Луј де Рувроа, Херцог де Сен Симон
ВОЕНИ ОЗБОРУВАЊА И ДВОРСКИ ОГОВАРАЊА
1710 – 1714
Chapter IV
Villars in Flanders.
–His reports of the wretched state of the Army badly received. –His alarm. –He
is accused of missing a chance of victory. –Berwick send to report. –He insists
on reward beforehand. –A peerage settled on his second son. –He chooses a
ridiculous title Duke of Fitz-James. –His reception in Parliament. –Unpleasant
remarks about bastards. –Caumartin’s want of tact. –Consecration of the new
chapel. –Death of Maddame de la Valiere. –Insulting remark of Villars about the
Duchess of Burgundy’s
ladies. –Heudicourt reports it. –Anger of Villars, who attacks Heudicourt
publicly. –The “good little man”. –Ravignan captures a valuable convoy near Ypres. –Loss of Aire and St. Venant. –Cardinal de
Bouillon deserts to the enemy. –The King’s anger. –Difficulty of punishing a
Cardinal. –Folly of appointing them. –The Duke of Mortemart and his gambling
debts. –The Archbishop of Arles
translated to Reims. –The Duchess of Berry disgraces herself
at a super-party. –Vendome leaves to Spain. –Campaign in that country.
–Spaniards defeated at Saragossa.
–Allies capture Madrid.
–Hostility of the inhabitants. –Madrid
evacuated. –Vendome marches on Brihuega. –Stanhope forced to surrender. –Allies
defeated at Villaviciosa. –Gerona
invested.
…
Very important events took place this year in Spain.
In order to understand them it is necessary to bear in mind the preposterous
condition of peace proposed by the Allies, the refusal of which caused the
rupture of the shameful negotiations at Gertruydenberg. Philip V was now left
to his own resources, weak as they were; for it was as much as France could do
to defend herself, and peace was becoming so necessary to us that our King, to
conciliate the Allies, was careful to avoid any appearance of helping Spain.
For this reason he even left it be understood that Madame des Ursins was about
to be recalled; and she herself professed to be making her preparations for
departure in a month or six weeks. I do not believe, however, that either she
or Catholic Majesties took this announcement very seriously; at any rate,
nothing came of it.
The Spanish Government was in great need of a
good General, and repeatedly asked for Vendome’s services; but, for the reasons
already mentioned, the King would not allow him to go. Towards the end of March
the King of Spain left Madrid to put himself
at the head of his Army in Aragon,
which was commanded by Viladarias, one of their best Generals; a brave and
experienced officer, but advanced in years. He obtained some trifling successes
at the opening of the campaign; but Staremberg, who had been ill, recovered
more quickly that had been expected, and, drawing his forces together, attacked
the King’s army and drove it back to Saragossa. The loss on our side was not
great, amounting only about 1,000 men; the enemy also lost rather heavily in
proportion; but there was much disorder, and the moral effect of the defeat was
serious. All the blame was attributed to Viladarias, who was accused of
recklessness and negligence, and he was superseded the Marquis de Bay. This bad
news reached the King about he beginning of August, coupled with renewed
entreaties for Vendome; and, as the negotiations at Gertruydenberg were by this
time broken off, the King consented to let him go.
Vendome arrived at Versailles on the 19th of August.
M. du Maine had, by the Madame de Maintenon’s intercession, arranged that he
should have an interview with the Duchess of Burgundy; for, as he was going to Spain
at the express request by the King and the Queen – her sister, it would have
been very unpleasant for him to be refused permission to see her before
starting. Accordingly, the Duke du Maine conducted him to her toilette,
which happened that day to be more numerously attended than usual, both by men
and ladies. The Duchess of Burgundy rose when they entered, as she did for
Princes of the Blood and all Dukes and Duchess; but after this first act of
courtesy, which could not be refused, she, who cared little about her dress,
and whose eyes and tongue as a rule were never still for a moment – at her toilette,
or anywhere else – fixed her eyes on her looking-glass and said not a single
word to anyone. M. du Maine and M. du Vendome stood close by her side, looking
much disconcerted; nobody came up to them, nobody spoke to them, but all eyes
were turned at their direction.
They remained in this situation for nearly ten
minutes, after which they could stand no
longer and quietly retired. This reception was
not sufficiently agreeable to encourage Vendome
to ask for a farewell audience, which would have been doubly mbarrassing
because he would have to kiss the Duchess of Burgundy, like all Princess, Dukes
and Marshals of France on their departure for, or arrival from, a campaign or
long journey. Perhaps he feared the unheard-of affront of refusal; however that
may be, he was satisfied with hist first experience, and did not take leave of
her. Next day he had audience of the King, and left for Paris after dinner. He had only spent 24
hours there since his marriage; Madame de Vendome had not been at Anet, where
he passed all his time; so they had much opportunity for making each other’s
acquaintance. The Duke of Burgundy treated Vendome with civility during his
stay at Versailles;
that is to say, he treated him far too well.
In the meantime Staremberg pushed his advance;
he attacked the Spanish army almost under the walls of Saragossa, and totally defeated it. Bay, on
assuming the command, had found his men completely demoralized; the infantry,
which consisted almost entirely of militia, threw down their arms and fled on
the first onset. The cavalry did rather better, but the battle was soon over;
the whole of the artillery was lost, and the rout was complete. This misfortune
happened on the 19th of August; Vendome heard the news while on his
way, and, after his usual fashion, thought it advisable to let things take
their own course for a while before he intervened in person; he therefore
lingered at Bayonne
till the middle of September.
The Archduke joined Staremberg’s army
immediately after the battle, and a warm debate took place in his presence as
to the best means of profiting by the victory. Stanhope was for marching straight
to Madrid and proclaiming Archduke King of Spain, which he
taught would strike terror into the whole country. Staremberg admitted that
this proposal had some specious advantages, but held that, from a military
point of view, the occupation of Madrid
was not only useless but dangerous. He proposed to leave a small force in Aragon,
sufficient to keep the beaten army in check, and with his main body return to
the Portuguese frontier and overwhelm the small army left there by Bay under
the Marquis de Richebourg. From this base he intended to advance to the
conquest of the central provinces,
keeping within easy reach of the seaports. If this advice had been followed the
ruin of Philip V would probably have been rendered complete; for the country
would have been conquered foot by foot, leaving him no way of retreat except by
Bayonne. But Stanhope, who commanded the English and Dutch troops, without
which the army was worthless, threatened to withdraw them if his advice was not
followed, declaring that the orders of Sovereign were to march on Madrid in preference to
any other object. Staremberg had to give way; and the Allies proceeded to put
into execution a project which struck terror into the Court of Spain, but
eventually proved the salvation of Philip V.
Madrid was indefensible, and the Court had
to leave the capital for the second time and take refuge in Valladolid. All classes in Spain vied with
each other in showing their fidelity to the Sovereigns; the poorest gave what
money they had, and stripped themselves to send provisions to the troops. The
Queen sold all her jewels; and, to encourage the zeal of her subjects, received
the most trifling presents of money with affectionate and gracious thanks; for
she knew that, small as they were, they were great in proportion to the means
of the givers. She won all hearts by her courageous and gracious conduct, and
the devotion of the people to her was of no small advantage in this desperate
extremity.
In the meantime the Archduke entered Madrid in triumph; but
he found the city half deserted by its inhabitants, and was welcomed with no
signs of joy. Staremberg was careful to maintain strict discipline; no damage
was done to the town, and it was hoped that the ill-will of the surrounding
country might be overcome by clemency and conciliation. But the army was
starving; neither treats nor money could procure food or forage; not a
Castilian but would have himself considered dishonored if he had sold anything
to the enemy, or even left it where it could be taken. After an occupation of
not more than ten or twelve days the Archduke was forced to evacuate Madrid and retreat to Toledo. Nothing was carried out by the enemy
except some tapestry belonging to the King, which Stanhope was not ashamed to
appropriate – an act which was blamed by his own friends. Before very long he
had the additional shame of being forced to give it up again.
Vendome arrived at Valladolid on the 20th of
September, and was agreeably surprised to find Spanish affairs in a better
state than have possibly could be expected after such a disaster. Thanks to the
fidelity and devotion of his subjects, Philip V found himself in a very short
time at the head of 12,000 or 15,000 men, well clad and well armed, with
abundance of money and provisions; while the enemy, after their brief triumph
at Madrid, were in want of everything, retreating through a hostile country,
where the inhabitants not only burnt their property rather than let it fall
into their hands, but murdered all stragglers, even with 500 yards of the main
body. The King of Spain left his army for a few days, and went to Madrid, where he was
received with indescribable joy. The streets were filled with such prodigious
crowds that it took him three hours to go from the church of Notre Dame
d’Atoche to the palace. The city made him a present of 20,000 pistoles.
During his brief stay there he did a thing
almost unprecedented in Spain,
which have great pleasure to the public: he went to visit the aged Marquise de
Mansera, who had stubbornly refused to take the oath of allegiance to the
Archduke. He had comleted his 100th year, and nearly died of joy at
this mark of esteem from his Sovereign. The King discussed his plans for the
future with him; embraced him when they parted, and would not allow him to rise
from his chair. I believe it is an only instance of a visit paid to a subject
by a King since Philip II went to see a famous Duke of Alba, then on his
deathbed; who, when he saw him enter, merely remarked that it was too late,
and, turning on his side, refused to say another word. On the fourth day after
his arrival at Madrid
the King returned to Vendome and his army.
Vendome’s plan was to withdraw the small army
left by Bay in Estremadura
and effect a junction with it, with which object he made a number of bold and
skillful movements. Staremberg, no longer embarrassed by the presence of the Archduke, was endeavoring not only to
prevent this junction, but to bring up his own detached troops from Estremadura. With this
object he threw Stanhope, with a strong garrison of English and Dutch troops
into Brihuega, a small fortified town with a strong citadel, which Vendome must
take before he could unite his troops. Staremberg had served against Vendome
before, and knew his habits; he thought he could deceive him into thinking that
Stanhope had been rashly placed in an isolated position where he could be
crushed before support could reach him. In this he succeeded perfectly; Vendome
threw himself upon Brihuega, and was very much astonished to find that, instead
weak detachment, he had to deal with a strong body of troops in a fortified
place. A retreat, however, would have discouraged his troops, and might not
perhaps have been a very easy operation; so he gave orders for the attack. Two
assaults were maid and failed, when the news came that Staremberg was advancing
with 5,000 men; in reality he had nearly double that number.
Vendome was now in extremely perilous position;
but the die was cast, and he determined to stake the fate of the Spanish Crown
upon a third assault, while he himself, with the King of Spain, led the whole
of his cavalry, and such other forces as could be spared, to meet Staremberg.
Fortunately the last assault was completely successful; the town was carried
after a desperate resistance, and though the garrison withdrew into the
citadel, it was immediately surrendered. Among the prisoners of war was
Stanhope himself, Generals Carpenter and Wills, and two Brigadiers; the whole
of the enemy’s artillery and baggage fell into the hands of the assailants. It
was here that Stanhope had to disgorge the tapestry that which he had carried
of from the King of Spain’s palace at Madrid.
While the capitulation was being arranged,
repeated reports arrived of Staremberg’s advance; and it was necessary to
conceal the news from the enemy, who might have held out in the citadel, had
they known that support was so near at hand. Next morning Vendome was in a
difficulty, for it was necessary to march off the capture garrison under a very
strong escort, and at the same time to send every available men to meet
Staremberg, who was by this time close at hand. However, the prisoners were
safely disposed of, and Vendome drew up his forces in a plain near
Villaviciosa. The battle began late in the afternoon by a charge of cavalry
which broke enemy’s left and captured a battery; but another attack on their
right was not so successful; our cavalry was repulsed by their infantry, and
driven back on the reserves consisted of the Walloon Guards, who had just come
up from Brihuega, the prisoners having been safely removed; they charged the
enemy in their turn, and drove them back vigorously. But in the meantime, the
Spanish centre had given way, and there was great confusion. Vendome was o much
alarmed that he issued orders for a retreat to Torija, and himself retired in
that direction with the King of Spain. While they were on their way, news
arrived that Mahony and the Marquise de Valdecanas had made a vigorous charge
on the enemy’s infantry, captured many prisoners and guns, and were now in
possession of the battlefield. These welcome and unexpected tidings caused
Vendome and the King of Spain to retrace their steps, with the troops they had
taken with them; and, as it was now dark, they bivouacked on the heights of
Brihuega. When day broke, all that was to be seen of the enemy was five or six
battalions, and a few squadrons of cavalry, which had remained on the
battle-field not knowing which way to in the darkness. They gave way at once,
abandoning twenty guns, two mortars, and all their wounded. A vigorous pursuit
was instituted, and many prisoners brought in; but Staremberg, with his main
body, had too long a start, and effected his retreat in good order. He lost all
his baggage, however, and most of his ammunition.
One shudders to think how near to the verge of
ruin the fortunes of the Spanish monarchy were brought on this occasion by the
rashness and negligence of Vendome. Instead of saving up the forces so miraculously
provided for him, and proceeding, cautiously and by degrees, to restore the
situation, he chose to stake all on a single throw of the dice, and his
carelessness let him straight into the trap prepared for him. Thinking he had
to deal with a weak, isolated outpost, he found, when it was too late for
retreat, that he had run his head against a strong fortified post, commanded by
the enemy’s second General; and while the assault was proceeding, had to
prepare for a second battle against the relieving force of Staremberg. Defeat
in either case meant irretrievable ruin to the Spanish monarchy, and very
possible the capture of the King in person. By the most wonderful good fortune,
Brihuega was carried at the third attempt, and the battle of Villaviciosa was
won; but Vendome had nothing to do with it. The hero who had protested so
loudly against the unavoidable retreat from Oudenarde was the first to leave
the field in Villaviciosa, taking with him all the troops he could lay his hand
on; his keen eye, so much vaunted by his admirers, was clouded on this
occasion; he saw only the confusion in his centre, and did not perceive that
both his wings were carrying all before them; and it was not till he reached
Torija that he heard he had won the battle. It was this ill-time retreat which
gave Staremberg time to withdraw in good order, and prevented him from being
crushed altogether. Such were the exploits of this great warrior, and the first
proofs of his capacity in the country which had so urgently requested his
services!
As soon as the King of Spain had returned with Vendome
to the battle-filed, and success was no longer doubtful, a courier was
dispatched to the Queen, whose mortal anxiety was turned into the liveliest
joy. She instantly went out on foot into the streets of Vittoria
where she was received with acclamations; and the news of the victory was
greeted with transports of delight throughout Spain,
especially in Madrid.
…
(WAR AND COURT GOSSIP 1710-1714 “MEMOIRS
OF THE DUKE SAINT-SIMON”, Volume IV; New
York BRENTANO’S)
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