« Picardie à la “droite de tout” ; c’est le doyen de l’infanterie française. Dans les récriminations échangées lors de la bataille de Thionville, la conduite de ce régiment avait été sévèrement jugée ; il va se relever brillamment le 19 mai. Le mestre de camp, de Nangis, et Maupertuis, lieutenant-colonel, sont présents. Picardie est soutenu par “La Marine”, créé en 1636 et déjà classé parmi “les vieux”. (…)
Il était trois heures du matin, le 19 mai 1643.
La cavalerie a suivi le mouvement des enfants perdus ; son front est doublé ; tous les escadrons sont sur une seule ligne. Gassion en conduit sept et prend à droite, Anguien à gauche, un peu en arrière avec huit ; le bouquet de bois les sépare et les masque quelque temps. Les cavaliers ennemis ont sauté en selle à la première alerte ; c’est la troupe de Gassion qui se montre d’abord. Albuquerque veut lui faire face ; au moment d’en venir aux mains, il est tourné par le duc d’Anguien et pris de flanc en flagrant délit de manoeuvre. Le choc est dur ; les cornettes abordées ne s’en remirent pas et disparurent du champ de bataille suivies par nos Croates. Le duc d’Albuquerque et ses lieutenants, Vivero et Villamor, rétablissent leur seconde ligne derrière la gauche de l’infanterie ; les escadrons français sont ralliés ; un nouveau combat s’engage avec la même issue que le premier. Au milieu de la fumée et de la poussière, plusieurs cornettes ennemies passent sans rencontrer nos cavaliers et arrivent jusqu’à Picardie, qui, le bois nettoyé des mousquetaires, se trouvait isolé en avant de notre ligne de bataille. Le régiment enveloppé se forme en octogone et montre une grande fermeté. »
Histoire des Princes de Condé par le duc d’Aumale.
« Plusieurs ont glosé sur les bataillons contre la cavalerie, disant qu’ils sont inutiles, qu’on n’a jamais le temps de les former, et que cela n’est bon qu’à voir au pré aux clercs ; mais si ceux-là s’étaient quelquefois trouvés en rase campagne avec de l’infanterie qui ait été attaquée par de la cavalerie, ils en auraient un tout autre sentiment. Ceux qui se trouvèrent à la bataille de Rocroi, gagnée par monsieur le duc d’Enghien l’an 1643, purent voir les grands efforts et le service que rendit le régiment de Picardie mis en forme d’octogone par le sieur de Pedamons l’un de ses capitaines, qui ce jour là se signala à la conduite des Enfants perdus de ce corps. »
Colbert de Lostelneau, Le Maréchal de bataille.
"Picardy to "all right "and is the dean of the French infantry. In the recriminations exchanged during the Battle of Thionville, the conduct of this regiment had been severely tried; it will successfully meet May 19. The mestre de camp, Nangis and Maupertuis, lieutenant-colonel, were present. Picardy is supported by "The Marine", founded in 1636 and already ranked among the "old". (...)
It was three o'clock in the morning, May 19, 1643.
The cavalry followed the movement of the enfants perdus, his forehead is doubled, all the squadrons are on one line. Gassion led seven of them and take the right, Anguien left a little behind with eight ; the clump of trees between them mask each over for some time. The enemy troopers jumped into the saddle to the first alert ; Gassion's troop shows first. Albuquerque wants to face him ; when coming to blows, he is turned by the Duke of Anguien and taken in side while maneuvering. The shock is hard, the cornets didn't stood and disappeared from the battlefield followed by our Croats. The Duke of Albuquerque and his lieutenants, Vivero and Villamor, restore their second line behind the left of the infantry ; the French squadrons rallied and a new battle began with the same result as the first. Amid the smoke and dust, several cornets enemy pass without meeting our riders and come up Picardy who, after having cleaned the wood of the Musketeers, was isolated in front of our line of battle. The regiment formed into an octagonal shape and shows great firmness. " History of the Princes of Conde, the Duc d'Aumale.
"Many have glossed over the battalions against the cavalry, saying they are useless, they never have time to train, and it is good to see the "pré au clercs", but if those there were sometimes found in open countryside with the infantry attacked by cavalry, they would have a different feeling. Those who found themselves at the Battle of Rocroi, won by the Duc d'Enghien in year 1643 could see the effort and the service gave by the regiment of Picardy formed in octagon by Mr. Pedamons, one of his captains, who that day was reported to the conduct of the enfants perdus of this body. "
Colbert Lostelneau, the Marshal of battle.
La cavalerie a suivi le mouvement des enfants perdus ; son front est doublé ; tous les escadrons sont sur une seule ligne. Gassion en conduit sept et prend à droite, Anguien à gauche, un peu en arrière avec huit ; le bouquet de bois les sépare et les masque quelque temps. Les cavaliers ennemis ont sauté en selle à la première alerte ; c’est la troupe de Gassion qui se montre d’abord. Albuquerque veut lui faire face ; au moment d’en venir aux mains, il est tourné par le duc d’Anguien et pris de flanc en flagrant délit de manoeuvre. Le choc est dur ; les cornettes abordées ne s’en remirent pas et disparurent du champ de bataille suivies par nos Croates. Le duc d’Albuquerque et ses lieutenants, Vivero et Villamor, rétablissent leur seconde ligne derrière la gauche de l’infanterie ; les escadrons français sont ralliés ; un nouveau combat s’engage avec la même issue que le premier. Au milieu de la fumée et de la poussière, plusieurs cornettes ennemies passent sans rencontrer nos cavaliers et arrivent jusqu’à Picardie, qui, le bois nettoyé des mousquetaires, se trouvait isolé en avant de notre ligne de bataille. Le régiment enveloppé se forme en octogone et montre une grande fermeté. »
Histoire des Princes de Condé par le duc d’Aumale.
« Plusieurs ont glosé sur les bataillons contre la cavalerie, disant qu’ils sont inutiles, qu’on n’a jamais le temps de les former, et que cela n’est bon qu’à voir au pré aux clercs ; mais si ceux-là s’étaient quelquefois trouvés en rase campagne avec de l’infanterie qui ait été attaquée par de la cavalerie, ils en auraient un tout autre sentiment. Ceux qui se trouvèrent à la bataille de Rocroi, gagnée par monsieur le duc d’Enghien l’an 1643, purent voir les grands efforts et le service que rendit le régiment de Picardie mis en forme d’octogone par le sieur de Pedamons l’un de ses capitaines, qui ce jour là se signala à la conduite des Enfants perdus de ce corps. »
Colbert de Lostelneau, Le Maréchal de bataille.
"Picardy to "all right "and is the dean of the French infantry. In the recriminations exchanged during the Battle of Thionville, the conduct of this regiment had been severely tried; it will successfully meet May 19. The mestre de camp, Nangis and Maupertuis, lieutenant-colonel, were present. Picardy is supported by "The Marine", founded in 1636 and already ranked among the "old". (...)
It was three o'clock in the morning, May 19, 1643.
The cavalry followed the movement of the enfants perdus, his forehead is doubled, all the squadrons are on one line. Gassion led seven of them and take the right, Anguien left a little behind with eight ; the clump of trees between them mask each over for some time. The enemy troopers jumped into the saddle to the first alert ; Gassion's troop shows first. Albuquerque wants to face him ; when coming to blows, he is turned by the Duke of Anguien and taken in side while maneuvering. The shock is hard, the cornets didn't stood and disappeared from the battlefield followed by our Croats. The Duke of Albuquerque and his lieutenants, Vivero and Villamor, restore their second line behind the left of the infantry ; the French squadrons rallied and a new battle began with the same result as the first. Amid the smoke and dust, several cornets enemy pass without meeting our riders and come up Picardy who, after having cleaned the wood of the Musketeers, was isolated in front of our line of battle. The regiment formed into an octagonal shape and shows great firmness. " History of the Princes of Conde, the Duc d'Aumale.
"Many have glossed over the battalions against the cavalry, saying they are useless, they never have time to train, and it is good to see the "pré au clercs", but if those there were sometimes found in open countryside with the infantry attacked by cavalry, they would have a different feeling. Those who found themselves at the Battle of Rocroi, won by the Duc d'Enghien in year 1643 could see the effort and the service gave by the regiment of Picardy formed in octagon by Mr. Pedamons, one of his captains, who that day was reported to the conduct of the enfants perdus of this body. "
Colbert Lostelneau, the Marshal of battle.
Formation en Octogone / Octogonal formation (from Lostelneau, "Le Maréchal de bataille").
La fin de la bataille / the end of the battle :
« Mais comme je partais pour y aller, le chevalier de La Vallière, maréchal de bataille, arriva, qui apporta un ordre aux troupes que j'avais ralliées de l'aile que commandait le marquis de La Ferté-Senneterre, et leur dit que la bataille était perdue. Ces troupes étaient le régiment de Picardie, celui de Piémont, celui de la Marine, les Suisses de Molondin et le régiment de Persan. Ces troupes, qui avaient été fort maltraitées, obéirent volontiers au commandement que leur faisait ce maréchal de bataille. Mais voyant qu'elles m'abandonnaient, j'allais à elles; je les priais de tenir ferme : mais m'apercevant que nonobstant mes remontrances elles se retiraient, je les blâmai de leur peu de cœur et j'eus grande prise avec le chevalier de La Vallière; car je lui dis qu'il n'avait rien à commander aux troupes que j'avais, et que je m'en ressentirais. Ces prières et ces menaces eurent tant d'effet sûr l'esprit des officiers, que je les raffermis et ils me crurent. Mais comme je les menais à la charge, le même chevalier de La Vallière les arrêta une seconde fois, et il n'y eut plus que ce qui me restait de mon corps de réserve qui me suivit ; savoir le régiment de Harcourt celui de Bretagne et celui des Royaux; et pour toute cavalerie je n'avais que mon régiment, qui avait été fort maltraité, et ainsi fort faible à cause du grand choc qu'il avait soutenu et des grandes charges qu'il avait données, dont la plupart avaient été tués ou blessés et mis hors de combat. Je ne laissais pas néanmoins de charger les troupes espagnoles, mais je ne pus les enfoncer parce que mes gens étaient trop faibles. Je courus donc après ces régiments qui se retiraient, et qui étaient à plus de cent pas de moi. »
Mémoires du Baron de Sirot.
"But as I was leaving, the Chevalier de la Vallière, battle marshal, arrived bringing an order for the troops that I had rallied on the flank, those commanded by the Marquis de la Ferté-Senneterre and telling them that the battle was lost. These troops were the Picardy regiment, the Piedmontese, the Marine, Molodin’s Swiss and Persan’s regiment. These troops, who had been very badly treated, were more than willing to obey the orders of the battle marshal. But, seeing that they were about to abandon me, I approached them. I begged them to hold firm. But, seeing that in spite of my remonstrances, they continued to withdraw, I castigated their lack of heart and had very strong words with the chevalier de la Vallière. I told him that it was not for him to command my troops and that I greatly resented it. These prayers and threats had such an effect on the feelings of the officers that they heeded me and were strengthened in their resolve. But as I led the charge, this same chevalier de la Vallière halted them a second time and I was followed only by what remained of my reserve corps, that is to say, Harcourt’s regiment, and those of Bretagne and the Royals, and for the cavalry my own regiment, which had suffered greatly and were much weakened due to the great shock that they had endured and the fierce charges that they had given. Most of them had been killed or wounded and were out of action. Nonetheless, I charged the Spanish troops, but I was not able to crush them because my men were too weak. I therefore ran to these withdrawing regiments which were at more than one hundred paces from me."
Mémories of Baron de Sirot.
Mémoires du Baron de Sirot.
"But as I was leaving, the Chevalier de la Vallière, battle marshal, arrived bringing an order for the troops that I had rallied on the flank, those commanded by the Marquis de la Ferté-Senneterre and telling them that the battle was lost. These troops were the Picardy regiment, the Piedmontese, the Marine, Molodin’s Swiss and Persan’s regiment. These troops, who had been very badly treated, were more than willing to obey the orders of the battle marshal. But, seeing that they were about to abandon me, I approached them. I begged them to hold firm. But, seeing that in spite of my remonstrances, they continued to withdraw, I castigated their lack of heart and had very strong words with the chevalier de la Vallière. I told him that it was not for him to command my troops and that I greatly resented it. These prayers and threats had such an effect on the feelings of the officers that they heeded me and were strengthened in their resolve. But as I led the charge, this same chevalier de la Vallière halted them a second time and I was followed only by what remained of my reserve corps, that is to say, Harcourt’s regiment, and those of Bretagne and the Royals, and for the cavalry my own regiment, which had suffered greatly and were much weakened due to the great shock that they had endured and the fierce charges that they had given. Most of them had been killed or wounded and were out of action. Nonetheless, I charged the Spanish troops, but I was not able to crush them because my men were too weak. I therefore ran to these withdrawing regiments which were at more than one hundred paces from me."
Mémories of Baron de Sirot.
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