in breaking the power of the Huguenots and in the siege of La
Rochelle, the boy's mother sent him to his uncle Maurice of Nassau,
who at the death of his father had become the leader of the Dutch
people. He was treated by his uncle in exactly the same way as
other gentlemen volunteers, carried a musket, and performed all
the duties of a private soldier.

Six months later Prince Maurice died, and his brother, Henry
Frederick, succeeded him in the government of the United Provinces.
He at once promoted his nephew, and the latter speedily rose to
the rank of captain of infantry. Here he was indefatigable in
his duties, and unlike most young men of good family, who left the
internal economy and discipline of their companies to subordinate
officers, Turenne saw to everything himself. He drilled and
instructed his soldiers, insisted not only upon strict military
discipline, but on good manners and conduct in every particular.
He won their respect and affection by his personal kindness, and
denied himself almost the necessities of life in order to be able
to add to their comforts. In the wars in the Netherlands there were
few pitched battles, and the operations consisted almost entirely
of the sieges of fortified towns or of measures for their relief.

In all these Turenne took much more than his full share, paying
attention not only to his own duties but to all that was being
done, spending his whole time in the batteries and the trenches,
and in learning all that was possible of war carried on under
such conditions. In the winter, operations were always suspended,
and Turenne spent his time in Paris, where his manner and conduct
won for him the favour of all with who he came in contact. He had
been severely brought up under a Calvinist tutor; his habits were