Part I (#7)
Part II (#8)
Part III (#9)

The first exploit was the taking St. George's castle, which hardly out of the reach of the cannon of Casal, and it may be said it was carried under the fire of that fortress, which was in a manner blocked up by the garrison placed in that castle, and by two other forts which the Duke of Savoy had built by the advice of Prince Eugene. On the 22nd of July the army, which had been drawn up under Carignan, began their march in the following order.

The Order of Battle of the Allies

Under the command of the Duke of Savoy, when they marched from Carignan.

First Line		Second Line
The Left Wing
Messrs de Caprara, de Parelles and de la Pierre		Prince Eugene
Cavalry	Squadr	Cavalry	Squadr
Life Guards of Savoy	2	Royal Piedmont	3
Tas	4	Savoy	3
Carassa	4	Masel	3
Montecuculi	4	Savoy	3
Palfi	4	Geneva	3
Commerci	4	.
Total Squadrons:	22	Total Squadrons:	15

First Line		Second Line
The Centre
The Duke of Savoy, Mr. de Palfi		M. de Rabutin
Infantry	Bat. and Squadr	Infantry	Battalions
Wirtemberg	Bat. 3	Guards of Savoy	2
Lorrain	Bat. 3	Saluces	1
Saxe-Mersbourg	Bat. 2	Montserrat	1
Tas	Sqn. 1	Chablais	1
Stadel	Bat. 1	The White Cross	1
Montecuculi	Sqn. 1	Mondony	1
Stadel	Bat. 1	Neapolitan	1
Carassa	Sqn. 1	St. Douste	1
Loche	Bat. 1	Besveler Swiss	1
Bareith	Sqn. 1	Mejer Swiss	1
Carneau	Bat. 1	Cujessi Italian	1
Bareith	Sqn. 1	De Lissa Italian	1
Caprara's Germans	Bat. 1	Ulli Italian	1
Melli	Bat. 1	Stemhant	1
Biscay	Bat. 1	Bavarian Guards	2
Duke de St. Pierre's	Bat. 1	.
Naples	Bat. 1	.
Savoy	Bat. 1	.
Lombardy	Bat. 1	.
Total:	Bat: 20 Sqd: 6	Total:	17

First Line		Second Line
The Right Wing
Messrs de Louvigny, M. de Florence, and the Duke of Schomberg		M. de Masel
Cavalry	Squadrons	Cavalry	Squadrons
Spain	2	Wirtemberg	4
Wirtemberg	2	Balthazar	6
State of Milan	10	Prince Eugene's Dragoons	2
Old German Regiment	3	.
Bavarian Curassiers	3	.
Spanish Life Guards	2	.
Total:	22	Total:	12

There were besides these 3 battalions which covered their left wing, on the road from Turin to Pignerol, a battalion of Fuzileers at the artillery, and another battalion in an orchard, and before the left of the foot of the first line. The artillery consisted of 31 pieces of cannon, whereof 11 were before the right wing, 10 in the centre, 8 on the left of the infantry, and 2 on the right of the left wing of the cavalry.

The design was to besiege Pignerol, and if there happened a favourable opportunity, to attempt a second irruption into France. The Marshal de Catinat who saw into the design of the allies, made several motions which very much delayed this important enterprize; and they could not open a passage to Pignerol but by feigning to have a design upon Suza. M. de Catinat, deceived by his Royal Highness's proceedings, drew from several posts in the neighbourhood of Pignerol the troops which guarded them, and made them march to the relief of Suza, and on the other hand, he posted himself so advantagiously upon rising grounds of Fenestrlles, that it was impossible to attack him there.

The Duke of Savoy in the mean while, took advantage of the Marshal's mistake, laid laid hold of his his time to possess himself of the posts he had left unguarded about Pignerol, and at the same instant cause that place to be invested on the 26th of July. In order to besiege Pignerol it was necessary to make himself master of the fort St. Bridget, which covered and defended the citadel, with which it had a communication by the covered way, so that the garrison might be relieved when they pleased, which caused the seige to last 15 days; and when the enemy saw the miner set on, fearing the allies were going to give a general assault, they abandoned the fort, from whence they had withdrawn most of the cannon, mortar pieces, and ammunitions which had been removed from the citadel by the line of communication.

After the taking of this fort, the army was divided into three bodies, the first of which marched towards Suza, the second towards Pragelas, and the third stayed before Pignerol. The first corps was destined to perplex Catinat about the designs of the allies, and oblige him to divide his forces; the second marched to fight him, before he had received the reinforcement he expected from Flanders, the Rhine, and from Roussillon; and at the same time to cut off his communication with the corps commanded by M. de Larre.

The third body which staid before Pignerol, bombarded the city, which offered 40,000 Louis D'Or to save themselves from the bombardment, and which was refused: they would not even grant any passes to the ladies, and some regular priests.

Whilst they were employed about the bombardment, the corps designed to force M. de Catinat to a battle, found him so well entrenched, and so covered with defiles, that it was impossible to attack him; wherefore the troops rejoined each other, and his Royal Highness made a dreadful havock in the neighbourhood of Pignernol, where all the Villages were set on fire, all the trees cut down, all the vines pulled up, and all the highways spoiled; in a word, every thing was done that is put into practice to deprive an enemy of all means of subsisting.

During this interval, M. de Catinat received the reinforcements he expected, and immediately quitted his intrenchments, and made preparations for attacking the allies. Wherefore, the scene being changed on a sudden, it was judged proper to quit the neighbourhood of Pignerol: But first fort St. Bridget was blown up,and the provision and stores pillaged from the parts around that city were sent into the adjacent towns; this done, the army de camped in good order, and marched to incamp at Marsaille.

The Duke of Savoy, hurried away by his martial temper, would immediately have advanced towards the enemy, who were on the other side a rivulet; but all the generals were not of his mind, in a council of war that was held upon that head, considering the superiority of the enemy, whose army was composed of the flower of the French troops. The Duke of Schomberg was the first who endeavoured to dissuade his Royal Highness from coming to an engagement, and the other Imperial generals seconded the Duke in his sentiments.

Prince Eugene above all, represented to his Royal Highness that if the courage and resolution of the Italians, were as much to be depended upon as that of the Imperial forces, he would not hesitate upon it a moment, but they ought to consider who they were going to have to do with. However, nothing could prevail upon his Royal Highness to change his opinion, and all they could obtain of him was, that he would wait the enemy, who were above three quarters of a league from him. The Piedmontese and Italian troops, nettled that their courage had been called in question, were the first who ranged themselves in battle array.

It was in a fine plain, and we had upon the left a wood, which went in with an elbow. Before our lines were made strong intrenchments with some pieces of cannon, behind which were placed twelve battalions, supported by a large line of cavalry: All the rest were in battalia in good order. Abundance of cavalry were posted in the wings, and the flank of the right was covered by part of the second line, because the left wing of the French extended a good way beyond it.

The Marquis de Leganez led them on, because the Duke of Schomberg had refused to accept of any command that day, and had put himself, as Colonel only, at the head of his regiment. The Duke of Savoy was with Count Caprara on the right, where the troops of the Emperor and Savoy were posted; the German and English foot formed the main body, commanded by Prince Eugene, who had under him the Marquis de Parelle, and the Count de las Torres. The left was secured by the battalions which were intrenched there with twelve pieces of cannon. The Regiment de Commerci, headed by the Prince of the same name, sustained them with some other squadrons of cuirassiers and dragoons.

THE BATTLE

The army, disposed in this order, was between the rising grounds of Orbassan, and Piosasco. The enemies army seeing us so far advanced, made as if they would have marched directly to us in order of battle; but night coming on, the two armies moved off from each other, to give their men some repose. About midnight all the baggage was ordered to move off, and we began, on our side, to put our selves in a posture to receive the enemy, because we perceived, by the ground their army took up, they were much more numerous then we.

At day-break, the enemy advanced towards us, putting to the best use the advantage they had of the ground, which was full of wood and vineyards. They threw some dragoons into the village of Piosasco, which is situated upon a rising ground, in order to cover their left wing, and began to play all their artillery upon our right wing, whereby they did us some damage: But our cannon being also perfectly well posted, and well pointed, made an inexpressible havock among their horse.

About half an hour after eight they fell upon our left wing, with near 20,000 men, without firing a single shot, but only with their bayonets at the end of their muskets, and sword in hand; not withstanding which they were repulsed, and driven back with vigour.

However, they returned to the attack, and took the Neopolitan and Milaneze horse both in front and flank; they sustained the impetuosity of the enemy with courage, but were obliged toyield to their numbers, and fell foul of the German cavalry; insomuch that being thereby put into confusion, and finding themselves charged at the same time by the little Gendarmerie, they were not in a condition to stand their groundany longer, but fell foul on the infantry, who were also put thereby into disorder; And the second line being led on to the battle, to repel the enemy, whilst the first rallied, the horse gave ground to such a degree, that the second line not being able to sustain the efforts of the enemy, were obliged also to give way like the other.

Never the less, at the very time that things went thus on the left wing, the enemy were repulsed thrice with very great loss, both by the main body, and the right wing; and we had all along the advantage of them every way on that side, until the enemies horse, which had driven before them all our left wing, charged our infantry in the rear, and in the flank; and they no longer having any cavalry on their left side, because they were engaged with the enemy, who attacked them with great vigour.

Our forces resisted them, however, withan extraordinary courage, made their cavalry give ground, by the means of our cannon, which was admirably levelled, and repulsed them with a very great effusion of blood.

This resistance, and the efforts of our cavalry on the right wing, discourged the enemy entirely; but as they were stronger than us by full 10,000 men, and as they received still fresh reinforcements, they charged our troops anew; so that finding ourselves surrounded by their cavalry, very much fatigued, and hopeless of being relieved by our own, we were obliged to retreat about four in the afternoon, leaving the field of battle to the enemy, with ten or twelvefield-pieces, the other having been saved.

Orders were given to the forces to rally at Montcalier, where about the evening most part of the foot passed the Po; and that night, and the day following, abundance of soldiers repaired thither, without the enemy's making a show of pursuing them.

All the forces behaved admirably well, and the whole action passed off with abundance of gallantry on both sides. Amongst other, the troops of his Brittannic Majesty Distingished themselves very much, and the Duke of Schomberg, who used to command them, fought all along at the head of his regiment.

The Count de las Torres begged him, after the third attack, to take upon him the command, and to direct the retreat of the main body, and the right wing which had not yet received any great damage; but the Duke answered him, that it was necessary first to have his Royal Highness's orders for that purpose, and that till then they must stand the enemies fire. But I see plainly, continuedhe, that things are gone to far, and that we must either conquer or die.

His Grace's courage is altogether worthy of admiration; but, as ill luck would have it, he was wounded in the thigh, taken prisoner, and died soon after of his wound.

This great General rightly foresaw what came to pass; the French redoubled their efforts against our infantry, who continually repulsed them; but as they had broke through our left with abundance more troops than we had, and charged our right in the rear and in the flank, at the same time that they were attacked in the front, they were forced to retire, after being engaged four hours and a half, and having made such prodigious efforts as are not to be imagined.

We could carry off but eight pieces of cannon, five belonging to the Imperialists, and three to the King of Spain, because most of the horses of the train of artillery were killed. The Gendarmerie suffered much; half that corps fell upon the spot, and, in the whole, the enemy had above 6000 men either killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. As to our loss it was not altogether so great. After the review of all our troops we found, that the number of the dead, wounded and prisoners, did not amount to full six thousand. The Spaniards were those who suffered the most; they had 2500 men either killed, disabled, or taken; the imperial troops had but 1500, and those of the King of England, and Duke of Savoy as many.

Of Officer Valor

To enter into the particulars of the encomiums due to the officers, the Duke of Savoy exposed himself very much, and had a horse killed under him, and general Rabutin three. Prince Eugene was seen but everywhere, both as a general, as an officer, and as a soldier. It was he who directed the retreat with so much prudence, and in such good order, that the french, far from pursuingus, durst not venture once to fall upon our rear.

The Baron de Vicouse, Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment of Schomberg, was wounded by the side of his general, and taken prisoner. We lost the young Count Palfi, the Marquis de Montbrun, the Marquis de Chiviasa, the Marquis de Sollera, son of the viceroy of Naples, the Marquis de Mentinel, the Marquis Palavicini, the Marquis de Melgard, and the Counts de la Souze, and de Chalois.

Amongst the prisoners were (besides the Duke of Schomberg) the Earl of Warwick, M. de Pimentel, St. Thomas junior, the Marquilles de Caraille, de Florence, de Mello, and de Gatinera, two Colonels, two Lieutenant- Colonels, and fifty five Captains.

On our side we took prisoners, Montrevelle, Quartermaster General of the horse, the Marquis de Montmorenci, divers Captains, some thousands of common soldiers, with several Colours, standards, and kettle drums; so that unless it were on the left, it may be justly said, the advantage was on our side to the last: And the loss was so equal, that after the battle, the Marshal de Catinat, reaped no other advantage by it, than to stay eight and forty hours on the field of battle, since our baggage and heavy artillery used in the bombardment of Pignerol, which had been conducted to Ville-Franche, were removed quietly to Montcallier, where Prince Eugene had drawn the army together; without the enemies daring to attempt to carry off any part of the convoy.

More Prince Eugene of Savoy

Part I (#7)
Part II (#8)
Part III (#9)
Part V (#11)
Part VI (#12)