1706 Ramillies 1300hrs ‘Clearing the way’ - Sean O'BrogainHaving easily sw
1706 Ramillies 1300hrs ‘Clearing the way’ - Sean O'BrogainHaving easily swept aside the Bourbon outposts in Franquenée and Taviers, Werdmüller’s ad hoc brigade has continued its advance to the confluence of the Mehaigne and the Vissoule only to find its way barred by the remaining companies of the 3rd Battalion of the Greder(Suisse) regiment which have deployed on some rising ground shielded by both waterways. Here, Werdmüller os marshalling his forces, the Oranje-Friesland regiment engaging the enemy troops to their front whilst the battalions of Salisch and Slangenberg repulse a turning movement by which two French infantry regiments -Provence and Bassigny - after attempting to enfilade the Dutch line - were caught in an unequal firefight and thrown back in disarray, disordering further units that were being rushed forward to bolster the Bourbon right flank. Behind the using ground shelter the remnants of Rohan-Chabot’s dragoon brigade which, having been rushed forward in dismounted order so as to better negotiate the marshy terrain, lost a number of senior officers almost immediately upon coming into action. By attacking without support and in isolation, the Bourbon commanders were unable to bring their superior numbers to bear and, as such, Werdmüller was able to defeat them in detail and thus facilitate the massing of the Allied cavalry against the Bourbon right flank without any fear o( interference from the Mehaigne valley whose occupants were now reduced to the role of spectators as the focus of the combat switched to the north, and the village of Ramillies itself. -- source link
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