Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883 edition. Excerpt: ... in affording these men repose after their long march, and in distributing "a little bread." Towards night, the baggage was sent to the rear. Then, the army, about 70,000 strong, marched off by its right, and at 9 o'clock next morning halted opposite the gap (trouce) of Malplaquet. Speedily the right of the first line rested on the wood of Laniere, the left on the wood of Taisniere. The centre formed across the great trouie (nearly half a league wide) between the two woods. Hedges, ditches, and occasional entrenchments covered the right; the greater part of the left, posted in the wood of Sars, was defended with abatis. In front of the centre were entrenchments pierced with openings for cavalry to pass to the attack. The hamlet of Malplaquet, in rear of the right, was garnished with artillery and infantry. Eighty pieces of cannon were conveniently planted by St. Hilaire upon elevated ground. The horse drew up in the plain behind the woods of Sars and Jansart.1 Several battalions, belonging to the second line of infantry, stood in the centre of the second line of cavalry. "C'etoit," writes Dumont, "tout ensemble une espece de gueule infernale, une gouffre de feu, de soufre, et de salpetre, d'6u il ne semblait pas qu'on put approcher sans perir."4 It was arranged that Boufflers should command the right, the left being under Villars. The concord of the chiefs bred confidence in the soldiery. "Je ne passe pas devant les soldats," writes the jovial Marshal, "qu'ils ne me parlent avec une fiert bien agreable pour celui qui a l'honneur de les commander." In the night of the 10th--nth, the troops bivouacked in the field; the colours of the hostile armies being a pistol-shot only from each other....