Order of battle of the French army in Flanders, 1744

Ordre de Bataille De L'armée Commandée Par M:r Le Marechal Comte de Saxe

An order of battle in two lines of the French Army under the command of Marshal Saxe in Flanders, 1744. War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48).

The General Officers of the First Line are Lieutenant-Generals Demontesson, Dapchiér, De Clare, Delataux, Destrées, Du Chaglas; Marechal de Camp: PontChartrain, Dedonges, D'hautefort, fitzjames, D'avarcÿ, De Rambures, Defiennes, De Langes'on; Brigadiers: Detarnault, Tallerand, Lorges, Guerchÿ, Chambonas, Lavauguion, Depons. This line of battle comprises 41 squadrons and 32 battalions, as for RCIN 729042.a.

The General Officers of the Second Line of 26 squadrons and 29 battalions are Lieutenant-Generals: P^ce de Pons, De Bérranger, De fenelon; Marechaux de Camp: La Coste, Beaufremont, Souvré, Seedorft, Darmentiers, Levÿ, Graville; Brigadiers: De Cernaÿ, Deblois, Rohan, De Rooth, Coetlogon, Lamotte, Vogué, D'avrinCourt. The artillery is commanded by Lieutenant-General Devaliere, flanked on the right by carabinieres under Marechal de Camp De Montmorancÿ and Brigadier De Crequÿ, and on the left by Dragoons commanded by Marechal de Camp De Chevreuse and Brigadier Depuÿguion.

Horizontal ink lines separate the infantry from the cavalry. Several pencilled alterations are inserted, apparently in a different hand. The small size of this item when folded, and the extent of the surface dirt along the folds, suggests that it may have been well-used in the field.

This is one of three orders of battle (with RCINs 729042.a,b) that were formerly kept in a grey-buff rag paper folder on which the old heading was written; the ink inscription 'No:s 387-389' corresponding to the stamped numbers on the items is on the front; '(a-c) CMB Nov'86' [i.e. 1986] is written in black pencil in a modern hand on the front cover.

Condition: six fold lines; formerly folded to 8.9 x 10.4 cm; worn with surface dirt along fold lines. Verso: surface dirt.