Ex = 4

  • IR3 ‘Buff’ Howard's Foot Regt.                 M6 [][]

  • IR32 Skelton's & Sowle's Foot Btns.            M5 [][]

  • IR28 Bragge's & Cholmondley's Foot Btns.       M5 [][]

  • IR20 Bligh's & Welch Fuzileers Foot Btns.      M5 [][]

Third (Hanoverian) Line, LG Ilten (DC), Ex = 3

  • IR2 Zastrow’s & Sporken’s Foot Btns.           M5 [][][]

  • IR6 Von Oberg’s & Campen's Foot Btns.          M5 [][][]

British Cavalry Corps, LG John Campbell (CC)

First Line, Earl of Crawford (DC), Ex = 2

  • DR1 Earl of Rothes’ Dragoon Regts.             M6 [] Med

  • CRLG Life Guards Cavalry Regts.                M6 [] Hvy

  • CRHG Horse Guards Cavalry Regts.               M6 [] Hvy

Second Line, MG Hawley (DC), Ex = 2

  • DR6 Onslow's Dragoon Regts.                    M6 [] Med

  • DR7 Cope’s Dragoon Regts.                      M6 [] Med    

  • CR1 Ligonier’s Dragoon Guards Regts.           M6 [] Hvy 

Hanoverian Cavalry, MG Wood (DC), Ex = 2

  • CR1 Leib Horse Brigade.                        M5 [] Hvy

  • CR2 Von Dachenhausen’s Horse Regts.            M5 [] Hvy

  • DR7 Dragoon Regt. Von der Busche.              M5 [] Med

  • DR5 Dragoon Regt. Von Wendt.                   M5 [] Med

Dutch-Austrian Army, Prince Waldeck (AC)

Infantry Corps, Gen Cronstrom (CC)

  • A1 Van Rijssel’s Corps Reserve Bty.            M5 [] Fld PPA

Right Flank First Line, BG Efferen (DC), Ex = 4

  • IR13 Dorth & Rijssel’s Marine Btns.            M5 [][][]

  • IR54 Waldeck’s Foot Btns.                      M4 [][][]

  • IR58 Salis Foot Regt.                          M4 [][]

  • IR43 Cronstrom’s Foot Regt.                    M4 [][]

Left Flank First Line, BG Salis (DC), Ex = 4

  • IR1 Garde te Voet Foot Regt.                   M5 [][][]

  • IR7 Aylva’s Foot Btns.                         M5 [][]

  • IR37 Buddenbroek’s Foot Btns.                  M4 [][][]

Second Line, BG Burmania (DC), Ex = 6

  • IR12 Van Smissaert’s Foot Btns.                M4 [][]

  • GRc1 Converged Grenadier Cos.                  M5 [][][] Sh

  • GRc2 Converged Grenadier Cos.                  M5 [][][] Sh

  • IR57 Sturler’s Foot Regt.                      M4 [][]

  • IR59 Constant-Rebecque Foot Regt.              M4 [][]

  • IR3 Broekhuysen’s Foot Btns.                   M4 [][]

Cavalry Corps, Prince Hessen-Philipsthal (CC)

First Line, Van Schagen (DC), Ex = 2

  • DR1 Garde-Dragoner Regt.                       M5 [] Med

  • CR4 Sandouville’s Horse Regts.                 M5 [] Hvy

  • CR12 Oyen’s Horse Regts.                       M5 [] Hvy

  • CR14 Reede van Ginkel’s Horse Regts.           M5 [] Hvy

Second Line, BG Schlippenbach (DC), Ex = 1

  • DR3 Schlippenbach’s Dragoon Regts.             M4 [] Med

  • DR2 Massau’s Dragoon Regts.                    M4 [] Med

Cavalry Corps Reserve, LG Coenders (DC), Ex = 2

  • CR 13 Eck van Lijnden’s Horse Regts.           M5 [] Hvy

  • CR15 Rechteren’s Horse Regts.                  M5 [] Hvy

  • DR31 Austrian de Ligne Dragoon Regt.           M5 [] Med

  • HR16 Austrian Karolyi Hussar Regt.             M4 [] Lt Sko

 

The French Army

Army Commander, Marechal Comte Maurice de Saxe (AC)

Monarch, King Louis XV.                                             

Infantry Corps, Clermont-Gallernade (CC)

First Line Left Wing, Lutteaux (DC), Ex = 8

  • L3a Grassins a Pied Btn.                        M4 [] Sko

  • L3b Grassins a Pied Btn.                        M4 [] Sko

  • LR3 Grassins a Cheval Sqns.                     M4 [] Lt Sko

  • IR5a Normandie Infantry Regt.                   M5 [][] EFD PT

  • IR5b Normandie Infantry Regt.                   M5 [][] EFD PT

  • IR103 Royal Corse Infantry Regt.                M5 [][] EFD PT

  • Redoubt Chambons IR20 d'Eu Infantry Btn.        M4 [] EFD PT BG

  • IR92 Bulkeley & Dillon Infantry Btns.           M5 [][] EFD PT

  • IR98 Rooth & Berwick Infantry Btns.             M5 [][] EFD PT

  • IR109 Lally & Clare Infantry Btns.              M5 [][] EFD PT

  • Redoubt d’Eu IR20 d'Eu Infantry Btn.            M4 [] EFD PT BG

First Line Centre, Chabannes (DC), Ex = 9

  • IR3G Infantry Regt. Gardes Suisses.             M6 [][][] EFD PT

  • IR2G Infantry Regt. Gardes Francais.            M6 [][][] EFD PT

  • IR1G Infantry Regt. Gardes Francais.            M6 [][][] EFD PT

  • AL1 ‘Suedoise’ Light Bty.                       M5 [] Lt PPA

  • IR91 Courten Infantry Regt.                     M5 [][] EFD PT

  • A1 Richecourt’s Field Bty.                      M5 [] Fld PPA

  • A2 Fontenny’s Field Bty.                        M5 [] Fld PPA

  • IR12a Du Roi & Audettere Infantry Btns.         M4 [][] EFD PT

  • IR12b Du Roi Infantry Regt.                     M4 [][] EFD PT

Fontenoy Garrison, Vauguyon (DC), Ex = 3

  • IR16 Dauphin Infantry Regt.                     M5 [][][] EFD PT BG

  • IR41 Beauvoisis & Dauphin Infantry Btns.        M5 [][] EFD PT BG

Second Line Centre, d'Estrees (DC), Ex = 5

  • IR26 Royal de Vaisseaux Infantry Regt.          M5 [][] EFD PT

  • AL2 ‘Suedoise’ Light Bty.                       M5 [] Lt PPA

  • IR73 Hainault & Royale Infantry Btns.           M4 [][] EFD PT

  • IR13 Royal Infantry Regt.                       M4 [][] EFD PT

  • IR88 Soissonais & Couronne Infantry Btns.       M4 [][] EFD PT

  • IR28 Couronne Infantry Regt.                    M5 [][] EFD PT

First Line Right Wing, Montagne (DC), Ex = 6

  • IR90 Diesbach Infantry Regt.                    M5 [][] EFD PT

  • IR49 Bethens Infantry Regt.                     M5 [][] EFD PT

  • AL3 ‘Suedoise’ Light Bty.                       M5 [] Lt PPA

  • IR8 Crillon Infantry Regt.                      M4 [][][] EFD PT

  • Garrisons of Redoubts Bethens, Diesbach and Crillon.

  • IR90d Detachment, Infantry Regt. Diesbach.      M5 [] EFD PT BG

  • IR90d Detachment, Infantry Regt. Diesbach.      M5 [] EFD PT BG

  • IR90d Detachment, Infantry Regt. Diesbach.      M5 [] EFD PT BG

  • Dismounted Dragoon Regts.

  • DR3d Royaux Dragoon Regt.                       M4 [s] EFD PT

  • DR2d Mestre de Camp Dragoon Regt.               M4 [s] EFD PT

  • DR8d de Beaufremont Dragoon Regt.               M4 [s] EFD PT

Antoing Garrison, La Marck (DC), Ex = 3

  • IR4a Piemont Infantry Regt.                     M5 [][] EFD PT BG

  • IR4b Piemont Infantry Regt.                     M5 [][] EFD PT BG

  • IR6 La Marine & Biron Infantry Btns.            M4 [][] EFD PT BG

Left Wing Reserve, Comte de Lowenthal (DC), Ex = 4

  • IR18 Touraine Infantry Regt.                    M5 [][] EFD PT

  • IR84 Nivernois & Touraine Infantry Btns.        M4 [][] EFD PT

  • AL4 ‘Rostaing’ Light Bty.                       M5 [] Lt PPA

  • IR9a Auvergne Infantry Regt.                    M5 [][] EFD PT

  • IR9b Auvergne Infantry Regt.                    M5 [][] EFD PT

Cavalry Corps, Clermont-Tonnerre (CC) 

Left Wing Reserve, du Chayla (DC), Ex = 5

  • DR15 Egmont Dragoon Regt.                       M4 [] Lt

  • CR9 Royal Roussillon Cavalry Regt.              M5 [] Hvy

  • CR44 Prince Camille Cavalry Regt.               M5 [] Hvy

  • CR19a Carabiniers Cavalry Sqns.                 M5 [] Hvy

  • CR19b Carabiniers Cavalry Sqns.                 M5 [] Hvy

  • CRM1 Garde du Corps Cavalry Sqns.               M6 [] Hvy

  • CRM2 Garde du Corps Cavalry Sqns.               M6 [] Hvy

  • CRM4 Mousquetiers & Grenadiers du Roi.          M6 [] Hvy

  • CRM5 Gendarmes & Chevauxlegers du Roi.          M6 [] Hvy

Right Wing First Line, Clermont-Prince (DC), Ex = 3

  • CR8 Royal Cravattes Cavalry Regt.               M5 [] Hvy

  • CR de Fiennes Cavalry Regt.                     M5 [] Hvy

  • CR56 Fitzjames Cavalry Regt.                    M5 [] Hvy

  • CR24 Clermont-Prince Cavalry Regt.              M5 [] Hvy

  • CR31 de Brancas Cavalry Regt.                   M5 [] Hvy

  • CR1 Colonel-General Cavalry Regt.               M5 [] Hvy

Right Wing Second Line, Richelieu (DC), Ex = 3

  • CR4 du Roi Cvaalry Regt.                        M5 [] Hvy

  • CR33 Clermont-Tonnerre Cavalry Regt.            M5 [] Hvy

  • CR20 Orleans Cavalry Regt.                      M5 [] Hvy

  • CR32 Tallyrand Cavalry Regt.                    M5 [] Hvy

  • CR35 Egmont Cavalry Regt.                       M5 [] Hvy

  • CR7 Les Cuirassiers Cavalry Regt.               M5 [] Hvy

Right Wing Third Line, Herouville (DC), Ex = 4

  • CR18 Berry Cavalry Regt.                        M5 [] Hvy

  • CR54 Noailles Cavalry Regt.                     M5 [] Hvy

  • CR26 Penthievre Cavalry Regt.                   M5 [] Hvy

  • CR55 Pons Cavalry Regt.                         M5 [] Hvy

  • CR29 Brionne Cavalry Regt.                      M5 [] Hvy

  • CR34 Chabrillont Cavalry Regt.                  M5 [] Hvy

  • CR6 Royal Etranger Cavalry Regt.                M5 [] Hvy

  • Artillery covering Antoing in the battery west of the Scheldt.

  • A10 12pdr Heavy Bty.                            M5 [] Hvy PPA

 

The Map

Note the map is grid scale is 1000 paces x 1000 paces rather than the normal 1200 yards x 1200 yards due to Mike Kirby using an alternate ground scale with his Square Grid System.

 
[1] A British Guardsman during the firefight with the French Guards, quoted in Skrine.

[2] Three ‘long’ 6pdrs commanded by Captain Mitchelson RA.

[3] These were the British 12th and 42nd foot.

[4] Reported by Waldeck in his journal.

[5] Available in Antoing Information Centre.

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