Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc
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Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc. 7407 La Jolla Boulevard www.raremaps.com (858) 551-8500 La Jolla, CA 92037 [email protected] Plan Des Retranchemens et du Camp Denain ou est marque Le Pasage de L'Armee du Roy a Neuville sur L'Escout . Stock#: 28191 Map Maker: de Fer Date: 1715 Place: Pais Color: Uncolored Condition: VG+ Size: 15 x 10 inches Price: SOLD Description: Detailed plan of the battle of Denain, fought on 24 July 1712, as part of the War of the Spanish Succession, which resulted in a French victory under Marshal Villars against Austrian and Dutch forces under Prince Eugene of Savoy. The French troops were southeast of Le Cateau at Mazinghien. After a detailed examination of the enemy dispositions, Villars decided in the greatest secrecy to attack Denain. Cavalry were sent to seize the various bridges crossing the river Selle. During the evening a detachment also took up positions around the mill at Haspres, blocking the river crossing there. That night the infantry began to march towards Prince Eugene's forces at Landrecies (on the Sambre). In response to this threat Eugene reinforced Landrecies, in doing so weakening the Allied right wing (under Albemarle) holding Denain. At dawn, Villars swung the line of advance of his army and aimed it (behind the cover of the Selle) in 3 columns at Denain. In the early evening, Villars and his principal lieutenants drew up their plan of attack at Avesnes-le-Sec; they choose the windmill there as a vantage point for observation of the surrounding lowland. At seven o'clock the French infantrymen reached Neuville-sur-Escaut and were immediately ordered to seize the bridges across the Scheldt. At eight o'clock , the allies were surprised to discover the French presence in the area. Albermarle warned Eugene, who at this stage was not greatly concerned. At one in the afternoon the attack had developed to the point of an assault on the palisade at Denain. The French sappers, axes in hand, led the infantry which against heavy fire took the position at the point of the bayonet. The allied infantry, seized by panic, attempted to flee across the mill bridge. Jammed with the fugitives, it collapsed under their weight, drowning hundreds of infantrymen. Eugene, who had responded too slowly attempted to force his way across the Scheldt at Prouvy to help Drawer Ref: Stock#: 28191 Page 1 of 2 Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc. 7407 La Jolla Boulevard www.raremaps.com (858) 551-8500 La Jolla, CA 92037 [email protected] Plan Des Retranchemens et du Camp Denain ou est marque Le Pasage de L'Armee du Roy a Neuville sur L'Escout . Albemarle. Under the command of the Prince de Tingry, French regiments held the bridge at Prouvy against repeated Austrian attacks; finally, as the day drew to a close , the French blew up the bridge to prevent it falling into the hands of the enemy. On his left flank therefore, Eugene was blocked by the Scheldt and could not counter-attack to retake Denain which therefore stayed in the hands of the French. The battle was not immediately recognized to be as decisive as it turned out to be; most of Eugene's army was relatively unscathed. However, with the loss of Denain the Allied position began to unravel, and in the next couple of months the French recovered most of the towns they had lost in previous years. Detailed Condition: Drawer Ref: Stock#: 28191 Page 2 of 2.