<P> Although the constant charges of the French cavalry had been thrown back, their perseverance at last achieved Saxe's aim: they had made time for his infantry brigades to reform . Long after the battle Saxe justified his tactics writing: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> "</Td> <Td> "While Fontenoy remained untaken, the enemy's success in the centre was disadvantageous to them, for they had no pivot . The farther they penetrated the more were they exposed to the fire of our troops and batteries in their rear . It was essential to distract their attention by repeated cavalry charges, which were, it is true, unable to produce a decisive effect, but gave us time to organise the general attack on which all depended ." </Td> <Td>" </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> "</Td> <Td> "While Fontenoy remained untaken, the enemy's success in the centre was disadvantageous to them, for they had no pivot . The farther they penetrated the more were they exposed to the fire of our troops and batteries in their rear . It was essential to distract their attention by repeated cavalry charges, which were, it is true, unable to produce a decisive effect, but gave us time to organise the general attack on which all depended ." </Td> <Td>" </Td> </Tr> <P> The hollow "square" had again progressed several hundred yards beyond the flanking batteries, but Cumberland had become increasingly isolated in the centre with his shrinking mass of British and Hanoverian infantry . The allies grew indecisive . Löwendahl saw the true state of affairs, and galloped off to meet with Saxe . "Well, monsieur le maréchal, here is a great day for his Majesty . These fellows will never get themselves out of a fix like that ." After a council with Louis XV it was resolved to unite all available forces, and at around 2: 00pm, Saxe made a final concerted effort to repulse the enemy . Four pieces of reserve artillery, loaded with grape - shot, were brought into action, and every available regiment mustered . Saxe rallied six Irish battalions of the "Wild Geese" supported by the remnants of Vaisseaux and Normandie for a final assault and flung themselves into the attack with the wild Gaelic cry of "Cuimhnigidh ar Luimnech agus feall na Sassonach!"--"Remember Limerick and Saxon Perfidy". The Irish Brigade, as a brigade, would suffer the heaviest overall casualties on the French side, losing 656 men including one - quarter of their officers . Sergeant Wheelock of Bulkeley captured a colour and the attack of the Irish compelled the British Guards to retire . A simultaneous attack on the allied left was made by all the regiments which had faced the Dutch between Fontenoy and Antoing . Meanwhile, the French Guards, now led by the Comte de Chabannes, eager for revenge, with fixed bayonets charged the front so closely that fire was exchanged muzzle to muzzle . As Saxe and Löwendahl led the infantry, D'Estrées, and Richelieu brought up the whole Household Cavalry . The fighting was extremely close and deadly, some British regiments lost half their strength such as the Royal Welch Fusiliers which lost 322 soldiers, over 200 killed, while the brigade of British Guards suffered over 700 casualties . The French counter-attacks eventually halted and then repelled the British column, taking the field . </P>

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