Battle of Minden
The
Battle of Minden was a battle fought on
August 1,
1759 during the
Seven Years' War. A
Prussian-
Hanoverian-
British army under Prince
Ferdinand of 42,500 men fought a
French army of 54,000 men.
Contades placed his artillery in the center protected only by the cavalry. His infantry were placed on either flank, an exception to the norm of the era in which the cavalry were usually placed on the flanks and the infantry in the centre.
The battle began on the French right flank, where
Marshal de Broglie, who commanded the reserve, began an assault on the allied left. In the centre, due to a misunderstanding of orders, a brigade of British infantry, supported by the Hanoverian Guards, actually advanced to attack the French cavalry. Decimated by French shot and canister, these stalwart infantry actually succeeded in driving off repeated French cavalry charges and inflicted serious casualties on Contades' horsemen.
Supported by the well-served British and Hanoverian artillery, the entire allied line eventually advanced against the French army and sent it fleeing from the field. The only French troops capable of mounting any significant resistance were those of Broglie, who formed a fighting rear guard.
This crowning victory for the allies was only marred by the conduct of Sir
George Sackville, Ferdinand's cavalry commander. Sackville ignored repeated positive orders to bring up his troopers and charge the enemy until it was too late to make a difference. For his conduct at the battle he was later tried by court martial and declared "...unfit to serve His Majesty in any capacity whatsoever."
Prince Ferdinand's army had nevertheless won the day, suffering 2,800 fatalities; the French lost between 10,000 and 11,000 men.
The father of the
Marquis de La Fayette was killed in this battle. Marshal de Contades was subsequently relieved of his command and replaced by the Duc de Broglie, mentioned above, who had commanded the reserve on the French right flank.
MINDEN ROSES
Each year, six red roses are delivered to the British Consulate General, Chicago, on or around August 1st Anonymously.The card accompanying the roses is always in an envelope marked IN MEMORIAM, and always reads:
MINDEN DAY
1 AUGUST 1759
THE SUFFOLK REGIMENTLANCASHIRE FUSILIERSROYAL WELCH FUSILIERSKINGS OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERSROYAL HAMPSHIRE REGIMENTYORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
And on the inside:
THEY ADVANCED THROUGH ROSE GARDENS TO THE BATTLEGROUNDAND DECORATED THEIR TRICORNE HATS AND GRENADIER CAPS WITH THE EMBLEM OF ENGLAND. THESE REGIMENTS CELEBRATE MINDENDAY STILL, AND ALL WEAR ROSES IN THEIR CAPS ON THIS ANNIVERSARY IN MEMORY OF THEIR ANCESTORS.
A visitor to the office on August 1, 1991 asked if the roses had been delivered then remarked "It may not go on much longer" and left without further conversation. Minden Roses arrived again in 1992 and every year since, except 2001 and 2002.
*
John Manners, Marquess of Granby*
Granville Elliott*
Battle of Minden at www.britishbattles.com
