CAMPAIGN.
The second battle (for its strategic prologue see GRAND ALLI ANCE, WAR OF THE) was fought on July I, 169o, between 45,000 French under duke of Luxemburg, and 37,000 allied Dutch, Spaniards and Imperialists under George Frederick, prince of Waldeck. The latter had formed up his army between Heppignies and St. Amand in what was then considered an ideal position ; a double barrier of marshy brooks was in front, each flank rested on a village, and the space between, open upland, fitted his army exactly. But Luxemburg, riding up with his advanced guard from Velaine, decided, after a brief survey of the ground, simul taneously to attack the front of the Allies' position, envelop their right flank and turn their left flank by a wide manoeuvre on to their rear, a boldness and breadth of tactical conception which was rare for the age, indeed for any age. The left wing of cavalry was to move under cover of woods, houses and hollows to gain Wangenies, where it was to con nect with the frontal attack of the French centre from Fleurus and to envelop Waldeck's right.
Luxemburg himself with the right wing of cavalry and some infantry and artillery made a wide sweep round the enemy's left by way of Ligny and Les Trois Burettes, concealed by the high-standing corn. At 8 o'clock the frontal attack began by a vigorous artillery engage ment, in which the French, though greatly outnumbered in guns, held their own, and three hours later Waldeck, whose at tention had been absorbed by events on the front, found a long line of the enemy already formed up in his rear. He at once brought his second line back to oppose them, but while he was doing so the French leader filled up the gap between himself and the frontal assailants by posting infantry around Wagnelee, and also guns on the neighbouring hill whence their fire enfiladed both halves of the enemy's army up to the limit of their ranging power. At I P.M. Luxemburg ordered a general attack of his whole line. He himself scattered the cavalry opposed to him and hustled the Dutch infantry into St. Amand, where they were promptly surrounded. The left and centre of the French army were less fortunate, and in their first charge lost their leader, de Gournay, one of the best cavalry officers in the service. But Waldeck, hoping to profit by this momentary success, sent a portion of his right wing towards St. Amand, where it merely shared the fate of his left, and the day was decided. Only a quarter of the cavalry and 14 battalions of infantry (English and Dutch) remained intact, and Waldeck could do no more, but with these he emulated the last stand of the Spaniards at Rocroi 5o years before. A great square was formed of the infantry, and a handful of cavalry joined them—the French cavalry, eager to avenge de Gournay, had swept away the rest. Then slowly and in perfect order, they retired into the broken ground above Mellet, where they were in safety. The French slept on the battlefield, and then returned to camp with their trophies and 8,000 prisoners. They had lost some 2,500 killed, the Allies twice as many, as well as 48 guns, and Luxemburg was able to send 15o colours and standards to decorate Notre-Dame. But the victory was not fol lowed up, for Louis XIV. ordered Luxemburg to keep in line with other French armies which were carrying on more or less desultory wars of manoeuvre on the Meuse and Moselle.