, an eminent French officer, was the son of a bookseller at Mentz
, an eminent French officer, was
the son of a bookseller at Mentz (author of “Notes sur la Couturhe de Lorraine,
” 1657, fol.) He was educated with
the duke d'Epernon, and saved the royal army at the famous retreat of Mentz; which has been compared by some
authors to that of Xenophon’s 10,000. Being wounded in
the thigh by a musket at the siege of Turin, M. de Turenne, and cardinal de la Valette, to whom he was aid de
camp, intreated him to submit to an amputation, which
was the advice of all the surgeons but he replied, “I
must not die by piece-meal death shall have me intire, or
not at all.
” Having, however, recovered from this wound,
he was afterwards made governor of Sedan; where he
erected strong fortifications, and with so much ceconomy,
that his majesty never had any places better secured at
so little expence. In 1654 he took Stenay, and was appointed marechal of France in 1658. His merit, integrity,
and modesty, gained him the esteem both of his sovereign
and the grandees. He refused the collar of the king’s
orders, saying it should never be worn but by the ancient
nobility; and it happened, that though his family had been
ennobled by Henry IV. he could not produce the qualifications necessary for that dignity, and “would not,
” asi
he said, “have his cloke decorated with a cross, and his
soul disgraced by an imposture.
” Louis XIV. himself answered his letter of thanks in the following terms: “No
person to whom I shall give this collar, will ever receive
more honour from it in the world, than you have gained in
my opinion, by your noble refusal, proceeding from so
generous a principle.
” Marechal Fabert died at Sedan,
May 17, 1662, aged sixty-three. His Life, by father
Barre, regular canon of St. Genevieve, was published at
Paris, 1752, 2 vols. 12mo. There is one older, in one
thin vol. 12ino.
, an eminent French officer and author, famous for his skill and
, an eminent French officer and author, famous for his skill and knowledge in the military art, was born at Avignon, in 1669, of a noble but not a rich family. He discovered early a happy turn for the sciences, and a strong passion for arms; which last was so inflamed by reading Cxsar’s Commentaries, that he actifally enlisted at sixteen years of age, and although his father obtained his discharge, and shut him up in a monastery, he made his escape in about two years after, and entered himself a second time in quality of cadet. His inclination for military affairs, and the great pains he took to accomplish himself in every branch of the art, recommended him to notice; and he was admitted into the friendship of the first-rate officers. M. de Vendome, who commanded in Italy in 1720, made him his aid-de-camp, having conceived the highest regard for him; and soon after sent him with part of his forces into Lombardy. He was entirely trusted by the commander of that army; and no measures were concerted, or steps taken, without consulting him. By pursuing his plans, many places were taken, and advantages gained; and his services were remunerated by a pension of four hundred livres, and the cross of St. Lewis. He distinguished himself greatly, Aug. 15, 1705, at the battle of Cassano; where he received such a wound upon his left hand, as entirely deprived him of the use of it. M. de Vendome, to make him some amends, tried to have him made a colonel, but did not succeed. It was at this battle, that Folard conceived the first idea of that system of columns, which he afterwards prefixed to his Commentaries upon Poly bins.