Louis XV. opened the campaign against the Allies with great spirit.
Marshal Saxe laid siege to Tournai, which was defended by a Dutch
garrison, and supported by an English army under the duke of
Cumberland. De Saxe was so ill as to be obliged to go through his
duties in a litter; but he had posted his army admirably. On the 11th
of May the Allies commenced the attack, and De Saxe prepared to meet
them. The English, Austrians, and Dutch amounted to a number very
nearly equal to the French. After a long resultless cannonade, the
English advanced to endeavour to carry the village of Fontenoi, in
front of De Saxe’s centre, and succeeded so well, that the battle
was supposed to be lost, and the king was advised to retreat; but
he refused, and the Marshal guaranteed the victory. De Saxe saw the
English were ill supported by their allies. After a terrible slaughter
by his judiciously-placed artillery, the French cavalry came up, and
determined the fate of day. The English left nine thousand men on the
field, and Tournai was taken.