DUNES or DUNKIRK DUNES, BATTLE OF, was fought near Dunkirk on May 24 (June 3), between the French and English army under the command of Marshal Turenne and the Spanish army under Don Juan of Austria and the prince of Conde. The severest part of the fighting was borne by the English contingents on either side. Six thousand English infantry under Gen. Lockhart were sent by Cromwell to join the army of Turenne, and several Royalist corps under the com mand of the duke of York (afterwards James II.) served in the Spanish forces. The object of the Spaniards was to relieve Dun kirk, which Turenne was besieging. Don Juan had a strong superiority in cavalry, but left behind his artillery in order not to delay his advance. He took up a position on the dunes with his right on the sea and his left on the Bruges canal, and here Turenne at once attacked him. Conde's cavalry on the left wing charged with great resolution and despite heavy loss gained the upper hand. But their success was nullified by the failure of the Spanish right wing and centre under Turenne's pressure, to which Cromwell's veterans largely contributed. But when all the rest of the Spanish army was in rapid retreat, the one small corps of English Royalists, some 30o strong only, held out stubbornly and only laid down their arms on terms that they were allowed to rejoin their king, Charles II. at Ypres. From this corps, the Royal Regiment of Guards, are descended the present Grenadier Guards. With Turenne's victory, the surrender of Dunkirk speedily followed, and the fortress passed into English hands until sold back by Charles II.—an ironical last word on this singular footnote to English history.