360

[360]

[Letters Historical and Galant. Vol. 6]

"the Intrenchment, which covered the Bridge, whence he could see all that was done: At the same time
"that my Lord Albemarle sent these Notices to his most serene highness, he desired him to send him his Or-
"ders; and the Prince having signified to him several times, that the Post must be defended and maintained
"as long as possible, and causing Infantry to Advance from the Great Army to succour us; The Earl of Albemarle
"made all possible preparation to give the Enemy a Good Reception, causing the three necessary Apertures which
"were in the Intrenchment for passing in and out, and for keeping the Communication with Bouchaine and
"Marchiennes to be filled up. And perceiving that the main force of the Enemy would try to penetrate at the
"Centre of the Intrenchment, he sent Order to County Dohna, in case the Enemy should force it, to move that
"Way with his Infantry, and attack them in flank, and so to repulse them: He did so accordingly, but that
"Motion had no effect, because the Enemy approaching the Intrenchment with great Swiftness, and in good
"order, quite under the Musquetry, attack'd it vigorously at one in the afternoon. The first Column of their
"foot fell upon the Redoubt in which the Regiment of Welderen was posted, and on the Aperture on the side of
"it which was filled up, and which was the high road from Marchiennes, and the Passage for the Convoys.
"Our Men received them with a great Fire, and by Plattoons; but the last of their Columns having pushed the
"first to the Parapet of the Intrenchment, which on that Side was only of Stones, and loose earth, the ground
"being all Stony, it crumbled down and filled the Ditch. The Enemy penetrated immediately into the Intrench
"ment, and repulsed our Men with their Bayonets at the Mouths of their pieces, whereupon they abandoned the
"Intrenchment precipitately on all Sides, part flying towards the Bridge of Pontons, and Part towards the Wa-
"ter mill.

"My Lord Albemarle as well as all the other Generals, did all they possibly could to rally those of the
"Centre, the left Wing, where were Count Dohna, and the Count of Nassau Woudenberg, beign cut off by the Enemy, and
"separated from the other Troops, but all was to no purpose; which my Lord Albemarle observing, he endeavoured
"to lead some Regiments from the right to the Village of Denain to post them among the Houses, and in the Abbey,
"to stop the Enemy; but when he thought he was followed by them, he found himself almost alone among the Enemy.
"And while he was making a last Effort to rally the remains of the Troops before the Bridge, he was taken Pri-
"soner by the Enemy, and soon after carried to Valenciennes. Part of the Infantry cast themselves into the
"River, part were killed by the Enemy, 2080 were made Prisoners, and the Scattered Remains to the Number
"of 4080 having saved themselves, returned afterwards to the Great Army. Among those who were drowned
"were Lieutenant General Count Dohna, and Major General Count Nassau Woudenberg, who are very much
"lamented. And among the Prisoners, Lieutenant General Secquin, the Major Generals, Prince of Holstein,
"Dalberg and Zobel; the Colonels Count de la Lippe, Tengnagel, Cavanac, Spaen and Greek, the Lieutenant
"Colonels Donnely, Herbshausen, Heuske, Brakel, Munnick and Els; and the Majors Winckel, Fabritz,
"Bulomo, Till, and Moor; 44 Captains, 109 Lieutenants and Ensigns; as also 58 Horse of the Camp Guard,
"besides 4 Aids-de Camp, and the Commissary of the Artillery Taurinus.

"The Prince of Savoy, had caused 14 Battalions to advance to the Bank of the Schelde, where they stood
"drawn up ready to repass; but they could not do it in time, because the Bridge that was left (the other having been
"some days before sent by express Order to the Great Army) was embarrassed by the Cavalry and the Baggage, and
"afterwards unluckily broke, the Bridge of Timber was not finished, so those Troops could serve only to favour
"the retreat of the Remains of our Battalions, who crowded to the Bridge.

"The Enemies Army consisted of 133 Battalions and 250 Squadrons, and encamped after this Action
"their left wing on the Height of, Hurtebize, the Centre at Escaudin, and the Left wing farther than Bou-
"chaine to Marque; the first Line fronting the Schelde, and the Second the Scarpe.

This, Madam, is the Relation you desired, tis a little too large for a Letter, and you would perhaps find
it tiresone, if the Interest you seem to take in My Lord Albemarle, did not inspire you with Curiosity about him.
I doubt doubt, but that when you have read it, he will be as fully justified in your mind, as he was at first by the State and
the Publick. He is at present at the Hague with My lady his Spouse, whom he is still as fond of, as he was before
Marriage, notwithstanding that was near twelve years ago. In spite of the bad Customs which the
Depravity of the Age has has established, he has given her neither Rival nor Coadjutrix, and loves her with
as much ardour as when she was his Mistress. When she lay in at Tournay, where he is Governor, all the
Bells of the Town were mute for 15 Days, as they are in France at the End of the Holy Week. This may