The Gallery of Portraits: with Memoirs. Volume 1 (of 7)Malkin, Arthur Thomas
History
The Gallery of Portraits: with Memoirs. Volume 1 (of 7)
Malkin, Arthur Thomas
Biography
revolting, it was at least a recurrence to his former principle of
loyalty, from which, in after-life, he never swerved.
The value of his services was soon made evident. Twice, at the head of
very inferior troops, he checked Condè in the career of victory: and
again compelled him to fight under the walls of Paris; where, in the
celebrated battle of the Faubourg St. Antoine, the Prince and his army
narrowly escaped destruction. Finally, he re-established the court at
Paris, and compelled Condè to quit the realm. These important events
took place in one campaign of six months, in 1652.
In 1654 he again took the field against his former friend and commander,
Condè, who had taken refuge in Spain, and now led a foreign army against
his country. The most remarkable operation of the campaign was the
raising the siege of Arras; which the Spaniards had invested, according
to the most approved fashion of the day, with a strong double line of
circumvallation, within which the besieging army was supposed to be
securely sheltered against the sallies of the garrison cooped up within,
and the efforts of their friends from without. Turenne marched to the
relief of the place. This could only be effected by forcing the enemy’s
entrenchments; which were accordingly attacked, contrary to the opinion
of his own officers, and carried at all points, despite the personal
exertions of Condè. The Spaniards were forced to retreat. It is
remarkable that Turenne, not long after, was himself defeated in
precisely similar circumstances, under the walls of Valenciennes, round
which he had drawn lines of circumvallation. Once more he found himself
in the same position at Dunkirk. On this occasion he marched out of his
lines to meet the enemy, rather than wait, and suffer them to choose
their point of attack: and the celebrated battle of the Dunes or
Sandhills ensued, in which he gained a brilliant victory over the best
Spanish troops, with Condè at their head. This took place in 1657.
Dunkirk and the greater part of Flanders fell into the hands of the
French in consequence; and these successes led to the treaty of the
Pyrenees, which terminated the war in 1658.
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