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The Seven Years War (1756-63)

Manuscript and printed maps and views, correspondence and journals from the first global war

? WILLIAM ROY (1726-90)

Order of battle of the French army, Minden, 1759

Order of Battle in which the French Army commanded by M. de Contades was form’d & advanc’d to Attack the Allied / Army commanded by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick at Minden Aug:st 1.st 1759...

c.1759

Pencil, pen, and ink on paper | 48.6 x 34.2 cm (image) | RCIN 732110.a

An order of battle of the French army under the command of M. de Contades at Minden, 1 August 1759. Seven Years War (1756-63).

The tentative attribution to William Roy is made on stylistic grounds, although it should be noted that this style of handwriting was commonplace in the eighteenth century. The orders of march and battle are detailed, giving the names of the commanding officers, battalions and squadrons, the numbers of each, and the number of artillery pieces. It appears to be unfinished, there being no colouring to the regimental rectangles.

The General Officers of the First Line are Lieutenant-Generals Duc de Havre, Comte de Guerchÿ, Duc de FitzJames, Marq. de Mesnil, M. de Beaupreau, Chev. de Nicolay, Duc de Broglio; Marechaux de Camp M. de la Val, M. de Maugiron, S.t Charmant, Lutzelburgh, Cormanville, M. de Monti, M. de Planta.

The General Officers of the Second Line are Lieutenant-Generals Comte de Lusace, M. de Castries, M. de Voguè, Comte S.t Germain; Marechaux de Camp M. de Lillebonne, M. de Glaubitz, M. de Leyde.

The Reserve corps is under the command of Lieutenant-General M. de Poyanne and Marechal de Camp M. de Bissey and M. de Bellifonds.

Condition: six fold lines; formerly folded to 13.8 x 10.0 cm; some wear along folds; small tear, bottom left. Verso: heavy surface dirt on outside fold panels.
  • ? William Roy (1726-90) (draughtsman)

  • Watermark: Fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, a ‘4’ suspending the letters L V G below; countermark: IV

    Mark, stamped: 884

    Condition: six fold lines; formerly folded to 13.8 x 10.0 cm; some wear along folds; small tear, bottom left. Verso: heavy surface dirt on outside fold panels.

  • 48.3 x 33.9 cm (neatline)

    48.6 x 34.2 cm (image)

    51.4 x 36.8 cm (sheet)

  • Manuscript title:

    Order of Battle in which the French Army commanded by M. de Contades was form’d & advanc’d to Attack the Allied / Army commanded by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick at Minden Aug:st 1.st 1759. N.B. The Allied Army had in / the Field 27 Batt:ns & 43 Squad:ns [and] Plan of the Order of March of the French Army in 9 Columns, from the Camp at Minden the night of / the 31.st of July 1759, in which Position it remain’d till Day-break, when it form’d in Order of Battle. [top, inside border]

    Annotation: 

    George III heading: Order of Battle at Minden, 1 August 1759.

    Other annotations: none.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Order of Battle Order of battle in which the French Army, commanded by M. de Contades, was formed and advanced to attack the Allied Army, commanded by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick at Minden, 1.st Aug.t 1759. MS.

  • Subject(s)

    Minden, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (52°17'00"N 08°55'00"E)

Page revisions

  • 14 March 2024