Pi O.. \^: IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) // .^'.^^ ^ ^^^ ^e^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 IIP IIIII2.0 1.8 lA. 11 1.6 ^ //^^ ^ Pnotogaphic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^\ "tS ^^ n;^' <^^ ^'^'-^~ Pi mmmmma ^^ mA W. ^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian cic microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Nctaf/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. □ Coloured covers/ Couverturtt da couieur D D D D D D D Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or lamir . ' C H A P. xir. ^Expedition againft St. Malo— Ships burned— Fleet re- turns-Expedition againft Cl^^ rbourg— Its harbour , defl;royed— Defeat at St, C • « » CHAP :ni. Hoya and Minden taken from the French— Their di{'. trefs— They retire beyond the Rhine— Embden taken. py Commodore Holmes— Schweidnitz taken— King of Pruffia enters Moravia, and lays fiege to Olmutz — EmbarralTed by Count Daun— Siege of Olmutz raifcd— King of Pruflia marches into Bohemia; ^, - C H A P. Xir Prince Ferdinand pafles the Rhine— Battle of Creveft? — Battle of Sangerfhaufen—Aaion at Meer— Prince Ferdinand repafll the Rhine- Allies defeattd at , Lanwerenhage'n— They retire into winter-quarters. b 2 vii 123 135 140 r, ?S<5 \6f I MMlHiWllMHiHMiibh-:, l;h i> p *^ . . . .M..^ — VUl CONTENTS. CHAP. XV. Critical fuuatlon of his Prufllan Majefty— Retreats from Bohemia— Daiin's intentions fruftrated— Battle of Cuftrin or Zofndorff— King of Pruffia marches into Saxony— Surprifed at Hohklrchen, and defeated— Marches into Silefia— Count Daun lays fiege to IJref- den— The fuburbs burnt— King of Pruflla xalfcs the fiege of Ncifs and Cofcl— Returns into Saxony— The Auftrians retire into Bolicmia. C H A P. XVI. Louifbourg bcfieged and taken— Defeat of the Britini army at Tlconderoga— Fronten.ic and Fort du Quei'ne taken— Tranfaaions in the Eaft-lndies- Engagements betw-een Pocock and d'Ache— Succefsful expedition to the coaft of Africa. - _ . CHAP. xvir. Detached naval traniliflions in the year 1758. CHAP. XVIII. Situation and refources of the contending powers- Prince Ferdinand defeated at Bergen —Succefsful operations of the Trench army— Battle of Minden —Gallant exploits of the Ilere-Hcary Prince of Bruu- fwick— JMunfter furrenders to tlie allies. Page C H A P. XIX. Pi-ince Henry's expedition into Bohemia and Franconia —Count Dohna fuperf-ded by V.^edel, who i, dc- featedbytheRufilms-I3attleofCunnerfdo.f-Prince Henry muxhes into Saxony, and defeats Gen. Vchia —Gen. Finck furrendtrs to the Aufirl.ms— Pruffians dcrcated at iVieiflen— Conclulion of the campaif^n. 175 192 206 213 227 MMMM CONTENTS. C H A P. XX. Expedition againft Martinico— Its failure— Guadalonpe taken— Ticonderoga and Crown Point abandoned, and taken poflcilion of by General Amherft— Gene- ral Johnfon defeats the French near Niagara, and reduces that fort. - _ . _ CHAP. XXI. Expedition againfl Qiiebcc— Troops take pofTcffion of the ifle of Orleans— Aaion at the f.,lls of JNIontmo- renci— Troops remove to Foint Levi— Battle of Qiie- bee— Gen. Wolfe killed— French defeated— Quebec furrcnders. - - - . CHAP. XXII. Gen. Lally befieges Mad rafs— Obliged to raife the fiege —Major Brereton repul fed— Lally completely routed by Colonel Coote— Third engagement between Po- cock and d' Ache— Treachery of the Dutch chafiifcd. CHAP. XXIiL . Plan of the triple French invafion- M. de la Clue de- feated by Ibfcawen— Ad'iiiral Hawke tlefcats Con- flans — Detached naval tranludtions in i/jy. CHAP. XXIV. Slownefs of the allies and French— Battle of Corbach —General Glauhitz furpriieJ and defLated—Hattle of Warbourg— Hereditary Prince fur;)rik:s a body of French at Zicrenberg— Marburg taken by General I'ulow, who is defeated by Moiif. StaiaviJie—r.xpe- ditioti of tlie Hereditary Piincc to the Ilhinc- Wefcl beflcgcd— liHttie of Campen— Siege of V/ei'ci ralfed —Death and charaQer of Gcoroe il. Page 240 249 266 273 i82 CONTENTS. J.- CHAP. XXV. Situation of the Auftrian and Prufllan armies— Battle of LanJlhut— Glatz taken by the Auftrians— Khig of PruUla marches towards Silefia, and deceives Daua —Returns to Saxony, and lays fiege to Drefdcn— Siege raifcd by Daun— Laudohn befieges Breflau— Siege raifed by Prince Henry—Rufllans enter Silefia —Battle near Lignitz— General Hulfen defeats the Imperialifts— Ruffians enter Berhn— Battle of Torgau — Conclufion of the campaign. CHAP. XXVI. Defigns of the French general, I^vi— Battle of Sillery— General Murray defeated- Quebec befieged— Britillx fleet arrives— Siegt raifed— Montreal taken— Chero- Paj;? kce war. c li A P. xxvir. ion 306 33P 338 BritiHi lay fiege to Pondicherry— Fleet difperfcd by a ftorm— The garrifon furrenders— Internal revolut in India— Traniaaions of Comtc d'Eftaing. CHAP. XXVIII. Thurot lands at Carrickfergus in Ireland— Re-embarks, and is defeated and flain— Operations of the BritKh fquadrons— Detached naval tranfadtions. - 3,^6 C H A P. XXIX Situation of the French and allied .:nnies— -Fritzlar taken— Caflcl bdlcged by the allies— Battle of Kirch- Denkern— Wolfenbuttle taken by the French— Emb- den and Ofnaburg laid under contribution— Con- 353 MMli CONTENTS. CHAP. XXX. CHAP. XXXII. Detached naval tranfaftions in the year 1761. CHAP. XXXIII. Negotiation for peace — Interference of Spain — Confe- rences broke off — ^Refignation of Mr. Pitt—War de- clared againft Spain. - - - CHAP. XXXIV. Situation of the French and allied armies — Battle of Grxbenftein — Prince Xavier defeated — Hereditary Prince defeated — Severe acHiion at Bucker Muhl — Caflel furren 'srs to the allies — Conclufion of the war in Weftphalia. CHAP. XXXV. Death of the Emprcfs of Rulfia — Peter III. her fuccef- for, makes peace with Prullia — Depofed by the Cza- rina — His impi'ifonment and death — Effect of this revolution on the Kin'^ ;f Pruflla's affairs — Schweid- nitz again befieged — Surijnders — Auftrians defeated at Freyberg — Peace of Hubcrtfburgh, between Au- ftria and Pruilia. - - - . Page Situation of the Pruflian Monarch — Refolvcs to aft on the defenfive — Colberg inverted, and taken by the Ruffians — Schweidnitz furprifed by the Auftrians — Confpiracy againft the King of Pruflia detefted. 364 CHAP. XXXI. American affairs — Dominique taken — Siege and con- queft of Belleifle. - - - . 372 37.8 385 400 409 Xll. CONTENTS. C PI A P. XXXVI. Concilia of the Bourbon family towards Portugai-, liifc, progrefs, and conclufion of the war in that country. - CHAP. XXXVII. Expedition againr. Marthiicd^Port Royal furrenders — -1 he whole ifland capituhites. C H A P. XXXVIII. EAped'ition againft the Havanna-Troops land-Sie^c of the Fort Moro-Taken by florm-Thc Havanna iun:enders. CHAP. XXXIX. Expedition ng.Infl Manilla-Troops landcd-A violent frorm-Tvvo attempts of the enemy upon the Britidi camp-R.puHcd-The town ftormed-Capitulation ^v^th the inaabitants-The JManilla galleon taken. CHAP. XL. i:)ctached naval tranfaaions-Newfoundland taken, and reut^en _ Unfortunate expedition againft Buenos Avres— X rclmunarics figned— Conclullon. Page 422 429 433 444 45^ Military wmmm «E that iers 422 429 Military Memoirs O f GREAT BRITAIN. -gc na nt 433 W44 45 C tary CHAP. I. Origin of the difpute between Great Britain and France — Warlike preparations — Two French Jliips taken — Operations in America — Braddock's un- fortunate expedition — General Johnfon defeats the French— An invafion threatened^^Fort St Phi* lip's taken— ^Fate of Byng, THE exhaufted fiti non of the contending powers at the conclufion of the war in 1748, and the equaUty of their remaining force, gave juft grounds of expeaation, that the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle would prove happy and lading. Each nation ftill continued in a ftate of defence. The fear with which the one infpired the other made them cautious of offending ; and the inhabitants of Europe indulged thcmfclves in the pleafmg hope of enjoying, for many years, the blellings of eafe and tranquillitv. The turbulent ambition of the French, de- firous of recovering, by underhand encroachments. 1748. s 1753 UHpufe iiliout N'ova Scotia. I i\i;n;li- iiKiits on ilie Ohio. MILITARY MEMOIRS what they had given up by treaty, renewed once more thofe fccnes of blood and devaftation, which already had cxhaufted the ftrength, and depopu- lated the principal kingdoms of Europe. To invcfligate, with a tedious exaftnefs, the remote caufcs which gave rife to the war j to dwell, with minute prolixity, on fkirmifhes and engagements, neither important in themfelves, nor mterelhing in their confequences, is not our in' tcntion : nor would the limits, to which we have confined ourfclvcs, permit us to exhibit fo un- entertammg a detail. The brevity, however, with which nuitters of little moment are paffed over will be compenfated by a full and particular i-ela- tion, wherever the dignity of the objea: feems to require it. Th£ difpute between Great Britain and France originated from the uncertainty of the limits of their American territories. Partly from the inat- tention, and partly from the ignorance, of the ne- * gotiators ox both courts, at the peaces of Utrecht Hnd Aix-la-Chapelle, the boundaries of Acadia or Nova Scotia were never diftinftly afcertained. Suc- ceeding negotiations, equally tedious and inetfeaual, icrved only to increafe the confufion ; and it be- came obvious, from the iteady inflexibility of both parties, that the fword alone could terminate the conttfl. Anotiteii fource of contention arofe from a cauie, which, though it had hitherto efcaped ob- fcrvation, was equally intricate with the former aiKl tended to produce the fame confequences! Ihe Irench, from a claim of prior difcovery, had ■Wmm'f?:t0m \l OF GREAT BRITAIN. 1754- taken poffeffion of the country adjacent to the li- ^^ vers Miflifiippi and Ohio, to which they had given the name of Louifiana. They intended, by a regular chain of /orts, to join thofe fettlements with their Canadian pofleflions. By thefe means, the Englifli would have been effectually excluded from any {hare in the Indian trade ; and would alfo, in cafe of a war, have been expofed to continual inroads and alarms. Upon the execution of this plan, however, the profperity, if not the exiftence, of the French colonies in North America depended ; and it was equally evident, if Britain fuftered it to take place, that the confequences would prove fa- tal and deftruftive to her own fettlements. While France was endeavouring to amufe the JJ^^y^'^JJ^.J^ Britifh court with idle negotiations and infmcerc declarations, ilie was fecretly preparing to fupport her encroachments by force of arms. Accuftom- cd to French duplicity, and not deceived by her profeffions, Britain was equally affiduous in war- like preparations ; and particularly in putting her navy on the moft refpeftable footing^. Troops had, The Englifh savy, at this period, confiftcd of Outis. no lOO 90 80 ■ 74 70 66 . 64 60 r A :>-r Ships. ~ '- . One of 1 10 TwciUv-cieht of Five Thirteen Eight Five Twenty-nine Four One Thirty-three Three Bcfices a number of bomb-ketches, fire-(hips, and tcn-krs. ships. Twenty-eight Four Thirty-five Forty-two Four Two Eleven Thirteen One Guns. SO 44 40 20 18 16 H 12 10 A 2 J 1 lo MILITARY MEMOIRS U^ in the mean time, been fecretly fent off by both AM«,„. nations to America. The Britift, colonies had t ftrua,ons to ufe their utmoft endeavours to re"l he mcurnons of the enemy; and they w„egiv^n to underftand that they would be fupportcd bv" body of Br,.,lh troops, under Major-General Brad! Imericl ^^ ^PPo'"'^'' commander in chief in ^Jj" """'"'^ °!'*'^ ^"'"ican provinces, on this occanon «as ne.ther fuitable to their own danger, nor to the nuereft of the mo.her-country. Con fc,ous of ,he,r fervices during the precedL war, they were offended at an Englift general's^eing appomted to command them. I'he difpofuion! w,th the troops from Britain were feeble and diflU pated ; and, m every meafure adopted for that pur. pofe, there was an evident want of unanimity. The charaSer of the general himfelf was by no means calculated to remove thefe difaffeaions. However unexceptionable as a man of courage, he was m every other refpeft unfit for the er^p loy. ment. Haughtinefs of temper, and aufterity o manners were qualities but ill fuited to make a favourable .mpreffion on thofe amongft whom he ^vas deftmed to aft. Unacquainted wi': the nature of the country, the genius of the people, and their pecuhar mode of fighting, he tLt'd with co,^ tempt the half-difciplined but brave troops of tl^ Irovmces. Accuftomcd to the minute Lvice of ^nongft his own fold.ers ; but he w.nt.d t'-a' af 'ability of temper which makes foldiers fubmit with ■ mwr^': OF GREAT BRITAIN. ,, chccrfulncfs. They dreaded him as a commander, 1755. they difliked him as a man. "^ * AMERICA The expedition, in which the Britifli and Pro- Braddock'l vincial troops, amounting to about 2200, were to ZpSoT. aa in conjundiort, was againft Fort du quefne, which commanded the entrance into the countries on the Ohio and Mifliflippi. Had General Braddock poflefled every qualifi- cation requifite for fuch an enterprife, it muft be acknowledged that he laboured under innumerable difficulties, and was, in a great meafure, deftitu of the neceffaries which alone could enable him to perfea it. By the negligence of the Virginian contradors, a fufficient quantity of provifions and carriages were not prepared ; and the fupplying of thofe neceffary articles occafioned a delay of fome weeks. These difficulties were at laft furmounted. He Marchcsfor marched from Fort Cumberland in Virginia on ^^Vn^ the loth of June; and encamped, on the 3th of July, within ten miles of Fort du Quefne, with an army of 1400 men ^ having left the remainder of his troops to bring up the ftores and heavy bag- gage. He continued his march next day. Ad- vancing carelefsly, unmindful of thofe precautions fo neceffary in a country abounding with woods and thickets, he was faluted, about mid-day, with Paih Jnt, a fevere and heavy fire, full in his front, and all »" ""buf- along his left flank. This fudden and unexpcded "^ '' attack, from an enemy who could not be feen, was accompanied with the horrid Ihouts of Indians, which excited the greateft: terror amongft the froops, efpecially the regulars, who were entirely I" I IS AMEKICJi. Defeated and flain. !i iff MILITARY MEMOIRS unacquainted with it. — The whole army was thrown into confufionj they fled with precipitation, and all the efforts of their gallant officers proved inefl^eaual to flop them. In this moment of difliculty and dan- ger, it was hard to fay whether the intrepidity or imprudence of the general were moft confpicuous. Inftead of endeavouring to retreat, till he could make ufc of his artillery, and by that means clear the buflies of the enemy, he gave orders to form regularly, and to advance. In the mean time, his officers and men fell thick around him. Every fire from the enemy did dreadful execution, and in- creafcd the flight and diforder. Braddock himfelf, after having had five horfes killed under him, re- ceived a mufket-fhot through his lungs, of which he died in a few days j atoning, by an honourable death, for the errors of his condud:.— .The Pro- vincial troops, fo much defpifed, proved now efTen- tially ufeful. I'hey bravely formed, and advanced againfl the Indians; and to their gallant behaviour was it owing, that the whole army was not cut oiF. — The lofs, in this unfortunate affair, amounted to near 700 men; and the officers, who were fingled out by the enemy, fell in a much greater propor- tion than is ufual. The number of rhs enemy is faid to have been 900 men, moftly Tndii^v; aji^j their lofs quite inconfiderable. TIk u-.^amaer of the army retreated with precipitation to Fort Cum- berland, leaving behind them all the artillery, baggage, &c.* • The fcene of this difafter had been peculiarly unfortunate to the • En^iifh — In the year 1754, Colonel Walhington, with a body of 40O Provincials, having ereftcd a temporaiy fort on the Ohio, was attack- ed, defeated, and taken prifoner, by the French. ,'t OF GREAT BRITAIN. »3 Though the proTrreft of the Britifli arms, in the '7^5- northern provinces, was neither marked by any aIuwcIu decifive events, nor attended with important con- fequences, it derived a luftrc from being contrafted with the unfortunate enterprife againft Fort du ^uefnc. — ^Three expeditions were refolved upon ; one againft Crown Point, another againft the fort at Niagara, and a third to reduce the French forts in Acadia. The firft of thefe was planned under the di- ^«p«ditioii region, and executed under the command, of Ge- crown neral Johnfon, a gentleman of Ireland, who had li- '^ °'°** ved, from his earlieft youth, in the Indian country adjacent to the Mohawk river. By adopting the cuftoms, and learning the language of that people; by redrefling their wrongs, and alleviating their di- ftreffes ; he acquired a degree of influence over them which no European had ever poffeflcd. They reverenced him as a father, they obeyed him as a fovereign. By a noble difmtereftnefs, he made ufe of the power he had over them for the fervice of his country. — ^Having, for many years, dignified the charadler of a merchant by the extenfivenefs and liberality of his dealings, the love of his coun- try prompted him to adopt the lefs tranquil but more honourable employment of a foldier. At the head of about five thoufand men, Ge- ^^^''^^ neral Johnfon encamped at Lake George, on the incamp"af 6th of September, in a very ftrong fituation. Re- Gcofgc. ceiving intelligence that a confiderable number of the enemv were advancino- from Timnrl^rrim k- detached a thoufand men, befides Indians, to inter- cept them. Thefe were repulfed with confiderable I 1755 MILITARY MEMOIRS AMERICA Attacked by the French. I jDefeats Uicm. lofs i and, in a few hours, the enemy, more nu- merous than imagined, appeared marching towards the camp, m the moft perfed order. By bet n! n.ngthe.r attack at too great a diftance, the firf of the Lnghfh to recover the confufion which thefud- den appearance of fo numerous an enemy had oc- canoned No fooner did the EngliA artillery be- gin to play upon the enemy, than their Canadians and Indians fled, as ufual, to the bulhcs. Unfup- ported by thefe auxiliaries, the French general ftill kept up h,s fire againft the c^mp, which did very little execution ; while his own troops fuifered greatly.^ At laft, General Johnfon, perceiving the ITIT l"""' ''"^"^""' ^'^' ^^' intrcnchments, a tacked them on all fides, and obtained a com- plcte vidory. The lofs of the French amounted to near 800 men, and that of the Englifh to about 2oo.-^As the feafon was now deemed to be too far advanced to proceed to the attack of Crowa l^omt, the army returned to Albany The ^ene ral, as a reward for his gallant behaviour, \vas created a baronet, and prefented with 5000I. by the parliament. ^ The attempt upon Niagara, from the flownefs ot the preparations, and the latenefs of the feafon proved ahogether abc rtive.— General Shirley, who commanded in this expedition, after having tra- jerled an immenfe trad of country, and rein- forced the garrifon of Ofwego with about 700 men returned without having atchieved any thing wor- tnv of hf incr r'=l^«-'-'' r OF GREAT BRITAIN. The expedition againft the ¥ru\c\\ in Nova Sco- tia was fuccefsful, and fully aniwered the end pro- pofed. The fort of Beau-fejour was taken by a body of Provincial troops, under the command of Colonel Monckton ; who, after having deftroy- ed the forts on St. John's river, and difarmcd the Frencli Indians and Acadians, efFeaually cftablilli- ed the tranquillity of Nova Scotia* Affairs wei'e in this fituation, when intelli- gence was received, that a powerful armament was ready to ^ail from Breft. A fquadron was immc^ diately fitted out, and the command given to Ad- miral Bofcawen, an experienced fcaman, and a brave officer, who had orders to intercept and at- tack the French fleet, wherever he fhould meet them. He failed immediately for the banks of New^ foundland, and arrived there a few days before the French fquadron. The thick fogs, which prevail on thofe coafts, prevented the two armaments from feeing each other ; and, by that means, the French fleet reached its dellination in the river St. Lau- rence. Two fixty-four gun fhips, however, theAU cidc and Lys, having been feparated from the reft of the fleet, were taken, after a fmart refiftance, by two fliips of the Britifli fquadron. In this en^ gagcment, the good conduft and intrepidity of Captain (afterwards Lord) Howe were eminently diftinguiflied. The taking of thofe fliips, thougli complained of and reprefented by the French as a breach of national tiiith, was fuffic.ntly juftified by their en- croachments in America. It contributed, in a great I75'5- AMEKldA. Admiral Bofcaweu fails for Newfound- land. Ta!;e<; two Frenrlv fliips. B iG w H I MILITARY MEMOIRS. ^- meafurc, to bring matters to a crlfis. No hm- .u.o„. er under a neccin.y of dilguir.ng their intentions, botli nation, avowedly declared their refolution of %ix>rt„,g their relpedive elaiim, and redoubled then- prcpariuions for war Though the ceremony of denouncing war was delayed from political rcafons, orders had been given for the liritiih (hips to take all the French veilcls they met with j and, during the courfc of the year, upwards of 300, many of them with rich cargoes, were curried into the ports of Great Britam. The inaaivity and tamenefs of the French on this occahon, aftonifhed all Europe. Inftt'ad of attempting reprifals, they contented themfelvcs with complaining loudly of the injuftice of Bri- tain, and reprefented thefe ads of hollility as a Violation of the law of nations. They carried this afleded averhon to hoftilities fo far, as to return an Lnghfh ilnp of war which they had taken. At laft their malk of moderation was removed. 1 hey formed two defigns ; the one the connueft o Minorca the other an attempt upon Hanover. Ihe hril of thele owed the fuccefs with which it was attended, more to the fupinenefs and inatten- tion of the Englifh minlftry, than to the wifdo.n and dexterity with which it was planned and exe- cuttd.— To draw olF the attention of the Enirliih „;-t ^rom their real defigns, they brought down troops ...nanon. to the coalts of ]>icardy, Norraandv, and Britany under a fliew of invading Great Britain. This produced thf* defirerl ^ «'- "^^ tk i- --r /. " . , ^^ ^""-^'' -^ "^" l^ngiifli nation was kized with the utmoll confternation. The ^r.J^w:MJ OF GREAT BRITAIN. 0^ mlniflry hefitated, and ftemed conicious of their WS^' ncgled. The army was known to be infufficient eu^. to defend a wide-extended fea-coafl from invafion; and the eflabfiflunent of a national mihtia, though often propofcd, had not yet taken place. It was on her navy alone that Britain could depend for protedion. From a juft fenfe of its im- portance, flie conliders it as the fole fupport of the national dignity. It is the center of all her hopes, it is the fourcc of all her riches. A numerous fleet is equipped and manned with the fame expe- dition as the raifmg of a fingle battalion. — On the other hand, an increafe of the ftanding army is ever looked upon with a jealous eye, as inimical to liberty. Whenever, therefore, Britain, unhappi- ly for herfelf, requires a powerful land-force, flie is obliged to apply for affiftance to other flates. In her prefent fituation, fuch an application was deemed neceflary. Her treacherous allies denied their aid. The Dutch, in particular, though in- debted to Britain for their very being, refufed to perform their llipulated engagements, upon pre- tences equally Ihallow and evafive. Accordingly, a body oJ: 8 coo Heliians was engaged to be cm- ployed, if required, upon the continent, or in Bri- tain or Ireland. A treaty fimilar to this, but much more extenfivc, was begun with Uullia, of which we fhall have occafion to fptuk more fully afterwarils. While the apprehenfions of an immediate in- vafion had pervaded all ranks of people in Britain ; while the mtniftry were endeavouring to guard, with an aimoli childifh timidity, agalnli: fuch at- B .3 ? 'H 1 1 MILITARY MEMOIRS. ^- tacks as were threatened but to amufe, and were Eutopi. not intended, a French fquadron of twelve fliips of the line, commanded by the Admiral Gailiflb- niere, with 1 2,000 troops on board, under the Duke dc Richlieu, failed from Toulon ; and, landing in Minorca, opened trenches before the Sio'Ibc-^^!"*''^^^ °^ ^^' P^^'^'P'^' on the 25th of April. The JicHcd. mmifiry had been repeatedly apprifed of the defign of the French againft Minorca ; but, fuch was their negligence and inattention, that not the leaft precaution was taken to prevent it. The reprefen- tations of the Englifh confuls in the Mediterranean^ refpefting the French naval preparations at Toulon^ and the remonftrances of General Blakeney, de- puty.governor of Minorca, fttting forth the weak- ncfs of the garrifon of the fortrcfs of St. Philip, were treated with the fame indifference and dif- regard — It was naturally expedled, that the mi- niltry, roufed at laft from their lethargy, would endeavour to compenfate for their former inadi- vity by the vigour and importance of their mca- fures. Ten fliips of the line, poorly manned, and badly accommodated in every refped, were de- fined for an expedition, on the fucccfs of which ihc fail^ty of one of the mofl valuable pofieflions of Britain depended. The command of this fquadron was veRed in Admiral ]3yng, an officer little diftiun guiflied in the navy, and whofe courage and adi- vity, from want of opportunity to fignalize him- ielf, were at bert but of a doubtful nature. The admiral failed from Spithead on tJie 7th of April, and arrived at Gibraltar, after a tedious paf- fage, on the 2d of May. Being reinforced by fe- vcral other fliips, and a detachment from the gar. -Af'rrilral H> 11)5 lails i'"r its re- crranean. OF GREAT BRITAIN. .y tifon, he failed from Gibraltar on the 8th of the »75<5. fame month, and arrived off Minorca on the 19th. b'uS About fix o'clock in the evening, the enemy, to the nun ' t of feventeen fail, appeared advancing in order of battle. The evening was fpent by both fleets in endeavouring to get the advantage of the weather-gage. At day-light, on the 20th, the French fleet could not be defcried ; but, foon re-appearing, the hne of battle was formed on both fides, and, about two. Admiral Byng made the fignal to engage. Rear-admiral Weft, an officer of approved ability and refolution, bore d6wn with his divifion upon the enemy, and attacked them with fuch impctuo- Hngagc fity, that the fliips oppofed to his were driven out rSh ot the line. Inftead of fupporting the rear-admi- ^"'• ral, Mr Byng, either from a defire ftridly to pre- ferve the line, or from an incxcuftble timidity kept at the greateft diftance, and made little or no ufe of his artillery. By this means, in all probabi- lity, the Britifli fleet loft an opportunity of gaining a capital advantage over the enemy. The French admiral difcovered the fame difinclination to conti- nue the engagement ; he edged away with an eafv fa.l, while Mr Byng m de a fliow of giving chace. Both fleets were out of fight of each other next mornmg — Thus ended this doubtful engagement in which the wonted fuperiority of the Englifli by ea was by no means confpicuous. The French laid claim to the vidlory ; and indeed the retreat oi Admiral Bvng was nmHnrVIve of ^l' -1 *• qucnccs ol a defeat. Under a pretext of providing for the fafety of Gibraltar, l,c repaired thithef with the utmofl expedition. ao MILITARY MEMOIRS ■M ' to the French ti '75^- The garrifon of St. Philip's, thus fhamcfuliy tuRopii. abandoned to tlie enemy, inflead of giving them- felves up to defpair, refolved to behave with Ijjirit, and to defend the place to the lafl: extremity. From the 20th of May to the 27th of June, they fuftained and retorted the enemy's fire with the mod undaunted rcfolution. At lall, the works be- ing in many places demoliflied, the guns difmount- ed, the garrifon exhaufled with hard duty and in- Phiii'-^s' ^^^^"^ watching, and the little probability there ibrrendcred remained of being relieved, a capitulation was de- manded, and granted upon honourable terms.—. The fortrefs was accordingly delivered up to the French on thd 28th of June.§ § Though the general defign of this work precludes a minute rela- tion of the anions of individuals, yet, amidft the milconduft and mif- carriages of this inaufpicious period, there is a pleafure in exhibiting a charader worthy of imitation, and deferving of the higheft praife. — Captain Cunningham (of Enterkine), a Scots gentleman, who aited as fecond engineer at Minorca, being preferred to a majority at home, had repaired to Nice in Italy, in order to take his paffage in a (hip for En- gland. Having received certain intclliB;e..ce that the French armament was deftined for the place he had quitted, and recollefling that the chief engineer at Minorca was difabled jy the gout, and that a num- ber of things were wanting for the defence of the fortrefs; notwith- flanding his lady, whom he tenderly loved, was juft delivered, and two of his children were dangcfoHfly ill of the fmall-pox, he hcfitatcd not a moment, but facrificed the calls of conjugal and parental affc«ion to the honour and fcrvice of his country. He purchafed timber for the platforms, and other ncceflaries for the garrifon, hired a vefli-l to tranfport them thither ; and, tearing himielf from his wife and children, failed directly for Minorca. In the courfe of tlie fici|-c, he acquitted himftlf with the grcateft vigilance, (kill, and activity ; \ilien, towards the end of it, in an aHault, mixing with the ene- my iVord in hand, he was difabled in the ligiit arm by the (hot of a nnifket, and the thruft of a bayonet. In the capitulation he was ho- -iloured with a particular article in his favour. — On his return to En- gland, he was preferred to the rank of colonel in the guards ; and af- terwards aftcd as chief engineer in the attempts and defients that were made on the French coaft. He accepted of the (ame office in tlie cxpc- jijtion to Guadaloupc, where he died univeiTally rcsretted. OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^t Minorca, thus difmembered from the Britifli 1756. empire, was the objed of univerfal regret. Its ^^ importance was fenfibly felt, and its lofs fincerely lamented. The fears of an imaginary invafion gave way to indignation and refentment againfl the miniftry, and the delinquent admiral. Ad- drefTes were prefented to the throne, petitioning, in the ftrongell terms, for a change of men and meafures; and the people, rendered diffident and diftrufttul, and foured by misfortunes, already imagmed themfelves on the brink of ruin, and de- ftitute both of treafurc and of Itrcngth. The firft fury of their refentment was direded againft the unfortunate Byng. The minillry ufed every endea- vour to foment this animofity, and to avert the danger which threatened themfelves. They ag- gravated his mifcondud, expofed his folly, and expatiated on his cowardice. The public prints abounded with the moft virulent invedives againft him, and mobs were hired to hang and burn him in effigy, at different parts of the capital. Even majefty itfclf is faid to have taken part in the cruel perfecution againfl this unhappy man He was fuperfeded in his command by Sir Edward Hawke, and fent home under an arreft. ^ For the fake .of perfpicuity, we fliall proceed to give an account of Admiral Byng's trial and fate: Mlowmg rather the natural courfe of events, than adiiermg flrictly to the order of chronology On the 28th of December, he was brought m, of Derore a court-martial - -- ' '' - a^-.-..^ condemned after « long trial, . , ^ "'"g under part of the 12th article of war. The feverity of this article, which Admirai Byng. 21 MILITARY MEMOIRS m'-i il ■ 175^ admitted of no mitigation*, induced his judges to EUROPE, recommend him as a proper objed of his majefty's mercy. The diflinguifhed merit and fervices of his anceftors, the recommendations of his judges, and the teflimony of the French general, who had been a fpedator of the whole engagement, proved inef- feaual to fave him ; and his death was cruelly re* prefcnted to the king as the only means of pacify- ing the populace. Thus devoted, he prepared to c^dandThTt. ^^^^ ^^'^ ^^^^ ^'^^ fteadinefs and refolution. He ' was (liot at Portfmouth on the 14th of March.— 1757. The firm, compofed, and undaunted manner, in which he died, wiped away every imputation on his perfonal courage. Immediately before bis death, he delivered a paper to the marlhal of the admiralty, in which he declared his innocence, and that he confidered himfelf as a vidim deftined to divert the indignation and refentment of an in- jured and deluded people from their proper ob^ jedts. — We decline to dwell long on this melan- choly tranfaaion ; a tranfadion which refledi no little difgrace on the period when it happened.— While we lament the misfortunes, we cannot but condemn the backwardnefs of the unhappy admiral. But we are at a lofs to difcover any capital offence j and, whatever idea we may entertain of the cruel- ty and injuftice of the miniftry, and the violent animofity of the people, it ftill remains matter of furprife and concern, that they were not content- ed with a mode of punifliment lefs ignominious and fevere. • The i2th article of war runs thus, " Every perfon in the fleet, who, " thro* cowardice, negligence, or dirnfTctili;:), fliall, in time of aflion, " keep back, ^c— and, being conviflcd thereof, ftiallfaflcr death," OF GREAT BRITAIN. *3 loininious 1756. EUROPE. CHAP. II. ^tate of Europe at the beginning of the war — King of Fruffta invades Saxony — Battle of Lowofchutz. '-—Surrender of the Saxon army^^Ofwego taken by the French* While the people of England were regret- ting the laft languid and unfortunate campaign, and execrating thofe to whom they afcribed all their lofles and difappointments, the flames of dif- cord and diflention, which already had been light- ed up in the new world, began to burft out among the principal powers of Europe.*— -To form a juft notion of this difpute, it will be neceflary to look back a little, and to trace concifely the fteps which gave rife to it. The rich and fertile province of Silefia had Auftm been wrefl:ed from Auftria by the King of Pruflia, and folemnly confirmed to him by two different 1744. treaties. This very important conquefl, reludantly given upj had excited an antipathy between the Emprefs-Queen and that monarch; and the former only waited for a favourable opportunity to attempt the recovery of it. Russia was allied to Auftria by ancient treaties, ^''^^* by their united wars againft the Turks, and by the reciprocal affedtion of their refpeaive fove- reigns. There fubfifted between the Czarina and * " So complicated," lays Voltuirc, '« arc the political interefts of .. , ; P^^^V""*^'' '•'^t » 'hot fired in America ftall be the %nal for uttjng all Europe together by the ears." i ' if f III u MILITARY MEMOIRS EUROPE Poland. Ti-ufllu. J^ H,e K,nK of Pruflia feveral perfonal fubjefts of ,..„,, co,„,,!a,nt; and all ,„rtl,ocls had been ulW ,o cm brou ,ha, n,onarch'. aBUirs in ,l,e north. ThTy fueceedcd fo far as ,o render Uuflia hi, i„,,,,,,,ble e. my and ready .o c. xr into any fcheis pro! poled tor Ins ruin. ' Augustus III. King of Poland, and Eleflor of Saxony, independent of his clofe conneftions with Kuiha and Anftria, to the former of whon> he owed Ins crown, was anxious to have an opportu- nuy of renewmg his demands on the King "f Pruffia, for an mdemnification of the depredations committed by him in Saxony in ,74,.lBut I! domnnons of thi, „,onarch were in no condition to upport a war with fo formidable a neighbour s the Kmg of Pr„(i.a. Poland was without troops w. hout fortiftcations. and without finances ;«: pofed to mcurfions, and confiderable only by her extent and fertility. Saxony was in the like d fencelefs fituation ; her army mouldering away and her coffers empty. * '' As the views of thcfe powers were exaftly fi. mMr, a treaty was entered into by tJiem anna rcntly harmlef, and innocent , but LeraT'pr vafc" ;>rt,c!es were added, the tendency of whicif we e m,m,cal to Ins I'ruflian Majcfty : and it was part ! cularly ft.pulated, in cafe he (hould attack eitlfer of her terntones, that they fl>ould mutually furnifi. an army of 60,000 men to re-i„veft the Emprefs- Queen with the dutchy of Silcfia. The monarch againft whom thefe three powers of-Eu one ■ n T f "''^ '"'' admiration ot Luropc- Ihe houle of Brandenburg, from the OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^5 mofl humble fituation, had rifcn imperceptibly, in the courfe of a century, to a conlidcrable degree of affluence and power. The late King was extra- vagantly fond of a numerous army; and had con- verted a great part of his fubjeds into foldiers. Though quarrelfome and turbulent in his temper, by a lingular good fortune, he had no opportunity of diminifhing that army which he had been lb careful in collecting. He delighted in reviews and bloodlefs (kirmilhcs, and trained one of the molt numerous armies in Europe to the completelt and moft exact difcipline. At his death, he delivered this powerful palladium to his fon Frederic III. to- gether with a fum in the treafury fufficient to up- hold them. From the moment the young mo- narch afcended the throne, it became obvious, that there was an end to that inactivity which had charadterifed the former reign.* The extenfivenefs and variety of his talents were foon confpicuous in his actions. The boldnefs of his defigns could on- ly be equalled by the impenetrable fecrecy obfer- ved in the execution of them. To the moft live- ly imagination, and a fortitude fcarcely to be pa- rallelled, were added the llrongeft propenfity for * This prince, in his younger years, fays ar celebrated author, wiftl^ preferred the advantage ot treafuiing: up knowledge, to the ufual plea- iurcs of his age, and the luxurious idlcirls of courts. An intercourfe with the greatcd men of his time, jonu\: to the Ipirit of obftrT.Uion, infcnlibly ripened his genius, which was naturally afiivs and eager for employment. Neither flattery nor oppofitioii could ever divert hiw from the deep reflexions he was engaged in. He formed the plan of his future c>)ndud and rei^n in the early part of his life. It was fore- told, on Ids acceflion to the crown, that his miuiflers would be no more thau his (bcretaries ; the managers of his finances no more thin m>i CtCir;; ; ahd 'iij generals no moic iliati Wn aids-dc-camo. c a 1756. EUROPE, I 26 i MILITARY MEMOIRS [756. an aaive life, and a confti fup- 'tution capable thod of d.fcipl,.->,ng armies, and of heading battles By the rap,d,ty of his evolutions, and L Jk. poMed the intrepidity of a warrior, the profound ftgacy of a (la.efman, and the intuitive penetration of a ph,lofopher._He faw the ftorm which was He had ftudted the fta.es thus leagued againft him, the tnen of the cabinet they had to oppofe him, and the genms and abilities of their refpeftive generals....All his forces were ordered to be com! eft not'icT *"''' '" '"""""'"' '° ""''•' "' "''"'°«' «,h^\-'"n'- "''""'^ "'^"' "°"« of 'I'e treaty fia. Ihe Kmg of Pruflia had been for fome time fccretly d,fcontentcd with the court of Verfailles : buttheycontmuedto all appearance to be foclofe- y conneaed, that his Britannic Majefty was no, a "tie apprehenllve that France had brought him in- to her vu:ws. To obviate this, had been theereat r„.„.,, pufated ,Vm '^ T^""" "'''"™^''' " ^™ ''- "* If r ''" ''"''''" M^J^fty "louW furnifl, a body of troops to the amount of 55,000, and 40 or 50 gallies, wuh the neceffary crews, to be em- ployed m the fervice of Britain, wherc-r requi- red.— No fooner was this treaty made public, than h s Prufl,a„ Ma^efty, perceiving at once the mo! t.ves wl„ch had mduced Huflia to accede to it, declared, m the ftrnncrel> m,„... .u,. , , ' o •* "'"""1.1, mat ne would JFJRSBSniC mj^lWG GFjmVSSJA, ; If rt M III i 5 !' ;i Ijli '.'5^ EUROPE. OF GREAT BRITAIN. oppofe to the utmofl: the introduaion of all foreign troops whatfoever into the empire.f — ^This declara- tion, while it flopped the treaty with Ruffia, plain- ly evinced, that the views of their Britannic and Pruffian Majefties were precifely the fame. The former was apprehenfive of the French, the latter of the Ruffians j and this coincidence of fenti- ments, with fome eclairciffements as to the views of the court of Vienna, brought on the treaty of London, by which his Pruffian Majefly obtained a Treaty fubfidy from Great Britain of 750,000!. flerling, ^'th'pruf. for fervices which were exceedingly obvious ; and '^'' the two potentates agreed, not to make a peace without the confent of each other ^The publica- tion of this treaty produced that of Vienna, be- tween the Emprefs.Queen and his mofl Chriflian Treat be. Majefly. Prefent interefl predominated over an- t^'^^'en au- cient animofity; and one hour»s deliberation anni- ria«f hilated the arguments of more than two centurie?. The accefTion of Ruffia and Sweden, to this alliance, was natural and obvious. Those treaties, however, were certainly fuffi^ dent to preferve the peace of Europe; and probably they would have had that effecl:, if France and Au- flria had taken, with that difpatch which charac- tcnfes refolution, proper meafures to feem capable of iuftain ing the fliock, or of preventing it. l^hc t Among other articleg, it was Aipulatc J, •' That the court of Pe- teiftuirsh Ibould be contented with an annual fiil-Cdy of jco.oool. Uer- Img though infufficicnt for the fupport of the army which file pro- 7 A '' f r'"'; '^" ^"'"'" "■'"'^ ''"*=""^ *^" '^'''"' ^°"'d i-^^c r"o'ftl^Vri "..' '^>'" '"""*''' '''"'"'>■' *''"'■'= "* fubllrtence would li '» ''If il MILITARY MEMOIRS IZlf: ^^0 parties were reftrained by fearj and what the jiuROPE. power of the four allied courts threw into the fcale, was counter-balanced by the Britiih opu- lence, and by the adlual flate of the Pruilian forces. The King of Pruffia could alone enter in- to aftion, and flrike the greateft blows whenever he pleafed. The allied courts, on the other hand, were obliged to concert and combine their opera- tions. The Emprefs-Queen had not colleaed to- gether 30,000 regular troops; the Ruffians had all Poland to traverfe; and France, tho' always ready to receive her enemy on her frontier, was by no means prepared to go in queft of him at a hundred leagues diftance, through mountamous and barren countries — The court of Vienna, however, made great progrefs in augmenting her forces. She brooded over an old hatred, and former refent- ments ; but would not begin the war, tho' giving proofs that fhe fhould not be attacked with im- punity. But (he could no longer impofe on a prince who knew her as well as he knew his own court The neutrality of the few remaining United Provinces. Spain. powers in Europe, proceeded from intereft, inabi- lity or fear. The United Provinces, confirmed in their tafle for peace by the fear of the expences of war, were unwilling to let flip the advantages of the neutra- lity, which would throw the greateft part of the commerce into the hands of their fubjeds. Spain had equally negleded her finances and her forces. Her fettlements abroad, and her domi- nions at home, were in the Hime defencelefs fitua- tion ) and the court was without ambition, and 3 id what the w into the 3rltifh opu- he Pruilian le enter in- s whenever )ther hand, heir opera- olleded to- ians had all *ays ready- was by no a hundred md barren ver, made ces. She er refent- ^o' giving with ini- •ofe on a / his own ■emaining -ft, inabi- heir tafte ^ar, were s neutra- t of the • ices and er domi- °ls litlia- on, and OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^ widiout views. The monarch, without any great- '75^* nefs of mind, and without children, ffave himfelf ''^^^ up to amufements quite foreign to his rank, and paid no attention whatever to public affairs. Denmark, attentive to commerce and arts, Denmark, had little to dread from the confequences of the war. From experience, fhe had reafon to avoid all interference with the princes of the empire • and was willing, in cafe of misfortunes, to be a mediatrix and a peace-maker. If we except Sardinia, Italy had little concern in itaiy. the affairs of Europe. That monarch was ready, in cafe of an emergency, to affift Britain and PrufTia, The threatenings of his enemies only contri- buted to make the PrufTian monarch more ready to take the field : He thought it better to begin with them, than that they fhould begin with him. Accordingly he marched with a numerous army into Saxony, propofing to penetrate through that King of country into Bohemia. His declarations of friend- Sef '"' fhip to the King of Poland, were fpecious; but that ^''""'''' monarch chofe rather to rely on the valour and attachment of his troops, whom he affembled in a ftrong camp between Pirna and Konigftein, which was intrenched, provided with a numerous train of artillery, and deemed impregnable. Frederic, offended at this proceeding, demanded, as a proof of his neutrality, that the King of Poland fliould difembody his troops immediately. On the refufal of this demand, he inftantly furrounded the Saxon army, intercepted their convoys of provifion, and <:ut them off from all communication with the ad- jacent country. In the mean time, a great part of H 3® 1756- SUROPE. If * Ili';: i Battle of I^owo- fchutz. itiii ' niiii , I •! MILITARY MEMOIRS his army advanced into Bohemia, under the corti- mand of the Ficld-Mar/hal Keith*, and encamped within a fmall diflance of the imperial army,amoun»- ing to 50,000 men, commanded by Marfhal Brown^ an officer of Irifli extradion. Frederic, with his wonted celerity, repaired to Bohemia, aflumed in perfon the command of M. Keith's corps, and advanced to give battle to the enemy. The Auftrian general had taken pof- feffion of Lowofchutz with a great body of infan- try, and placed a battery of cannon in the front of the town ; he had formed his cavalry chequerwifcj and polled about 2000 Croats and Pandours in the vineyards on his right. The Pruffian monarch oc- cupied, with fix battalions, a hollow way, and fome rifmg grounds which commanded the town. Early in the morning, on the firfl day of Oaober, the Pruffian cavalry advanced to attack the enemy's horfe J they were twice driven back with a very • Defccnded from one of tJ-,e mod ancient and noble families in Scotland, He was engaged with his brother, the Earl Marifchal, in the rebellion 1715 ; and being obliged to relinquift his country on this occafion, he went to France, where he ftudied mathematics under the celcbrdted M. Maupertuis, and made himfelf perfed mafter of the mi- litary part of geometry. He was a volunteer in the French army at the forming of Vigo, in the year 1719, where he received a dangerous wound. From Paris he went to Madrid, where he obtained a com- midion in the Irifli brgade. Accompanying the Duke of Liria, in his embany to Mufcovy, he entered into the fcrvice of the Czarina, and was appointed a lieutenant-general. In this quality, he performed ma- ny fignal fcrvices in the wars with Turkey and Sweden ; and was ho- noured in time of peace with feveral embaffics. Difgufted at Ruffian whofe honours are no better than a fplendid fervitude, he entered into Ihe fervice of the King of Pruflla, who received him in the moft gracious manner, made him governor of Berlin, and a field-marflial in his ar- my. His difpofition was amiable, and iiis genius in the art ot war will Lc more fully difplaycd in the fcqnel. er the corti- d encamped niy,amounv- •fhal Brown^ ty, repaired ommand of ve battle to i taken pof- dy of infan- the front of ihequerwife^ dours in the nonarch oc- y^, and fome own. Early dtober, the he enemy's ivith a very oble families in Marifclial, in country on this atics under the ifter of the mi- French army at ed a dangerous btaincd a com- )f Liria, in his e Czarina, and performed ma- ; and was ho- afted at Ruflia, le entered into e mod gracious irfhal in his ar-' art Qi war wili !-' i J y JfiAfai^A/rmoii\t. C //a/u/ta/ ,/{r///. 'S .-if OF GREAT BRITAIN. (aryAf(rfnoit\i. KUROrC. « (C conriderable lofs. The Pruflian infantry then ad- vanced to attack the town of Lowofchutz in Hank ; but met with fo warm a reception, that in all pro- bability they would have been repulfed, had not Field-Marlhal Keith headed them in perfon. Draw- ing his fword, he told them he would lead them on to vidory j but being given to underftand, that their powder and fliot was exhaufted, — with an admirable prefence of mind, he exclaimed, " That he was happy they had no more ammunition, as he was convinced that the enemy could not " withftand them at pufh of bayonet." So faying, he advanced at their head, drove the Aullrians Auftrians from Lowofchutz, and fet the fuburbs on fire. "''"'^'''' The lofs was pretty equal on both fides, and both parties claimed the vidory ; but the confequences plainly adjudged it to the King of Pruflia, as the Auflrian general was cut off from all hopes of re- lieving the Saxon army, which was indeed the principal objcft of the battle. It is but juftice, howeve:', to M. Brown, to acknowledge, that his difpofitions for that purpofe were maflerly, and would probably have fucceeded, had he had to contend with any other general than his Pruflian Majefty. By the battle of Lowofchutz, his Pruflian Ma- jefty became abfolute mafter of Saxony. Being informed that the original papers relating to the confederacy which had been formed againft him, were depofited In the archives of Drcfden, he de- manded the kevfi from fhe Onfpn r^^ T^r^^x^A „,k^ Hill remained in that place, and afted with a dig- nity becoming her high birth. Upon her refuful. kUROl'li. if '» MILITARY MEMOIRS I^e ordered the doors to be forced, xvhich was ac cord.ngly done ; tho' not without Ibme imputation upon his politenefs, as the Queen of Poland op- polcd 111 perfon the officer who executed the order. IJuv.ng thus got pofll-ihon of thefe originals, he maue no delay in publiUiing them, as they tended to jultdy his proceedings in Saxony, and his in- valion of Bohemia. Frederic having re-affumed the blockade at Pirna h,s Poliih Majefty und his troops were re- duccd to great extremity of want ; and it becamd indifpenfibly nccellhry, either to attempt an efcape, or lu^render to the King of Pruflla. The fonner was attempted, and proved unfuccefsful, though affifled by the Aultrians, who made a diverfion in tlieir favour.^In this deplorable condition, the King of Poland fent a letter*, from the fortrefs of Konigflem, to the Saxon general, veiling him with full power to furrender, or to take fuch other ^''"'"^"'^^ ^ 3 he thought proper. A ca pitulation was under?' ^T ."7 '' ^"""^* = " " '^ ""^ ^'''^«"t extreme forrow I retJcdl ' ^^r"'?'""^ ^ ^'-'" of misfortunes L feveTlnr ':>'■" ' " '^"■"^"'^^'-- «f P-vide„ce, and confole our- for e m i ■' "''""'''^ °' °."^ ^-"''"^^'"^^ -'^ ^"'-'^--- They would Tr nec^ "?' " ''"''"''''" " ^'" ---"-^- -« become r r h "J ;"••„ """"\ ''"^"- ^''^'"^ --'---J- • =- a free mo- ^ul> honour. 1 he fate of n.y army I leave wholly to your dllcretion I.et yo^n- counc, of war determine, whether you mulHUrrender pi foners of war. fail by tl,e f.ord, or die by famine. May your refZ ■on. .fp^,„, ,econduded with humanity : whatcvi^l,; mayt I hav no longer any .hare in them ; and I declare >ou ftali .ot be . n ' A.rabe_r.rau,htbu: one thin,, namely, not to^.n•y a-mAr, — — "• n.y iithcS. I nrnv n.,.,t ., ! ,,._-. - kefji; 1£. Givcti at Kouivr.'J pray CoU may iiave you, M, Marfhal, in his'holT till, tlie i.'th of Oclobcr ly^C AuGi/sTus Rex." OF GREAT BRITAIN. ihich was ae-» le imputation Poland op- ed the order, originals, he they tended and his in- blockade at •ps were re- id it becamd )t an efcape. The former iful, though diverfion in [idition, the the fortrefs /efting him fuch other ulation was :treme fbrrow I lisfortunes has ole army : but id confole our- >. They would bttiit to Condi- •ts are become am a free mo- tli live and die our discretion. Turrcnder pri- ' your rcfolu- ' they may be, all Dot be an- arms again ft 1, in his holj* <( cc 3-3 demanded; and the whole army was obliged to 1756. furrendcr at difcretion. The foldiers were after "^^ wards compelled to enter mto the fervice of Pruf- fia. — The King of Poland alked no more, than "'Hurrcn'- that his own guards fhould not be made prifoners. '^"'' Frederic replied, « That he could not lilten to his " requeft; that thofe guards would inf^dlibly ferve . againft him, and that he did not chufc to have the trouble of taking them a fecond time." His Polifh Majefty retired to his regal dominions ; and the Pruflian troops were cantoned in the ncinh- bourhood of Seidlitz, and along the Elbe towards Drefden. The army in Bohemia retired to the confines of the county of Glatz.— The winter was fpent m warlike preparations by Auftria and Pruf- fia, and in publifbing reciprocal accufations ; and It muft be confefTed, that the fame fuperiority which attended his Prullian Majefly's forces in the field was equally confpicuous in this paper war. ' The fame fatality ftill continued to dired the meafures, and the fame misfortune to attend the expeditions of Great Britain. The refcntment and d.fcontent occafioned by the lofs of Minorca were itill predominant, nor had the dread of an inva, hon alcogether fubfided. To provide againft the latter, a body of 12,000 lleffians and Hanoverians Han.. arrived, and encamped in different parts of the kin- ViT' '"'"^ dom. Ihis ftep ferved only to heighten the difffu(t ^^'" and continue the refentment of the public. Thcv "'' execrated the miniftry for Tuch a pufillanimous and difgracefuUieafure; a meafure which plainly evin- ced, that Britain was incapable of dctending herfelf and could only be fecure by the aid of foreign D 2 34 1756. MILITARY MEMOIRS * mercenaries. They even carried their animofity fo far as to infult and diftrefs the innocent and inoLcnfive Germans. ir ? . ■ t \ nil \t i AMERICA. The affairs of America were diflinguiflied by the fame gloomy afped with thofe of Great Bri- tam. Major-General Abercrombie arrived at New- York on the 25th of June, and took upon him the command of the troops there affembled, till fuch time as the Earl of Loudon (a Scots noble- men of an amiable charader, and who already had diflinguiflied himfelf in the fervice of his country), fliould arrive as commander in chief. The firft adtion of any confequence was in fa- vour of the Englifli. A body of the enemy had formed an ambufcade to intercept any reinforce- ment or provifions that might be fent to relieve the garrifon of Ofwego, which had hitherto been Ihamefully negleaed. A confiderable • convoy of provifions and fbres were however fafely conduft- cd thither by Colonel Bradftreet. Returning with his detachment down the river Onondaga, he was faluted with a general difcharge of muflietry, from a party of Indians fecreted amoi:gfl the buflies, which killed a confiderable number of his men. The colonel expcdle^, and was prepared for fuch an attack. He immediately landed his men, and, SS\7 ^'^'"S PoffefTion of a fmall ifland, drove the Indians Loionei from their lurking places. Proceeding up the ri- ver, he attacked z.id defeated tA^ j different parties of the enemy with great Daughter, and returned back to Albany without any further mnleftn.tion, Certain intelligence being received by the prifom Colonel Bradftreet fw^ icir anlmofity innocent and Unguiflied by ' Great Bri- Ived at New- k upon him ffemblcd, till Scots noble- 3 already had his country), :e was in fa- : enemy had riy rcinforce- it to relieve litherto been e convoy of ■ely conduct- turning with laga, he was iketry, from the buflies, )f his men, red for fuch i men, and, : the Indians : up the ri- rent parties id returned OF GREAT BRITAIN. 3^ frs taken in this engagement, thai the French ^156. were preparing to befiege Ofwego, a regiment of ,^^ regulars, under the jommand of Major-General Webb, was detached to its relief, but proved too late to afford any affiftancc. The fort of Ofwego was fiti'ited on the fouth fide of the great lake Ontario, at the mouth of the river Onondaga. On the oppofite fide was an- other fort, called Ontario. Both thefe had been ereded in an injudicious and hafty manner, and were incapable of ftanding out, for any time, a- gainft a regular approach. The garrifon confiftcd of about 1400 men, moft of them ncw-raifed and inexperienced ; they were commanded by Lieute- nant-Colonel Mercer, an officer of great courage and tried abilities. The attack of the place was formed by M. Montcalm, remarkable for his vigi- lance and enterprifing fpirit, with upwards of 2000 men under his command. The fort of Ontario ^Avcgo ta- being deferted in a fhort time, was taken poffeffion F«nch.*^" of by the enemy ; from whence they kept up an unremitting fire on the Englifh. Colonel Mercer bemg killed, and the garrifon in the greateft con- fufion, they were forced to capitulate, and furren- der prifoners of war.— -Both forts were inftantly de- moliflicd — Several inhumanities were committed by the Indians on the Englilh prifoners, which the French commander did not ufe every endeavour to prevem .* The employing o f thcfe favages has .^oton"! t^'''T f the articles Of capitulation, and of humanity, he ^o only fuffl-red the B.iti.}, officers and foldie,. to be infult.d, roT'Lcd. and fome of them marTacred by his Indians, but gave .tp twenty of the tlTTT "'".''' '"" ''"^'^ '" '''' «^SC, and they wercp,| to death with the moft cxcrociating torments. 3^ MILITARY MEMOIRS 2^ ever been produaive of the moft cruel and fhock- AMERICA, ing barbarities ;— and their tranfadions, in the courfe of the American war, under tlie dircdion of the French, have ftainpcd inddible difgracc on a people who afllimc the character of being the mofl polite and civilized nation in the univerfe. The Earl of Loudon, who had been unac- .countably detained in Britain, did not arrive at Albany till the 29th of May. No fettled plan of operations having been fixed on, the ftafon was futfercd to flip away ; and the taking of Ofwego by the enemy, had difheartened the colonies, and prevented the adoption of any fpirited enterprife. His lordlhip, however, did all in his power to remedy the negligence of his predecelTors in com- mand. Every preparation was made for an early campaign in the fpring. He fecured the frontiers ■ reinforced the garrifons, and endeavoured to re- move that fpirit of difaffedion and inadlivity which had been difTeminated amongft the different pro- vinces. . Thus ended the unfortunate campaigns of 1755 and 1756. The operations of both parties were fpiritlefs, blundering, and timid. Britain had par- ticularly degenerated from her former pre-emi- nence. Her troops were defeated, her navies fcattered, and on all fides her aflairs carried the moft difagreeable and ruinous afped. A want of wifdom in the meafures, and of conduft in the com- manders, were every where confpicuous. If the French gained any advantage, it was more owing to^the unaccountable fatahty which diredled the Bri- uw.iiieaiures, than to their own merit or adivitv. and fhock- 3ns, in the lie dircdion difgracc on being the univtrfe. been unac- t arrive at led plan of fcafon was 3t Ofwego Ionics, and enterprife. power to rs in com- >r an early I frontiers,' red to re- vity which ;rent pro- is of 1755 rties were I had par- pre-emi- er navies arried the i want of the com* . If the re owing i the Bri- ■ adivitY. 'OP GREAT BRITAIN. Hiftory finds little worthy of recording in the an- nals of thofe inaufpicious times ; and haftens with plcafure to the brighter tranfadions of fucceeding years ; — years, in which the integrity and difm- tereftednefs of Britifli ftatefmen, and the intrcpi« dity and conduft of Britifli commanders, were fo eminently illuftrious, as not to be equalled in the annals of this, or of any other nation. Their fer- vices will ever be remembered with gratitude and admiration ; and their memories tranfmitted, with eftcem and applaufe, « to the laft fyllable of re- corded time.** * 3» 1756. • We have comprifcd the military operations of thofe two years in fo fmall a compafs, that it feems almoft necefliry to apologize for it — It is only by retrenching the detail of unimportant occurrences, that we have been enabled to exhibit a circumftantial account of aftions of greater celebrity. This has neceflkrily produced an inequality in the relation, which is expanded or contrafted according to the importance of the fubjeft.— The commencement of the war in particular has been dcfcribed with rapidity, as fording few aftions deftrving comme- moration ; and little notice has been taken of the negotiations between the different courts, their fpecioui juftifications of their conduft or the declamatory and infincere memorial* publifhed on that occafion by both parties—It was judged nccelTary to explain the plan of this h.ftory fo far, left the omiffion, or the flight mentioning of any frivo- lous or unimportant particular, Ihould be afcribcd to inatUntion. or imputed as a dcfeft. * CHAP. MILITARY MEMOIRa CHAP. III. Eaji -India affairs ^^ Angria the pirate defeated Calcutta taken — Cruel treatment of the Englijh by the Nabob of Bengal, Hostilities had been carried on in the Eaft-Indies, for fonie years before the courts of Britain and France had come to an open rup- ture. By efpoufmg the quarrels of the princes or nabobs* of that country, a pretence was found to carry on a brilk war between the two nations . Soon after the death of Aurengzebe, who was the laft monarch of diftingulfhed abilities, an univerfal degeneracy took place in the empire of Indoftan j and thofe provinces which were the moft diftant from the feat of government, affefted an indepen- dency on the Emperor j and were little more than nominally fubjeft to the imperial authority, which they acknowledged only becaufe it gave a fanftion to their own power — ^l^he Nabob of. Arcot, ha- ving been depofed by the Emperor, and another appointed in his room, had recourfe to the French, who, on certain conditions, engaged to re-inftate him in his government. With their affiftance, he attacked, defeated, and flew his competitor ; re- affumed the government of Arcot, and pundually performed the conditions which had been ftipu^ lated by his French allies. • The nabobs arc a fpecies of viceroys or governors of provinces un- der the Imperor, er, as h« U sailed, the Great Mogul. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 39 provinces ttn-* ASIA. »755- Mohammed-Ali-Khan, the fon of the de- »755' ceafed nabob, folicited the aid of the Englifh, who affifted him with, men, money, and ammunition. Under the colour of being auxiliaries to thofe princes, the Englifh and French Eaft-India com* panics endeavoured to ruin each other. Vidory^ however, for the moft part, was on the fide of the Englifh ; Mohammed- Ali-Khan was placed on the throne of his father ; and the French, reduced by repeated defeats, were obliged to a£t only on the defenfive. A mutual agreement was at laft en- tered into by both companies ; by which it was ftipulated, that they fhould reciprocally reflore the territories taken by the troops of either fmce the year 1748; and that, for the future, neither fhould interfere in the differences between the princes of the country — In this war the extraordinary military talents of Mr. Clive, (who had formerly ferved in a civil ftation) were for the firfl time difplayed. The tranquillity produced by this treaty, was but of fhort duration. The refllefs ambition of the French could not brook the fuperiority which the Englifh maintained in India. Underhand po. licy took place of open hoflilii/. They endea- voured to foment animofities among the nabobs who favoured or were under the protedion of the Englifli ; and again afTifted their enemies with troops to oppofe them. In confequence of an application from the En- gltfli Eafl-India company, government had dif- patched a fmall fleet of capital fhips, under the command of Hear-Admirals Watfon and Pocock, to fupport their jufl pretenfions, and to proted £ 40 MILITARY MEMOIRS ASIA. t Fort St n^H. """ *^ '""'' °f "-'^ '■l^dron thevL > "^'J " ^'' judged advifable that they (hould proceed to the attack of Anuria a P"-at,cal pr,nce in the neighbourhood of fifmbav who was lormidable to all the European powetl' and had particularly diftreflid the L^iCf^^ h.s ™.„„y to their fettlements. Thl praS -.»•- f" ^^ '- "« of a cent^ryf'T He took pcfieffion of the fmall ifland of Severn droog, and for fo„,e time coni5„ed his attackstrth; Indjan veffcls trading on that coaft. G^^l by fuccefs, he undertook the ercateft Z -r . and attacked, without diftinffif itveKtu nations Under his fucceffors, this We neft nf robbers flourifl,ed and encreafed ; and t becLt he .uutual intereft of the Europe'an poj rs' W e Mlrlt:;™";"'' "° ^«- ^-«f- At .e^ ti.e Marattas, a fierce and rapacious people ucon Angr,a's retnfing to pay a tribute wWch had loT ■ '^"' "-" "'"--y. agreed to attack th e comln * It was deemed unnecclFarv tr. ,>;. . • ,- . ^u.™™„^ ..,.,.. *k:,cr>2':-;:;;::2.t,r'"" A/iatic terntones, not being fo Renerallv !.„„ "y '''^J'' > biU our OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^i 1756. ASIA. enemy by land, whilft the Engllfli attacked them by fea — Admiral Watfon, accompanied by Colo- nel Clive, who commanded the land-forces, failed from Bombay * on the 7th of February, and, on the 1 2th, anchored off the harbour and fort of Geriah, the principal refidence of Angria. That chief had quitted the place ; but his wife and fa- mily remained under the protedion of his brother- in-law, who, on being fummoned to furrender by a meffage from the admiral, replied, that he would defend the place to the laft extremity. Upon this. His fort of about five in the afternoon, the whole Englifli Sgefand fleet xailed into the harJ)wr'-Cnd foon filenced the tfSI'L enemy's batteries. Aligria's fleet was fet on fire s""'" by a bomb-fliell ; and foon after the fort fliared the fame fate. The befieged ItiU obftinately held out, and defended the place even after the maga- zine of the fort blew up. At five in the morning the pfeec furrendered, and was taken poffefTion of by the Englifli, who found a great number of cannon, and a large quantity of ammunition, with money and efltas to the value of 130,000! Among the prifoners were Angria's wife, children, and mother, whom the Admiral treated with the' greateft humanity §. • A fmall iflan'd, ,.„t more than twnUy miles in circumference, w h a very conven.ent harbour. The town is very populous ; but the fo.l ,s barren, and the climate unhealthy. It is the mart of all the trade w,th Malabar. Surat, and the Perfian and Arabian gulphs. J,y „ *?' f "'"■'*' '""'"'"^ ^'"^"- apartment, the whole familv, bngra.led the mother of Angria told hin, in a piteous tone. thn. tlie people had no king, fiie child rcn no father. The admiral ing, (he no ion, her daughter no huRiand. their replying, that they muft look upon luni as their father and their friend ; tl.c youngeft boy about fix years F. 2 42 ASX4. MILITARY MEMOIRS In the mean time, an event took place In an- other part of India, which caft a gloom on the En- ghfli affairs ; no lefs than the almoft total extirpa- tion of their company from Bengalf — A cuftom had for fome time prevailed in thefe countries, which was attended with very pernicious confe- quences. The governors of all the European pro- vmces had taken upon them, to grant an afylum to fuch of the natives of the country as were a- fraid of oppreffion or punifhment. As they re- ceived very confiderable fums in return for this protedion, the danger to which they were ex- pofed was overlooked. One of the chief officers of Bengal had taken refuge among the Englifh at Calcutta, in order to avoid punifhment. Surajah Dowlah, the Suba or Nabob of Bengal, was greatly incenfed at this proceeding ; and, being hkewife irritated at the refufal of certain duties which he laid claim to, and other pradiccs of the company, he levied a numerous army, marched tof age, fdzed him by the hand, and, fobbing, exclaimed, '« Then yon fhall be my father!" Mr Watfon uas fo affbaed with this pathetic addrcfs, that the tears trickled down his cheeks, vyhile he anUrcd Ihem, they might depend on his proteftion and friejidfliip. f Bengal is the moft eaflern province of the Mogul's dominions in India lies upon the mouth of the Ganges, extending near 400 miles in Jength from E. to W. and 300 in breadth from N. to S. aad annually overflowed by the river Ganges, which makes it one of the richcft and iiio t fruitful provinces in that quarter of the globe—The princioal fcttlement of the EngliHi is Calcutta, the firll town that is met with f„ pamng up the Ganges. The air is unhealthy, the water brackilh, and the anchorage not very fafe ; yet, notwithftanding thefe inconvcnien- cies, great numbers of rich Arm.-^ian. Moorilh, and Indian merchants have fixed their refidence here, .he fortrefs has this advantage, tha the vcfTels bound to European kctlements arc obliged to n.^r, .,„dfi. ;.. Zet~'?." °' ''' "'''" ^"'■*'^"" ^^"-'"^'^ Companies' have 'fc,: tlemcnts in this country. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 4i 1756. ASIA. to Calcutta, and invefted the place, which was then in no pofture of defence. The governor, under the pretence of being a quaker, took refuge on board a fliip in the river, carrying along with him the ladies, and counfellors, together with their moft valuable effeas, and the books of the company. Mr. Holwell, the fecond in command, declared he Cakututa- would flay and defend the place to the laft extre- Na"bobVf''* mity, though the party that fled on board had ^'"^^ carried 100 foldiers from the garrifon with them. With the affiftance of a few gallant officers, he defended the fort for three days with uncommon courage and refolution. At lafl, overpowered by numbers, deferted by his foldiers, and the enemy having forced their way into the caflle, he was obliged to fubmit j the Suba promifmg, on the word of a foldier, that no injury fhould be done to him, or to his garrifon. The fcene which followed is perhaps unex- ampled in hiflory. The garrifon, to the amount of 146, were thrown into a fmall clofe dungeon, out of which twenty-three only came out alive.* * This melancholy tranfaftlon is defcribed by a refpeaable author ia the following ftrong and pathetic manner. •" At five the nabob entered the fort, accompanied by his general Mcer Jafficr, and moft of the principal officers of his armv. He immediately ordered Omiclmnd and KifTendafs to be brought before him, and re- ceived theni with civility; and having bid fome officers go and take pofTcflion of the company's treafury, l,e proceeded to the principal apartment of the fafto.y, where he fat in ftate. and received the com- phments of his conrt and attendants, in magnificent cspreinons of his prowefs and good fortune. Soon after he font for Mr. Holwell. to whom he cxprefltd much rcfentment at the prefumption of the En- iMi -.n aaruig to dclend the fort, and much diflhtisfaaion at the finalj. nefs of the fi,m found in the treafury, which did not exceed fifty thou, find rupees, Mr. Holwell had two other conferences with him on tJ»i« I MILITARY MEMOIRS Their cries and lamentations excited the compaf- fion, and the offerinpr of large fums of money fthjea, before ieven o'clock, when tne naboo diimifled him with re- pcatcd uflurances. on the word of a foldier. that he Ihould lufTer no «• Mr. Holwell returning to his unfortunate companions, found them aflcmbled and furrounded witl; a ftrong guard. Several buildings on the north and fouth fides of the fort were already in flames, which approached w.th fo thick a fmock on either hand, that the prifoners imagined their enem.es had caufed this conflagration, in order to fuffo- cate them between the two fires. On each fide of the eaftern gate of the fort extended a range of chambers adjoining to the curtain ; and before the chambers a varanda. or open gallery : it w-as of arched ma- fonry. and intended to fhelter the foldiers from the fun and rain but being low, almoft totally obftrufted the chambers behind from the l.ght and air; and whilft fome of the guard were looking into other par s of the fa^ory for proper places to confine the prifoners during th night, the reft ordered them to aflcnible in ranks under the varand'a on Ihh? ;>H '? r ° • r'V' "''"' '^'^ •■^"^=''"'** f°^ f-"^^ time, mthfohttlefufpicon of their impending fate, that they laughed al n,ong hemfelves at the fecming oddity of this difpofition, and amufed themfelves with conjeduring what they (hould next be ordered to do About aglit o clock, thofe who had been fent to examine the roomi reported that they found none fit for the purpofe. On which tTc pnnapal officer commanded the prifoners to go into one of the room, v,hich flood beh.nd them along the varanda. It was the common du^! geon of the ganifon. who ufed to call it the black hole. Many of the pnfoners knowing the place, began to expofiula.e : upon wLh th officer ordered his men to cut down thofe who hefitated; on wh ch 1 c piifoners obeyed. Uut before all were within, the room was fo throng! '.T\ ^'^^V"'"'^' "''' '"'™'^^' '^'^'= e--'^ '"-^diately clo^d and locked the door ; confining one hundred and forty-fix ncrfons in a TrT TaT'^' '"' 'V' "''' °"^^ ^^■'^ '"^^'^ windows, and t^ fe obftrudled by the varanda, «' It was the hottert feafon of the ye.r, and the night uncommonly mltry even at this feafon. The exceflive prefTure of their bodies againft one another, and the intolerable heat which prevailed as foon a, the door was ftut, convinced the prifoners that it was impoffible to live through the n.ght in this horrible confinement; and violent attemnts were immediately made to force the door; but without eflea f^ opened inward : on which many began to give a loofe to rag^ Mr Kolwell. who had placed himfelf at one of the windows, exho.Ted them to remain cnmr^nOA K^fh ;„ u^a..,^a -■ , . ' ""°"«a rr . . , . , ■" '^ ^'^ ^^'°- """«> as the only means o furyiving the n.ght, ,^ his remonftrances produced a fliort interval of quiet ; during which he appUed to an old jemautdar, who bore W OF GREAT BRITAIN. .^ tempted the avarice of the keepers of their prifon; 1756. but the nabob was afleep ; and there was not ^"^ fome marks of humanity in his countenance, pro.nifing to give him a thoufand rupees in the morning, if he would feparate the prifoners in- min7 ch-bers. The old man went to try. but returning in f". Z ' . kI"" in^poffible—Mr. Holwell offered him a largeT fum ; on which he rct.red once more, and returned with the fatal fen- tence, that no relief could be expefled, becaufe the Nabob was afleep and no one dared to wake him. ^' whlh^ °^ the.r confinement was a profufe and continued fweat. .n the bread, with difficulty of breathing little fhort of m'cLZ Various means were tried to obtain more room and air. Everyone ftnpped offh,s cloaths; every hat was put in motion ; and thcJZ. thods aff.rdmg no relief, it was prooofed that they fl^ould all f.t down on the,r hams at the fame time, and after ren^aining a little while i" th. poflure rife ah together. This fatal expedient was thr e r^p at d before they had been c^n.W an hour J and every time. Z2 It .ble to rear themfeives up again, fell, and were trampl d to dea h b. tle.r companions. Attempts were again made to force the IV «^uch^.hng as before, redoubled their rage: but the thirft inc ea! fins nothmg ut >vater ! water! became foon after the general cy Ihe good jemautdar immediately ordered fome /kins of water to b* brought to the windows; but. in ftead of relief, his bene voleneL a more dreadful caufe of deftruaion ; for the f.ght of the water hrav every one mto fuch exceflive agitation and ravi„;s. that, unable to r m th,s violent impulfc of nature, none could wait t; be regularly weTe Met To '^''^^^ -moft ferocity, battled againft thofe 2 were hkely to get it before him; and in thefe conflicts many were cipher prefTed to death with the efforts of others, or fuffocated by' the" own. This fcene. mftead of producing companion in the guard with- out, only excited their mirth : and they held up lights to fhe barria ^iLn'.' 7.^7^ '"'°"'''' '''''^'^^•''" ''^^"'"S the deplorable conten. ions o the fufferers within; who, finding it impoflible to get any wa- terwhilftitwasthusfuriouflydifputed. at length fuffered thofe who were n a ,, ,, ^^ ^^^^^^^ .^ .^ ^^^.^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^_ o hen . It proved no relief either to their thirft or their fufferiugs ; for the fever uicreafed every moment with the increafing depravity of the a in the dungeon, which had been fo often rcfpired. and was f^ u TV'" ''°* '"'^ '^^'^'"'""^ ^ffl"via of putrifying bodies of which the flench was little left thnn morta! B fr • • • ■ , were ahvp nn,i I, j - -— i- — Juai, butc-jc jiiiumgnc. all who weie ahv . nd had not partaken of the air at the windows, were ei- tier ma lethargic ftupefaeiion. or raving with delinum.-Everii d ot inve^iveand abufc was uttered, in hopes of provoking U^^gu^a ASIA. 4^ MILITARY MEMOIRS m^ P^^^^^PS a fmglc peifon in Bengal ^^ho thought ASM. t^iat a defpotic tyrant's flumbers fh«mld be intci'- toput an end to tluir miferies, by firing into the dungeon ; and whilft lome were blafphcming their Creator with the frantic execrations of torment ni defpair, Heaven was implored by others with wild and in- coherent prayers ; until the weaker, exhaufted by thefe agitations, at Itngth lay down quietly, and expired on the bodies of their dead or "gon.zmg friends. Thofe who ftill furvived in the inward part of the dungeon, finding that the water had afforded them no relief, made a laft effort to obtain air. by endeavouring to fcramble over the heads of thofe Who had flood between them and the windows, where the utmoft Ihength of every one was employed for two hours, either in maintain- ing his own ground, or endeavouring to get that of which others were in pofTeinon. All regards of compaflion and affedlion were lofl, and no one would recede or give way for the relief of another. Faintnefs Sometimes gave (hort paufes of quiet ; but the firfl motion of anv one renewed ti,e rtruggle through all, under which ever and anon fom'e one funk to nfe no more. At two o'clock, not more than fifty remained ahve But even this number were too m'any to partake of the faving a.r. the conteft for which, and life, continued until the morn, long im- Plored, began to break; and, with the hope of relief, gave the few fu v.vors a v.ew of the dead. The furvivors then at the window, find" n>S that their entreaties could not prevail on the guard to open the Wolwell, ,f ahve, might have more influence to obtain their relief; and two of the company undertaking the fearch, difcovered him, having (iM fome flgns of life ; but when they brought him towards the win' do^w every ,„e refufed to quit his place, excepting Captain Mil s wo. rjreed oT? '' °«^-'' ^o refign his; on which the reftliLwif bSo 7 r""' ""' ^'^ ^^^'•"'y ''^8"" '« '•"-er his fenfes, before an officer, fent by the Nabob, came and enquired if the Engl H ch,ef furvved ; and foon after the fame man returned with an order to open the pr.fon. The dead were fo thronged, and the furvivors had fa .ttearength remaining, that they were employed near half an hour .n movmg the bodies which lay againfl the door, before they couM c^c a paflkge to go out one at a time ; when of one hundred and forty-fix who went in. no more but twenty-three came out alive th. «ha(^l.efl forms that ever were feen. The Nabob's troops b h Id Im rence, but did not prevent them from removing to a diftance and Tthe de d ,1 " '"^ ''"^V" ''" ""'^'^^ ^^ '^' f«'^ i°^° -hicl, ail tne dead bodies were promifcuoufly throv.?." OF GREAT BRITAIN* 47 ASIAi Vupted, even to prererve the lives of fo great a 1756 number of unhappy men. The deliveranee of the few that remained alive, was neither owing to compaffion nor regret. The Suba had been informed, that there was a confi- derable treafure fecreted in the fort, and that Mr. Holwell knew where it was depofited. It was in vain that that gentleman folemnly declared his ig- norance of fuch a treafure : the inhuman Suba gave no credit to his proteftations ; but ordered him, and three of his friends, to be conveyed, load- ed with fetters, to the Indian camp. The humane reader would be fhocked at the recital of the cruel treatment, which this unhappy gentleman, and his companions, underwent ; fuffice it to fay, that, after a variety of fufferings, at which even the barbarous SubaJ fecmed at laft ftung with remorfe, they were permitted to retire to a neighbouring Dutch fettlement. This unfortunate difafter threw a damp on the fuccefs attending the expedition againft Angria. The exafperated barbarity of the nabob threatened the total deftruaion of the commerce and fettle- lents on the Ganges. The emergency required difpatch and vigour ; and the only hopes of re- covery> depended on the uncertain arrival ^f the fleet which had lately reduced Angria.— The ample revenge taken by the Englifli for the in- humane treatment of their countrymen, and the confequences of this melancholy event, which, far from producing the misfortunes apprehended, was the means of opening a vaft field of powef and glory to Britain, will be recorded among the tranfa^ions of the enfuing year. 48 MILITARY MEMOIRS lUROPE, CHAP. IV. Varms cha?igcs in admini/iration-^haraacr of the drffcnnt fadions^King of Prujftu takes the field, and defeats the Aujlrians near Prague, ■1 HE affairs of Britain began now to afTume a more promifmg appearance. Several events took place, winch indicated the revival of her priftinc importance, and feemed to be the harbingers of better days.— The public difiatlsfaftion had ar- rived at that point, beyond which it is dangerous to go ; and a change of men and mcafures be- came abfolutely neceffary, to preferve the nation from utter deftruaion. Thofe by whole erring condua thefe calamities were occalioned. Pern! ed at lafl coniclous that the meafure of the'r ini- qu.ty was nearly full, and began to think of vt- Mr. Fere. ''''"! ''"';^f^'""^^'^h they could no longer «,„ J-« mamtam. Mr. Fox, the principal prop of the totter, mg fabric of adminlftration, not chufmg.any longer to bear the popular odium, for meafures In whth lie had only an inconfideraHc fhare, refigned the office of fecretary of flate ; not, indeed, without hopes of being foon re-Inilated in his employment with additional influence and power llms de ' prived of one of th. r principal leaders, the remain- mg feeble band of minlfters were unable any longer to fupport themfelves. Deftltute of any tixed lyltem of condnrt. wifi^^^f *u r , ^ aficdion, and purfe of the people, and oppofed in OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^g their meafurcs by men of tlie greateft abilities and »756. the inoft invincible integrity, they were obhgecl to ^^z. quit their polls, and abandon the helm of go- vernment to the management of abler hands. In this critical conjundure, in this forlorn Hate of hope, the voice of the nation pointed out, and the ntceility of affairs called into adion, a fet of men in whom the people placed their confidence, and repolld their fafety. William Pitt, tfq; was Mr. put appointed fecretary of ftate on the 4th of De- 'S^oi cember ; an appointment which gave joy and fa- "*'*'• tisfadion to the whole nation. Every lover of his country, and every friend to liberty, exulted to fee the happy day, \yhen his Majefty, no longer influenced by thofe who had brought upon him dilhonour and difquietude, was determined to li- flen to the voice, and confult the happinefs of his people. So grateful was the new minifter's elevation to the nation in general, that all parties (the parti- zans of the old minillry excepted) united heartily to ftrengthen the hands of government. The na- tion was not difiippointed in their opinion of his abilities. He diligently provided for the internal defence of the kingdom, and the annoyance of the enemy The Highlands of Scotland, fo far from contributing to the ftrength of the nation, had hitherto been a terror to government, and re- quired an army, always to be kept in readinefs to prevent their rifmg in favour of a foreign power. A cruel and narrow-minded policy had taken place with refped to the inhabitants of that part ■ ot Britain, who were treated with a fever^ty eq\ial- F 2 tUO/ t "; !: .: y 50 1756 MILITARY MEMOIRS ■UROPE. ly oppreffivc and tyrannical.— Mr. Pitt difclai.nccl thofc jealous and barbarous tenets of arbitrary power. Convinced that the oppof.tion of that J, lant, though rude people, proceeded from a princi- pie of honour, and a miftakcn attachment to the unhappy family of Stuart, he conceived that this iormidable internal foe might be converted into a generous and ferviceable friend. He therefore propofed to his Majefty, to admit, and to invite, by proper encouragements, the fuipeded part of the Scots Highlanders into his pay. By this adoption. Ins Majefty recovered a refpedable body of fub- jcds, who for many years had withdrawn them- fclves from his protedion, and had been ready, upon all occafions, to join with, or to favour the defigns of France upon England. The confequences of this excellent policy have reflefted honour on the po.,tical abilities of Mr. Pitt. In every fervice they have been employed in, the Highlanders have fignahzed themfelves in a particular manner, strength agil.ty, a capability of enduring the greateft hardfl.ips, and a bravery borderiit on cnthufiafm, are the charaderiftics of that people ; and their very name has now become a terror to the enemies of Great Britain. In the courfe of his adminiftratlon, alfo, the bill for regulating the militia, which had hitherto been oppoled by the principal men in power, was brought mto parliament by Colonel (now Lord) lovvnfhcnd. After a variety of alterations and amendments, in which the fupporters of the bill were obliged to acauiefce, or run the rifK of its ^cng thrown out altogether, it palTed the royal im^'-w^-w^wm ilfeidi OF GREAT BRITAIN. aflent. — The old miniftry were reftrained, by mo- tives oF fear, from oppofing a meafure, which they had always dreaded as the molt elldclual bar to arbitrary power ; and the new minilters, by thus arming the people for the internal defence ot the nation, difcovered their intention to exe- cute fome diftant fcrvice with the (landing army that required a powerful military force abroad. This pleafing profped of national felicity was fleeting and evanefcent. Though the abilities and difmtereftednefs of the new miniftry were ac- knowledged even by their enemies, though they were feconded and fupported by the bulk of the nation, yet there were other qualifications necef- fary to fupport themfelves in office, which, it muft be confelfed, they did not polfefs. As they had neither bargained for their places, nor delivered up their principles, they were determined to fup- port their integrity and independence ; and to con- fult the true intereft and profperity of the nation, even in oppofition to the prejudices of majefty it- iclf. Several propofitions, in which the intereft of his Majefty's eledoral dominions were nwc confulted than that of Great Britain, were op, pofed by Mr. Pitt and his adherents ; and this op- pofition was exaggerated by the aifociates of the old mmiftry, who ftiU hovered about the throne. The fpirit and freedom with which they debated every meafure, even in the prefence of their fo- vere.gn, was conflrued into a want of refped ; and their behaviour in parliament, in which th^y regarded themfelves, not as fcrvants to the crown but as reprefentatives of the people^, and guardians '757. EUROrB. 5« MILITARY MEMOIRS JST^ of their liberty and property, was made the pre- EUROPE, tence of an impeachment of their loyalty. The confequence of thefe infinuations was a peremptory difmiflion from their feveral offices ; and Mr Mr.Pittre.p,tt by his Majefty's exprefs command, refigned the feals on the 5th of April ; at a period when his wifdom, integrity, and firmnefs, were more neceifary than ever. As the politics of this period were complicated and myfterious, it will be neceffary, in order to form an idea of them, to delineate the charafters VJewof the J'^ ^'fT' P'"'^"' ""^^ ^^^^ ^^^^"^ ^« the di- difTerent region ot ftate affairs. They confifted of three P"'-- different fadions. The firft, highly refpedabie as to rank and fortune, poffelfed of a confiderable ihare of parliamentary intereft, and the greateft fway with the monied people, was compofed of thofe who had grown into place and power under the old miniftry. Their adulation and courtly compliance had likewife rendered them greatly refpeded by the King ; but in fome very material points, their weaknefs was confpicuous : they were deficient in popularity, and their political abilities were but indifferent — The fecond faftion, though fuperior in point of abilities, was poffelf' cd of lefs parliamentary interefl, and much more unpopular than the firft. They derived their power from their influence at one court, by means of a then powerful connedion ; but which only tended to make them lefs refpefted at the other court, and even added to their unpopularity The third party had l.ttle influence in parliament, and Ks at court; but they pofTcffed, in the higheft degree, the con- :, were more OF GREAT BRITAIN. ». /•I ** fidence and fupport of the people. The fliinW .717. abilities ot their leader, and his fteady adherence = to an upright difinterefted condufl, claimed vene- '"''°" ra^on even h-om his opponents—Thefe faaions dittered extremely in the general fcheme of their poht.cs. The two firft agreed in opinion, that the mcreafmg power of France was much to be dreaded , that it was abfolutely neceiTary to main- tain a balance of power ; and that this was to be done chiefly by keeping up a clofe connedion with the powers of the continent, by rfpoufm^ their quarrels, and even aflifting them witli troopf If required, fhis furnilhed an argument for a Handing army ; and, though they thought the navy Ihould by no means be negkacd, yet it ought only to be employed in fublerviency -to the continemal fyllem. In their opinions of conftltu- lonal liberty, they wer-- likewife lingular. Though ney pretended to be (launch friends to the liber- ties of the people, yet, as government muft be fupported, they looked upon it as juftifiable to lecure a majority in parliament, by creating nu- mcrous lucrative places and employments at th,r 1 pofal of t e crown; alledging, as a palliation of this mode of ruling, that the particular form of our government, and the general depravity of mank,„d, ,,„d„,, ^„^ ^^^^^ ^^^ exceptionabL method imprafticable. Thk third and popular party was aftuatcd by P mciples of a different nature. They viewed in! light vith the two former, and acquiefced in the neceffity of fetting bounds to it ; but they diffe ed 54 MILITARt MEMOIRS nil: widely in the means to be ufed for that purpofd, EUROPE. They were for making the military operations of Great Britain entirely fubfervient to our naval ftrength, as a more natural, fafer, and lefs ex- penfive plan of politics. Our fituation as an illand, faid they, points out to us a conduft different from that of other nations. The fea is our natural ele- ment ; and to quit that, and involve ourfelves in continental quarrels, is ading diametrically oppo- fite to our real interefts. The fuperiority of France lies entirely on the continent, and the at- tackir g her on that fide would be evidently dan- gerous, and like (to ufe a flrong though vulgar cxpreffion) taking a bull by the horns. Our go- vcrnment, they faid, flood in no need of fupport from a Handing army, which was ever dangerous to freedom j and that a well-trained militia would prove our beft protedion againfl an invafion. From a higher notion of human nature, they judged it poffible to influence the minds of men by nobler motives than that of intereft. A mi- niltry who governs uprightly, will never be oppofed by the people. The forced refignatiori of Mr. Pitt, contributed to add luflre to his charafter. The rcfentment of a monarch, however deftruftive in other coun- tries, in England has quite a different tffcQ:. The Qbjea of royal indignation, is ever the favourite of the people ; and, if he forfeits not the protedion of the laws, he has little to fear from the exalted fituation of his adverfary. — The Britifh nation, difmiffed minifters with the grcateft tokens of ap- ■ that purpofdi f operations of to our naval and lefs ex- )n as an ifland, different from ur natural ele- ^t ourfelves in etrically oppo- fuperiority of , and the at- evidently dan- hough vulgar ns. Our go- :ed of fupport ver dangerous militia would an invafion. nature, they linds of men -reft. A mi- er be oppofed t, contributed rcfentment of other coun* It effed. The e favourite of he protedion n the exalted ritifh nation, received the okenij of ap* «757- OF GREAT BRITAIN. probation. The moft opulent and refpedablc cor- poration., prefented them with their freedom, the ' highelt gitt, in the opinion of a Briton, that can be conferred.— The rcfentment againft the old miniftry, who had now refumed their places, was more violent than ever. Tne people could not be perfuaded, that the fame perfons who had funk the nation into ruin and dillrefs, could ever be the inftruments of her delivery and redemption. Numerous addreffes were prefented to the throne, foiiciting the r?Itoration of Mr. Pitt ; and his Ma- Mr.psttra, jtily, facrificing his private refentments to the HX*^''* good ot- his people, was gracioufly pleafed to re- deliver t'le fcals to Mr. Pitt, appointing him fecrcn tft.y of {late for the fouthern departmcntj on \ht Ji^c^ih of June. Trih unpopular party, hqwevcr, was not en- tirely excluded from a fharc in the adminiftration, Tlieir inflqcnce in the privy council, ?ind credit in the houfe of commons., vyferc ftill great, and fuf- ficient to thwart every meafure in which they did not partake. A coalition of parties therefore took place from negeffity, as the only prudent and falu- tary means of healing divifions, and afluaging the rage of fa^ion. Both parties receded a little from their former principles, which had been violently, pufhed in their feveral extremes. It was now pro- pofed to gratify the King, with affifting our allies on the continent in the method moft agreeable to our infular fituation, which is, by making diver- fions with our fleets ; and it was alfo agreed, that .. - ,..,,„i.^ aiLi wiciii wiiri lucn land-rorce anq money as our ftrength and finances could admit. I i9 MIliTARY AlfeMbiRS '^^^' ^ These domeftic diflenfions hapjitly coitipofed, tuaqpE. ^' became now abfblutely necelfary, to atdne for the paft lofles and difappoirltments, and to retrieve the credit of the Biidfh arms and councils, bj fomc fpirited and vigorous entferprifr, War had been declared in the courfe of the fummer by both na,; tions, and our hoftilitics could no longer be repre, fented as lawlefs invafiohs or piracies. As the firft undertaking was intended to facilitatfc our' military connexions and operations in Germany, it will more properly come after the account of the tranfadions in that country, At the opening of the campaign in i'l/^y, every thing appeared unfavourable for the King of Pruf- the^KiUJof ^^^' 1" tlie preceding fummer, procefs had^bech pfHffia, commenced againft him in the x\ulic council, and before the diet of the empire. The influence of a family in which the empire had fd long been hereditary, and the formidable confederacy againf]: him, over-awed thofe who wiflied to fupport him, and his enemies were happy at fo fair an oppor, tunity to reduce his power. He was condemned for contumacy; and it was notified to him, that he was put under the ban of the empire, and fallen from all the dignities and pofTeffions he held un- der it. The contingents of men and money oMered to be furnifhed by the circles of the empire to put this fentence in execution were, however, flowly colleaed.. — His vi£tory at Lowofchutz had been'*' attended with no other confequence than the fur- render of the pafs at Pima. The Auftrian army in RrvK/omio ^^n-tntn^J^Jl 1 Tl_! /~iL ^ . I _ ^ ju ,„^,,., ij,,„j vwimuauwt-U ijy X £ lUCC V^iiafiCS Ok l^orrain and M. Brown, amopited to Upwards of OF GREAT BRITAIN. A 100,030 men ; the Czarina fent 60,000 men, »757. under the command of jyi. Apraxin, affifted by ^"^ a ftrong fleet, to invade Ducai PrulFia , and the '"''°"*' Swedes, in hopes of recovering what they had loft in Pomerania, joined the fame confederacy, being ^idcd by 6ood troops of Mecklenbourg. In this perilous fituation, threatened on all fides, and apparently on the brink of deftrudion, the PruOian monarch had nothing to trufl to, for prefcrvation, but his own abiUties, and the fuperior valour and difcipline of his tioops. Far from be- ing daunted al the formidable confederacy againft him, he prepared for the conteft with a cool ra- pidity peculiar to himfelf. He diftinguiflied, be- tween great difficulties and impoffibilities, and be- ing never difcouraged by the former, has oftea fecm^d t9 execute the latter. He divided hij array mto fhrec bodies, which at the fam- time penetrated, by very different ways, into Bohemia; his maxim being to carry the war as far from home as poffible. The firft body was commanded by M. Sehwerin, and entered that kingdom from ^lielia, The fecond was under the Prince of Be- yern, who n^arched from Lufatia ; and the lalt was commanded by the King in perfon. As a prelude to the campaign, the Prince of Bevcrn, on the 2.11 .of April, having pofreffed himfelf of fome ftrong ports on the frontiers of Bohemia, marched to attack the Auftrian army ^mountmg to 20,000 ftrong, commanded by Count Konigfeg, and ported near Reichenberg. The RattJcof action hpCTan af Vi^lf U r. ^ . P Reirh.n. >ng. and contmued till eleven. The Aullrians were o t '5* MILITARY MUmOIRS ^57' Ieurops. King of Pruflia re- folvesto at tar-k the AuAriojit. Stratagem to divide tiieiriorcct Snocccdt. defeated and put to flight; and their lofs amount- ed to upwards of looo men killed and wounded, while that of the Pruflians did not exceed 150. The King of Piuffia, on receiving the news ol this vitlory, publifhed the account of it at the head of his army, by whom it was received with the loudeft acclamations of applaufe. — This advan- tage, at the beginning of the campaign, was pro- diiaive of the molt falutary confequences to his 3Pruflia!i Majefty. It facilitated his future opera* tions, ftruck a panic into his enemies, and fpirited Up his own troops, who were eager to be led on to the moft arduous enterprifts— The Pruflian jinnies Were now in fuch a fituation, that a junc- tion could be formed whenever neceffary. The intention of Frederic, was to draw the enemy to a general engagement, if poffible. They were fupe- rior to him in number, and were encamped in a fituation fo fortified by nature and art, as to be deemed almoft impregnable. Something therefore Has neceflary to be done in point of generalfliip, \vithout leaving all to the riik of the fword ; and his Majefty, ever vigilant and penetrating, with a fagacity that forefaw every thing, was readily fur- iiifhed with a ftratagem for this purpofe. To the furprife of every one, he marched towards Egra ; and the Auftrians, deceived by this movement, and im.agining that the King had undertaken fomc defign diftina from the objea of his other armies, detached a body of 20,000 men from their main army, to obferve his motions. Frederic, finding that this mancEvure had taken its full effed, made fo fudden and malterly a mcYcraent to the left, OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^^ that all communication between that detachment »757. and the main army of the Auftrians was cut off '"^ Elated by this advantage, he marched onwards] "***'** With his accuftomed rapidity, to Prague, where he joined the armies under the Prince of Bevern and M. Schwerin, who had advanced, with an almofl equal celerity, to meet him. The Auftrians, tho' amounting to 100,000 men, were fenfible of the a. bihty of their adverfary, and determined to aft with caution. Their commanders. Prince Charles of Lorrain and M. Brown, refolved not to march in queit oF the Pruffian monarch, but to wait hig united force in their camp, and to cover the ci'ty of Prague from infult. ' ^ This caution in the enemy, only ftlmulated the vivacity of the Pruffian monarch, whofe fortitude was always in proportion to the difficulties he had to encounter, and whofe refolutions were not ta- ken upon the danger, but the expediency of the aaion The hopes of future fuccefs depended on his defeating this fortified camp. Having thrown feveral bridges over the Moldaw, he paffed that mer, on the 6th of May, with 30,000 men, leaving the reft of the army under the command of the pnnce of Anhalt Deffau ; and being joined by the troops under M. Schwerin and the Prince ^, of Bevern he refolved to attack the enemy on -K the fame day Accordingly, he ordered his army "^'• to file off to the left, with an intention of flank! mg the enemy; which obliged M. Brown to wheel about to the right. The Pruffians continued the """ ^^'""6" « roaa io tuli ot defiies and mo- railes, that the infantry aad cavalry were forced 1757. MILITARY MEMOIR^ ^^^^ to feparate. Thei)- arcjour, far from being chcckiid f vnopi. *^ ^'^^f<= obftaclts, was greatly heightcnpd by them. They vied with each other, in paffing dpfilcs, ip polling mar/hes, in feizing the rifing grounds, ar^fi ^ in clearing ditches.T-The foot began the atfacjc too precipitately, an.d were at firft repulfed ; b}4t they immediately jrallied, and advanced with an E"'uV^ ^[^petuofity that was not to be refifted. M. Schwe- "*"'• rin, as he was advancing towards the enemy, wslb fuddenly flopped in his career by a morafs, which threatened tc difconcert the whole plan of opera- tions. Upon this, he immediately difmomited^ and, taking the ftandard ^f the regiment in his hand, boldly entered the morafs, exhorting his men to follow him. Infpired by the example of this great (Commander, now 82 years of age, the troops preff* cd forward, and abated not in their ardour tljl they had totally defeated the enemy, though thei^ ?)ravc general unfortunately fell at the fjrft pnfet, loaded with years and glory.— Jbc Auftri^n ca' valry flood but three charges, and then retired with great confufipnj the centre being at the fame time totally routed. The battle was bloody and obflinate, and both parties gave fignal examples of valour. Prince Henry of Pruffia and the Princp of Bevern performed wonders, making thcmfelye« mafters of two batteries ; and Prince Ferdinand of Brunfwick took the left wing of the Auftrians in flank, while the King fecured the paffagc of the Moldaw with his left, and a body of cavalry* Se Pmf/ "^^ ^^^ ^^^ Auftrians, yielding to fuperior abilities, r«ns/"" and the fate of war, were driven from the field of battle, and the l^ing of fruffia obtained a com* Ot GREAT BRtrAlW. plcte viaory. The Pruffians took, on this occa- fion, ten Itandards, and upwards of 4000 pri- foners, thirty of whom were officers of rank ; to- gether with 60 pieces of cannon, all the tents baggage, military cheft, and, in a Word, their" whole camp. The lofs on both fides was great, and each had the misfortune to lofe one of their beft generals; M. Schwann*, whofe fidelity, intrc- pidity, experience, and military prudence, had defervedly gained him the friendihip and confi.- dence of the Ruffian monarch ; and M. Brown who received a t^ound, which, from the chagrin' he fuffered, rather than from its ovVn nature proved mortal fhortly after.-~'rhc main body of ^ the Auflrian army fled towards Prague, and threx^ ; themfelves ititd that city p another party, to the amount of 10,000 men, retired towards Beriefcau Where they afterwards ^ffcmblcd under M. Pret' : uch. 6t '757- iuaori« M. Schwerin was born on tl>e .6tl. Odtobc. ii^. He ftudied .£ Leydcn. Roftock. and Gncfswade. The Ddke Chunks Leopold fcnt hini w 171a to thd King of Sweden, Chijrles XII. at Utnder. with whom he continued a year In 17^3, he had a rcg.ment given him i„ the ? ifr, ri'*' '""^' ^^ ""''""^ ^^'*'''''"' «""=d «* the pert of Field Marflial in 1740. He diftinguilhed himfelf at the battle of Mol- w.tz in 1741. In the campaign ,7^6, he gave great proofs of his abi- lities in the art of war. He was rather a little fiztd man. but had ho«. ever a martial look; Ibved the foldierS, and was very careful of them ?nd therefore much beloved by them. Jn all his expeditions he kne,^ how to combine the greateft bravery with the greatcft prudcnse He PA^ twice manitd, and ktt children of both ftxei. CHAP, I MILITARY MEMOIRS C H A P. V. King of Prujta forms the blockade of Prague De^ ptorable fttuaiion of the tnuabitants — Count Daun takes the command of the Atyirian nrmy-^Atm tacked by the Ki(% oj irufta^ whom he repulfss at KJin, fc=-^. DY the event of this battle, it was expeaed that tuRori. the Pruflians would invcft Prague ; which they immediately did, the King commanding on one fide, and Marlhal Keith on the other. In four days all communication from without was cut off, JJJ2««- the whole city being furroundcd with lints and entrenchments — ^The number of fore :s (hut up within the wallj, amounted to 50,000, befides a great many perfons of the firft rank, viz. Prince Charles of Lorrain, Marflial Brown, the Prineei of Saxony, the Prince of Modena, the Duke d*Aremberg, Count Lacy, and feveral others of great diftindion. It was generally imagin. cd, that this city would neceflarily fall a iacri. fice to the viaorious army, the numbers within ferving no other purpofe than to conlume the pro- vifions of a gairifon, then but indifferently fup^ plied. Immediate'y after the blockade was form- cd, the Pruffians took poffeffio " of Cjifcaberg, an eminence which commanded the town, on which the Auftrians had a ft. mg redoubt. The belieged made feveral vigorous, but ineffeaual attempts, to recover this poit, which was defended by the OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^^ Pruflians with the utmoft refolution In order to 1757. cafe the city of the multitude of forces cooped up ""^ ufelds within the walls, it was icfolvcd to attack '"*°" the I 'ruffian army in the night, with a body of twelve thoufand men, fuftaincd by all the grena- diers, volunteers, Pandours, and Hungarian in- fantry, and thus, if poffible, to open a way, fword in hand, through the camp of the befiegers. The PriiUians, having received intelligence of this defign by a .deferter, took proper mtafures for their reception, and in lefs than a quarter of an hour they were all under arms But not- v^ithftanding the Pruffians were warned of this at- tempt, it was condudc-d with fo much filencc, that nothing was dilcovcred before the Auftrians charged their advanced pofts. From their begin- The bcfi.,- ning the aitack on Marlhal Keith's camp and '^ '"'^'^'^ ■* the left wing of the Pruffian army, encamped on the Moldaw, it is probable the enemy intended to deftroy the I atteries that were raifmg, and to attack the bridges of communication which the Pruffians had thrown over tne Moldaw at Branick and Podaba, about a quarter of a Gen an mile above and below the city. The alarm i,.gan a- bout two o'clock, the enemy hoping to come un- expeftedly unon the miners; but in this they were difappo.nte< The piquet of the third battalion ofthcPruffiangua.ds, who were to fuftain the body whtch covered the works, was Huown into confufion at the firft fire from the enemy, owin^ to the^ darknefs of the night, which rendered it irnpoiiible to diitinguilh the Auftrian troops from their own. A lieutenant, who wa. detached witU n ^4 MILITARY MEMOIRS id J£7. a party to reconnoitre the enemy, endeavoured, by rvHOPB. lighting a fire, to difcover their difpofition. This had the effea of informing Captain Hodig, who ^ commanded the piquet, of their Htuation, who immediately attacked them on the flank, givin;? orders to his men to fire in platoons ; upon which the enemy fled with the greateft precipitation, be- ing Ignorant of the (trength of the piquet, as the ftoutmg of the PrufTian foldiers made them m.f. take It for a numerous body. Numbers deferted fome took fliclter in Prague, and many were forced into the river, and drowned ^A regiment of the enemy's horfe-grenadiers, at the time thi, attack began, fupported by the Hungarian infan, try, endeavoured to furprife a redoubt, under an mcefTant fire upon the whole front of the Pruf- fians J but were rcpulfed with confiderable lofs. Ihey renewed the attack three times, and were as often beat back, the PrufTians maintaining the poft with a firmnefs and refolution not to be de- fcnbed. On this occafion the battalion of Prince Ferdinand of Brunfwick fuffered greatly. At three in the morning, the Pruflians march, cd out of their camp to meet the enemy. Part of the army attacked a building called Red-houfe, at the bottom of a decliviry before Wellaftowitz. Ihe Pandours, who were in poirefTion of this houfe fired upon them incefTantly from all the doors and windows, but were at Jaft diflodged. For about two hours the Pruffian army were obliged to fuf- tain the fire of the enemy's whole cannon and jnufketry, which did mnrh pv^^„f;^r, tU£ 1 ruffians having abandone4 the Red.houfe, Ai I ^1_ -n.1 icngiil, or GREAT BRITAIN. •f 6wing to the continued fire which was kept uport 1757. it from the artillery of Prague, the Pandours again k'SI. took pofleflion of it ; and the reft of the enemy retired to the city, without in the leaft effcfting Auftrians their de(ign, leaving behind them many dead and **'""'""*• wounded, befides deferters. The Pruflians upon this occafion made a few prifoners, although they fuffered the lofs of feveral officers and private men. Prince Ferdinand, the King of Pruffia's youngeft brother, was flightly wounded in the face, and likewifc had a horfe (hot under him. Hitherto neither of the parties had received very confiderable damage, the operations of the Prullians being confined to a filent blockade, and thofe of the Auftrians to a few flight fallies, in which they were generally repulfed with lofs. But the Pruflian works being at length completed, and their heavy artillery arrived, they opened four batteries ereded on the banks of the Moldaw, and began to play furioufly on the city. In the fpace of twenty-four hours they threw in no lefs a t.rnble than, three hundred bombs, befides an infinite ^"'"''»«J- quantity of red-hot balls, which fet the city on fire '"'"'' in feveral places.— The King of Pruflla has on ' this occafion been cenfured for want of humanity and indeed the generals on both fides feem to have been aduated by the moft horrid barbarity. When the conflagration had iafted for three days and the inhabitants faw their city on the point of being reduced to a mafs of rubbifli, they in a - body petitioned the commander to hearken to terms ; but, Inilcad of granting their requeft, he turned out 1 2,000 perfons, the leaft ufcful in the xr 2 n If m 1 m i m m li m 18 m $a MILITARY MEMOIRS 2£; defence of the city. Thefe were again forced SUROPE. back by the Pruflians, which foon brought on a famine, and reduced both the garrifon and inhabi- iants to the neceflity of living on horfe.fleih, and even that was given out in a very fparing manner. Sif inhaw- ^" ^^'^ melancholy fituation, the inhabtants faw tants. "^ no end to their miferies, but by a fpeedy capitula- tion, which the commander, who faw himfelf at the head of a numerous, well-appointed, and dcf- perate army, was determined by no means to lif- ten to. Several refolute and well condufted faU lies were made, but without fuccefs, being always rendered fruitlefs by the vigilance and determined bravery of the Pruffians.* • " It is, no doubt, a thing worthy of remark, and will appear a fable to poncrity, that near 50,000 men, with a train f artillery, arms &c. flioiild fubmit to be (liut up for fix weeks, and reduced to extre- mity, by an army of equal force. That of the King did not certainly, at the end of May, exceed that of the Auftrians ; which will appear evident, if we confider how many men he had loft in the battle, by ficknefs, defertion, and the numberlefs detached corps. This army fmall as it was, formed a chain of ports, which extended many miles! and was moreover feparated by the Moldaw ; over which tlicy commu- nicated by two bridges only ; the one above, and the other below the town : fo that, in fart, the Auftrians, had they chofe to march out of the place, would have had no more than half the Prufllan army to contend with : why therefore they did not, no man that has the Icaft idea of militaiy affairs, can ever comprehend. A torrent carried one of the bndf;es away; yet did tliey fti'.l continue quiet, and let flip this fa- vourable opportunity, without makmgany attempt to go out. We have been very often on the ground about Prague, and mult own it is, and will he, a m-itter of wonder and aftoniihment, that no cffijrt was made to march out. Had they attacked the Pruftians, thus feparated by a great river, and divided into fo many fmall detachments, they could not fail in their attempt; they muft have deftroyed their armv. it ig no leCs furprizing, that fo great a general as the King of PrufP.a (hould think it pnfTiblc to reduce an army of 50,000 men, in f»uh an exten- five town as Prague, with one of equal force. The fupinenefs of the Auftrians juftified this atUitipt, and faved his army from iocviubl* OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^ i"»l In th:s fituation, when the Emprefs-Queen was »757» on the brink of rnin, her grand army difperfed, £^^ and flying in fmall parties, her princes and com- manders Ihut up in Prague, that capital on the point of furrendering, and the utmoft favour the garrifon could exped was being made prifoners of war, a general arofe, who feemed deftined by the hand of providence to mark the viciflitude of hu- man aifairs, and who in turn was to reduce his Pruffian Majefty to as bad a fituation, as that in which the Emprefs.queen at prefent found her- felf. Leopold Count Daun*, bred from his in- Count fancy in the camp, who had ferved under the Ses"th« greatcft generals, and particularly had fludied the ^""^■"^"'^ art ot war under the great KevenhuUer, was now iknanarmy. put at the head of the Auftrian army, on which deftruftion — ^ThecelebratedM. Belleifle, who knew Prague perfcftly well, had, in the preceding war, with ij.ooo men, defended it for many- months againft the Auftrians ; and, being at laft reduced to the great- cft extre-.nity, quitted it with ja.ooo men, and retired to Egra, with lafety and glory. This general wrote a letter, while the King was blockading that town, which I have feen ; wherein he fays, •« Jc " connois Prague, fi j'y etois, avec la moitie des troupes, que Ic'piince •• Charles y a aftuellement je detruirois I'armee Prudienne," Mijl. of the War in Germany, by a General Officer. • Leopold Count Daun was born in 1705. He was, in the begin- ning, a knight of Malta, and colonel of his father's regiment ; in 1736 lord of the bed-chamber ; in 1737 m 'or-general, and ferved again ft the Turks; in 1739 a •'cu^enant-general ; in 1740 he obtained a regi- ment ; in 1745 he was made a general of infantry; in 1748 a privy counfaior; in 1751 commandant of Vienna; in 1753 knight of the golden fleece; and in 17^4 a field-marfhal. He had, in the preceding war, fhewn no lefs bravery than prudence ; and was wounded in the bat- tles of Grotzka and Freidberg, in 1749. He formed the new exercife, and compofed the inftitutions for tiie new military academy. In 1745, having quitted the order of Malta, he married the countefs Fuchi, (» favourite of the Emprefs) by whom he hai many children. I 68 MILITARY MEMOIRS '757' depended the fate of the -ftuaops. empire. Born of a ho- ble family, and poffcfling the grcateft abilities, he owed not his preferment to fervile court policy, but rofe flowly and filcntly from the rank of a fubaltern, to that of commander in chief, by mere dint of fuperior merit. Arriving within a few miles -of the city of Prague, the day after the late dtfeat, he hahtd to collea the ftraggiing and dif. perfed parties of the Aullrian army. Frederic, apprehenfive that this army, which now amounted to above 40,000 men, and was continually upon the increafe, might not only difturb his operations before Prague, but like- wife, by fome mancevurc, give the Auftrians an opportunity to flip out of that place, judged it neceffary to check its farther progrefs, and pre- vent its becoming too formidable. For this pur- pofe he detached the Prince of Bevern, with a- bout 25,000 men, to attack the Auftrian army. Cautious, fubtle, and penetrating to a degree, Daun was too prudent to rifk an aftion in his then circumftances, which, if attended with a de- feat, would have put the finilhing hand to the ruin of the Emprefs-Queen. Befides, he confidered his troops as difpirited, funk with difgrace, and overcome with fatigue. He confidered, that fuch an army was by no means fit to cope with one fluihed with fuccefs, confident of vidory, and fighting under the eye of their fovereign j he therefore retired as the PrulTians advanced, en- camped at Kolin, and fortified himfelf ftrongly, where he was daily joined by numbers of recruits fcnt to his army. His fituation was fuch, that he OF GREAT BRITAIN. g. could not poilibly be attacked but at an evident dif- 1757. •dvanta-e; and by this means he divided the Pruf "= fian forces, one half of who.n was drawn oif trom "'"^'' Prague, in order to watch his def.gns. Here he harralfed the enemy, by cutting off their convoys- and re/lored, by degrees, ardour and confidence to his troops. He was no ftranger to the enter- prifing d.lpohtion of the Pruffian monarch, and the difcjhne and bravery of his army, and wifely provided agamft eve.y contingency. His fituation. he wa. fenfible, would prove irkfome and embar- l,^i'\r^ ?""^' "■"• "'^^'=fo'-<= he improved It to the bed advantage. army (1,11 mcreafed, and that it might foon be n ' a condition to raife the fiege, the place being ,t ,1 defended w,th the mod obftinate bravery, revived to diflodge the Aullrians from their ftrong poft at Kolm with one part of his army, while the other ft uld continue the blockade at Prague. Mar- flu Keith endeavoured, with all the reafons he could urge, to diffuade the King from fo hazard, ous an attempt, advifing rather to raife the fieje un.ed Pruffian force, or wait until he (hould get poffeffion of the city, or the Auftrians ^uit thel advantageous poff. By following e.ther of thefc ZZ\ ' "?'" '"'™'^S^ -'"''' accrue. By 'eiy T" ,"'"''" '"' ''"'■'' "•« Auftriaa by which means he muft lofe his advamageou. ['"nation, and hi, Majelly mi.ht then LTFT^ I "flia re- f* '' es toat« 70 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1Z£I' "PO" <^q"al terms But, notwithftandlng this EUROPE, prudent advice, the King perliftcd in his refolu. tion, and, on the 13th of June, left the camp be- fore Prague, attended by a few battalions and fquadrons, and joined the Prince of Bevern at Milkowitz, not doubting but that the i-eputation of his late vidories would ftrike a terror into the enemy's troops, and that in confequence they would become an cafy conqueft. The army of Count Daun now amounted to 60,000,* deeply entrenched, with a fine and numerous train of ar- feouTnS;,. ^^"^'■y- '^'^^ *'°"°"^^ of the hills were fecured by tion ot the difficult defiles, redoubts, and batteries, erefted army?^° o" the moft advantageous ports, and every accef. fible part of the camp fortified with lines and heavy pieces of battering cannon The perfonal bravery of the King of Pruffia, and his confidence in his troops, were never mo-e confpicuous than on this occafion. With a body of horfe and foot, not exceeding 32,000, he undertook to diflodge an army of 60,000, with all the advantages of fitua- tion and entrenchments above mentioned. The King's army, on the 18th of June, came in fight of the Auftrian camp, which he found fortified with the heavy cannon of Olmutz, and reinforced with feveral parties of troops from Mo- ravia and Auftria, which had joined them during his marrh from Prague. The Auftrians were drawn up in three lines, on the high grounds be- • Nothing can be more difficult, than to ascertain mth nrecifion the nmnbers of the G.rman armies; there being fcarce ar, author but what differs ,n this ref,^ft. We have endeavoured to follow thofe, who. from theu fituatjon, murt have had the bed iu/ormation. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 7« '757- BUROVX. Kolin. twccn Genlitz and St. John Baptift. Notwith- ilanding the difficulties the King's troops had to encounter, they marched up to the attack with the mod amazing firmnefs and intrepidity, amidfl an inceflant fire from the enemy's batteries, which fwept away multitudes. The aftion began about three o'clock in the afternoon, when the Pruflian infantry drove the Auftrians from two eminences fecured with heavy cannon ; but, immediately af* ter, in attacking a third eminence, they were ta- ken in flank by grape-lhot poured from the ene- my's batteries, and, after a mod horrid (laughter, thrown into diforder. The King, aiiimating his troops by his prefence, foon rallied them, and they returned to the charge, but without cffcd:» Battle of They were a fecond time repulfed. Prince Fer- dinand did every thing in the power of a great general, to retrieve the honour of the day, but to no purpofe. Seven times did he lea*:^ the infantry on to the attack, and as often were they beat back. — Every manoeuvre was put in praftice to gain a fettlemcnt in the Auftrian camp, and all were attended with the fame want of fuccefs. The Auftrian general, in all his operations, cautious, penetrating, and decifive, was every where pre- fcnt, and neglefted none of thofe nicer ftrokes on which the fate of a day frequently depends. In- tiuiatcly acquamied with the intrepid bravery and Ikilful condua of hk ^nillian Majctty, he expofed himfelf in every p-ri!oiJS fttuation, in order to in- fufe courage into his troops, who every where caught the fire of emulation from their gen<5ral, and behaved with the utmofl refolutioa. 7« 1757. iUXOPE. ■ PrufUans defeated by M. Daun. MILITARY MEMOIRS WHKf, the Prufflan i„fa„,ry had thus been re- pea ed y J.ove back, a moll furious attack Z made by the cavalry, headed by his Maieltv , perfon, upon the enemy's left wing, who receiv h"n w„h amaz,ng fortitude, and foon threw, hem fl,T'"rr-''' '^1. «hen the King faw no pof).b, ty of changing the fortune of the day, bu lofs follow,ng lofs, and misfortune fucceeding mi fo. une, he drew off the remains of his army i„ fuch good order as ,0 prevent a purfuit, and like We to proteft his artillery and baggage from ft. ^ng a prey to the enemy, and retreated to Nim. Leaving the command of this (battered armv v.to the Prmce of Bevetn-, although his Maiefty had been upon horfeback the whole day, wiS takmg any repofe, he fet ofF immediati ly Ir the camp before Prague, where he arrived n « mornmg , bringing the firft news of his own dc- J ^'"°"'!>' ?'"''" ''"'" °' "'"" "- ''""■ i» -J.! ■■ in .7« h. Jerved againft the French • !n mri,^ . i . "' ^733 "C lieutenant colonel; i io hVwa I^aJe . ,''"''"^" '''''''' '' the battle of Moi;itz.i,?-'reV!H ' ''' '"^ """"''^^ '^^ liad a corps confided to him while the Kin t r^ ''' ""^ The Auarians. Intending to\:l;t t. af XratUcTJhr^'t'^- arn^y under the command of Generals Lacy 1 andh T *!^ " wh.,.n he repnhed Teveral times, thon, .^ ' J.^^ "' t" 'o'"""' than he , as, and gave the King ti.e^o co^eTo hif J *'^" «™"'^>' doubt, be numbered among the firft generals of thk ^f '' "" OF GREAT BRITAIN. 7? 1-S7- EUROPI. feat. — He immediately gave orders for raifing the fiege, wiiich was executed witii fo much fecrecy and difpatch, that all his artillery, ammunition, and baggage, were fent off, and the army on their sie?c of march, before the garrifon knew any thing of the faS battle. In this adion, the iofs on both fides was very conriderai)le. The killed and wounded on the fide of the Pruffians, amounted to between 8000 and 9000 men. Count Daun received two flight wounds, and had a horfe fhot under him. As foon as the garrifon of Prague was informed of the retreat of the Pruflians, a confiderable body of Auflrians, under the command of Prince Charles of Lorraine, fallied out in purfuit ; but, when they came up with their rear, they found it too well covered to hazard an attack, and there- fore returned to Prague, leaving the Pruflian ar- my to purfue its route unmoleflcd. Thus ended the battle of Kolin, and fiege of Prague ; which, if we advert to confequences, may be reckoned the fevereft check his Pruilian I/lajefty received during the war.— By the Iofs Conreo„c„, of this battle, he found himfelf under the neceffity Z:^'^ of evacuating Bohemia, the conqueft of which '^''^'"• kingdom he was upon the eve of accomplifhing. His army too, befides the Iofs fuftained in killed and wourded, futfered greatly by ficknefs and defertion ; and the Aufirians, from their late fuc- cefs, and confequent junftion, were become too powerful for him to make head againd. He was therefore obliged to take refuge in Saxonv, until an opportunity (hould oiter of retrieving l.is mif- fortunes, which, great as they were, he bore I t BUKOPK, iliii MILITARY MEMOIRjS with a heroifm only natural to the moft exalted minds. The lofs of his mother too, at this time was a ftroke which he felt feverely ; cfpecially as It was faid, that grief for his bad fuccefs was a great mean of bafterinrr her death.* * The King of Prufl.a has iaia hin.fblf open to the imputation of ra(hnefs, and want of forefight, in the affair at Kolin. His principal error feems to have been, too much confidence in hi, own abilities, and too niuch contempt for tho(b of his enemies. The neccffity of his affair, fometimes prompted him to attempt things much above the means he hadtoaccomplKhthem; and therefore no wonder that many of hi, projefts though in appearance plaufible, wanted folidity, and confe, quently have not always been attended with fuccefs.-The conduft of ?r3 7 „ ^'" P"'^'^'^ ""'^°'-'"' '""1 ^°""ded upon reafonable prmaples. H.s motions were always changed according to the cir. ^rmi^eT' "7 «--d dilatory, now vigorous andaLe; d e p.rm. ted no b under of the enemy to pafs. of which he did not tak «dvantage.-After the banle. the King of Pruflia wrote the follow jng letter to Lord Mar(hal. ■Jl ^'r 'T/"^' grenadiers are an admirable corps ; one hu;>dred change ut ^o n; T"^"'^' '''""' "*""^'' '""^ ^""^ to the «o hold i The T' u f'\'''' '' "^"'^^^^ ^ •'^"ery. but could the Pruffr^;-1. ■ """■■ *" ^'^'^'^"«<=i". *ho had tl,e direction ; the Pruflian art.llery alone can difpute it w:M, him. My infantry were too few. Ail my cavalry were prefent, and idle fpe^ators, except a hZ They hndTh H """'' " "^"'"' "'^^^ ""* '^^^^^ ^^ ^''-^ loL '^'f^'-'^^ZC of a rinng ground, of intrench ments. and of prodigious art.l!e,y. Several of the regiments were repulfed bv their Wrr';^ ""^^ '"'''"''' ^°"'^-^- • tremble fo my Ir brothers: they are too brave: fortune turned her back on JmsZ fafl I ought to have had more infantry.-.uccefs, my dear lord ;ft„ m^: .iT'r ""''^"^^- '^^^^"^^-^-^ ^^ttalion, wte o A,ffic ent o d.flodge fixty thoufand men from an advantageous port Another time we will do better. What fav von of ,h;. i I , only the Mar.uis of Brandcnl.rgh o Vs r; 11T\''T^^ or GREAT BRITAIN. 3^^ CHAP. VI. French army advances towards Hanover—Army of obfervation, commanded bytheDuke of Cumberland^ retreats beyond the Wefer-^Is followed by the French army-^Battle of Hajlenbeck-^ Allied ar. my retreats to Stade—Purfued by the French Convention of Clojierfeven. Hitherto the war m Germany had been '^^7- co'^fined to particular fpots, the King of Pruffia's huIoTiu rapid conquefts having deterred the allies of the Emprefs-queen from taking the field j but the defeat at Kolin, ?nd the confcquent evacuation of Bohemia, entirely changed the face of affairs. The whole empire now became one vaft fcene of blood- Ined and devaftation. A powerful French army had been alTembled and were on full march to the frontiers of Hano-' ver, under the command of Marfhal D'Etrees. French ,r- His Bntannic Majefly then found it neceffary to SK«' raifc an army for the defence of his German do- mmions the command of which was given to William Duke of Cumberland, his Maielty's fe- cond fon, then a general in high efteem for his military talents. This army, under the name of the army of obfervation, was ordered to rendez- vous at Bielefeld ; and thither the generals, who ^^'ere appointed to command the different dlvifions, repaired, to receive their orders from the com- iPander m chief, who fet out from London on the 76 1757- MILITARY lEMOIRS EUROPE. allied ar- lancU 9th of April, and arrived at Hanover cm e i6th, from vhfnce he immediately went to join the army. It confifted of 26,000 Hanoverians, i2,coo Heflians, 6000 Brunlwickers, 3000 Pruflians, -v--^ IT «--e-Gothans, and ,coo Lunenturgers, thcDukeof amountmg m all to 50,000 effldive men, mil cun.bcr. provided with every neceflary, and eftecmed as brave troops as any in Germany. Notwithftand- ing the avowed purpofe of raifmg this army was for the purpofe of proteOing the elt^rate of Hanover, there was yet a lother point Tn view, which was the making a diverfion in favour of his Pruflian Majefty, and preventing the French troops from marching to the afliftance of the Em- prefs-Queen. It was generally imagined this force was fully fufficient to over-awe the French army, then in great want of provifions, efpecially forage' mfomuch that Marfhal D'Etrees, the Princes of Conde and la Marche Conti, princes of the blood, and all the officers without exception, were ob- liged to fend back their horfes for want of foraee to fubfift them. ^ While the Hanoverian army lay thus encamp, ed on the banks of the Wefer, and the French army at a very little diftance, feveral fk mifhcs happened, with various fucctfs ; but none of any confequence to be particularly taken notice of. It was expeded, as the French army was greatly m want of provifions, that they would ilram every point to endeavour to pafs the Wtfer, and fo get footing in a country which had for a long time been unvifited by armies, and was therefore abounding in plenty. Of this the Ha- OF GREAT BRITAIN. •n novenan general could not be fuppofed ignorant, .757. nndu wa. h,s bulin, ., in a Ipecial manner - .t".ard againft „; but, r,„„ „|,^, ^ > e«o„. unknown, tijis wn ,,,„ ,„„ _ the , j,h of June, .n the afternoon, the Duke. havmg rece,v.d .melligence that the enemy had fent o a ^ ge body of troop. ,0 Burgho.Ie o„ h.s r^ht, he unmediately ordered the tents ,0 be ftruck, and the army to march that evening to Hervorde.. While on their march, abou'the begmmng of the nig, ,he va,.-guard of he French came up with the rear-guard of the allies comn,anded by Major-General Einfiedel, .tta ked hem br,! ^% ■^7 ^ o / -^ Photographic Sciences Corporation # t ^ ^> :\ V ^\^ \ .«>*i^ ■^ O^ %^ ^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) B72-4S03 *' ■^^■■KJ ^. f/u 78 '757 lU&OPX. Hanover laid under contribu- tion. MILITARY MEMOIRS whole French army was encamped in the cIcgw torate of Hanover. I'he French general imme- diately detached a part of his army, under the command of Lieutenant-Generals Broglio and Che- vert, againft Minden ; and another under the command of the Marquis D'Auvel, againft Emb- den, a fea-port belonging to the King of Pruffia, and the only one vvhich he had. Both thefe places, though of great importance, were fuffered to fall into the enemy's hand with fcarce the fhew of refiftance, and the inhabitants obliged to tstke an oath of allegiance to the French King. Marflial D'Etrees then laid part of the eledorate of Hano- ver under contribution ; and on the 24th of July, the whole Freijch army marched in three columns towards the village of Latford, then occupied by the Hanoverian Major- General Furftenberg, who, as foon as the French appeared direding their march that way, had been reinforced by a body of troops under the command of Lieutenant- General Spore- ken. Notwi^hP^^anding which, it was judged im- pradicable to defend that poft ; and therefore it was abandoned, and the troops retired to the main army. — The French immediately made two attacks on the allied army, neither of which, tho* conduded with great bravery, proved fuccefsful. — Thus repulfed, they encamped upon the heights of Latford, diredly oppofite to the Duke of Cum- berland's out-polts, feemingly refolved to attack the allies as foon as their troops got a little repofe. — ^This induced his Royal Highnefs, who did not think his fituation a very eligible one for giving battle, to change it for one more advantageous. OF GREAT BRITAIN. V9 »757- xu&ort This he accordingly effeaed, by drawing up his army on the eminences between the Wefer and the woods ; with the village of Haftenbcck in hia front, on his right the Hamelen river, and on his left the wood, where he likewife ereded u con- fiderable battery. He then called in all his out- pofls, and the army lay upon their arms, expeft- ing the French to make an attack. In this fituation they were not long in fufpencc. On the morning of the 25th, the French army was feen advancing in columns, and immediately began a brilk cannonade, which continued all day, and galled the allies very fevercly, their artillery being in no degree equal to that of the French, r— The French general made ufe of a great many feints and manoeuvres, which entirely difconcerted the allies, not knowing where the attack was in- The zim tended to be made. Right, left, and center, were SrtJd alternately threatened, and the troops were again ^y"*"* obliged to lie all night on their arms. The battery ^""'''' at the end of tl-.c wood was repaired, and fup- ported by four ba'ctalions of grenadiers, command- ed by Major-General Hardenberg. A battalion of grenadiers, with two field-pieces, was alfo ordered to reinforce Count Schulenberg, who commanded on the left of this battery ; and a new battery of twelve and fix pounders was ereded behind the village of Haftenbeck. Next day, as foon as it was light, upon rc- connoitering the enemy, their army was obferved to lie in the fame pofition as the day before. A- bout five o'clock, a very briik cannonading began againft the battery behind the village, which con* & I<» MILITARY MEMOIRS beck. W- tlnucd above fix hours, and was fupported with moft. firmncfs and rcfolutiqn by the Hcflian infa^try and cavalry, who during that time never once gave way nor were put intq confufion. About three hourj ?ater, the firing pf fmall arms began on ?he left of the allied j^rmy, which in a fhort time greatly in- creafed, and the left wing feemcd about to give way. Upon this, his Royaj Highnefs detached ^rcc Hanoverian battalioi^s, anc^ fvi^ fqu?»drons. round the wood by Aferdc, to its affiftance, who immediately charging fome advanced fquadrons of rtic wray, drovp them bgci; tp their main army, i^c great number of the enemy that appeared in the wood, and marching round that fide, made i^eti. of the grenadiers ftationcd to fupport the batter, Men. there, s^pprehenfive of being furrounded, and cu| Pff from the army. Major-General H^rdenbers therefore thought it proper to draw them off to^ wards the left, leaving the battery to fall into the hMids of the enemy, who immcduely took pof, feffion pf ,t without oppofition. On tjiis occafion the hereditary Prince of Brunfwick behaved with remark^Dlc bravery; for, ^t the head of the Wol, tenbuttle guards, and a battalion of Hanoverians, ^e charged, with fixed bayonets, a fuperior num, bcr of the enemy in poffcffipn of the battery, and retook ,t J but the trench being pofted on an eminence which flanked this battery, it was fooa abandoned. The Dqke of Cumberland, at la^, finding thf. enemy had got poffelEon of feveral of th^ allied army's moft advantageous pofts, and, from the mftf IPnty of his artUlery, th^t there was no po|; I br OREAt BRif Aiiii I tt febility of diflodging them, ordered a retreat, which \*ras effeded in tolerable order, the French smifc general not chufing to quit hit advantageous poCi'> tion for the the allied army was undoubtedly worfted, but their lofs was but iricdrtfiderable J for, altho* the cannonading and (kirmifliing continued three days, it amounted only to about 1400 killed, wounded, and prifoners, and a few pieces of cannon which fell into the hands of the enemy.-aiThe French acknowledged to have loft 1 500 ttien in killed and wounded. The confequericcs of this adion were riot more honourable and glorious to the French, than dif. graceful and humiliating to the Duk • of Cumber* land. He retired with his army, firft to Hamclcn ; in D„ke ot which, being a fortified town* he left a garrifon j £jj^![* and afterwards to Nic.iburg. The archircs and '"f** ^ moft valuable effects of Hanover had bcett remov- French on cd, for fccurity, to Stade j in order to prefcrlrc a *'^" tommunication with which, and likeWife to to?^ Bremen and Verden, his Royai Highnefs removod to Hoya, in the neighbourhood of which town he encamped.— -The French army immediately attacked Hamelcn, and foon obliged the garri- fon to capitulate* In this town they found fixty brafs cannon, and fcveral mortars, with forty ovens, and great quantities of ammunition and provifions. A great many fick and wounded^ whom the Duke had left here in his retreat, wwc Made prifoners, not being included in the capitu* lation* mum^ ea MILttARV MEMOIRS ^£7; About this time, by fome court-manoeuvre of iUROPE. Madame de Pompadour, by whom the councila of the French monarch were entirely guided ftpSd" ^^'^^^ D'Etrecs was removed from the com! deR- h?' "^^"^' ^^'"^ fuperfeded by the Duke dc Richlieu*, ' "^ «="• who had been on this occafion created a Mar- (hal of France. Though greatly fuperior to Mar- fhal D'Etrees, in the charms of perfon, and the refined profeflion of a courtier, he was by no means capable of vying with him in the nobler exploits of the field, and the more rugged fer'ice of the camp,— The courtiers of Lewis XV. pre- tended to find fault with the late commander, for not having, long before this time, conquered the whole eledorate of Hanover, and marched as far as Magdeburg, in Upper Saxony ; and the oftiers . for putting this difgrace upon him, were iffued^juft about the very time he gained the battle of Haften- beck — Such at this time w?«5 the confidence of the French court, that it thought the army had no- thmg further to do than to fee and conquer. The Duke de Richlieu, havincr taken upon himfelf the comn.and, immediai^' detached a body of 4000 men, to lay the whole cledtrate of • a Yoy know the Due de Richlieu, now tnarftal, &c. &c- Mf what means ?-Not by the purity of his charafter, the depth of Ms knowledge, or any uncommon penetration or fagacity. Wortlen alone formed and raifed him. The Dutchefs of Buij.ady took a fancy to him, and had him before he was fixteen years old ; this put him in fa- vour among the^J.^« monJe : and the late regent's eldeft daughter, «ow Madam dc Modene. took him next, and was near m.rryin/him: Thefe «rly conneftions with women of the firft diftin^ion, gave him thofe manners, graces and addreft, ^vhich yon fee he has ; and which I can am,re you, .s all he has ; for. flrip him of .hem. and he wiU b. •ac of the pooreft men in E\xioft,"_CkJlcrJitld'i Uturs, OF OHEAT BRITAIN. . 83 Hanover,, as well as the territories of the Duke »757. of Wolfenbuttle, under contribution, which they e^ did with the utmoft fevcrity. in particular, Got- Hanover tingen was commanded to furnifli, within a limited io^nS' time, and upon pain of military execution., ^ooo *>" ^J *^' I J r 1 • 1 . * ^*-'s-»v* French ar« pounds of white bread, 2000 bufhels of oats, 100 "y- loads of hay, and other provifions, which was more I than could be found in the place. The whole I cledorate being in the hands of the enemy, the I Duke de Chevreufe was appointed governor of the I city of Hanover, and a detachment of 2000 men fent under his command to take pofTcffion of it. —Immediately upon his arrival, the Hanoverian garrifon delivered up their arms, on condition of being allowed to retire whither they pleafed. At the fame time, a part of the French -rmy was ^ fent, under the command of M. de Contades agamft the principality of Caffel, which they foon made themfelves mailers of without oppofition the magiftrates of CaiTel delivering up the keys of their city as foon as the French army appeared before it, and the mafter of the horfe of that prince promifing to fupply them with every thinff the country could afford. ^ The Duke of Cumberland, who had remained in his camp near Hoya, from the ,ft to the 24th ^ ' ot Auguft, hiaftive and unmolefted j having re- ceived intelligence, that a large body of French troops had paired the Alter, upon two bridges vluch they had laid over in the night, immedi. atdy ordered the army to march to Haufen, his lett wing being too much expofed in his former polition. The French army continued advancing MILITARY MEMOlItJJ »757- finite of Cumber- land takec fcfugt un- 4tr the can Bonof Stade. 8B»renden to the French ar« my. as the Duke retired, which obliged him agam to change his fituation ; and he now took poll be. tween Ottcrlbcrg and Rothenburg, where it wai expeded he would make a ftand, as it was a poll naturaUy ftrong, and cafily defended But an unaccountable fatality feemed to prefide over all his meafures : For the French army, having ta* ken poffeflion of Verdcn and Bremen without any tcfif:tnce, endeavoured to feize upon all the ports *ound him ; of which as foon as the Duke was informed, and thjlt his communication with Stade was in danger of being cut off, he again decamp. ed, and abandoned the ftrong poft of Rothenburg. On the ift of September, he encamped at Selfm. gen ; bm the French army appearing in his rear, he was at laft obliged, with the troops under his command^ to take refuge under the cannon of Stade — ^Here hemmed in by the enemy on aH fides, in a correr where it was impoffiblc to ad, and equally fo to retreat, and without any con. ccivable means of providing hrs army with fub* fiftence, he was obliged to have recourfe to the mediation of the Count de Lynar, his Danifli Majefty's minifter; and, on the 8th of September, figncd the ever-memoraWe convention of Clofter- feven* by which the whole Hanoverian artny un. der his command laid down their arms, and wer« fcnt into quarters of cantonmentj as prifoners of ■war at large.*— -Thus ended the operations of the army of obfervation ! The pernicious confequcnces df this conTcntion were feverely felt. The King of Pruffia was dc jprivcd of that aid which he fo much wanted, anl OF GREAT BRITAIN; Jiad » right to cxpca; and the French army, now at fuU hoerty, and deliyered from aU hoftilitics in thu quarter, was preparing to atuck that mo. narcha dominion., which were io no colulition ta pppofe them. Tm adulatory annali of the times have en. 4eavoured tr throw a veil over the mifcondu«a of tke Duke of Cumberland in thi, eampaign.. U », however, glaring and obvioua. The littk ' mtoary reputation he poffcffed, was acquired (how juftly we (hall not Cy) by quelling an infurrefiiol Th^:;? 1 "I-" ^^""'^ ^""* dominions.^ f. J^r « !. "•^r "'""'^' °f '"«<» veteran., he ddeomBted, with an unneceffary flaughter a« undJciplined, half-armed rabble This ,ai« «as mag„m«i into a prodigy of valour, anS lv« dignified with the title of Hero, and DelU verer of h„ eountry. But, ftould we even a^w tim the ntle of Conqueror in this affair, it cannoT ,t, r ^v*"" !'■" ^ ^''*''«' "•« "obleft part rf Prouo of hi. rmk, highly fufceptible of flat- falmary advice of the generals under himj and, at •he bcg,m„„g of (his campaign, allowed the Fr™<^ „. _ .0 take every advantage, while he remainer b -^^^ tt Frch"'°''"'' ="' '"''^'^^- The pern^ttiJgiiSr"" Mu-der. But evea then, and after the defeat »i I »757- ftuaoPE. MILITARY MEMOIRS at Haftcnbeck, what profpcd could he have in re. treating along the banks of that river? He might, with the greateft facility, have retired, by the way of Halberftadt, to Magdeburg, where, after a march of loo miles, his army would have been in a place of fafety. Inftead of following this plan, he marched 150 miles, fucceffively retreat- ing from Hamelen to Nienberg, Hoya, Rothen- burg, Selfingen, and, at laft, to Stade, where he was fo cooped up as *o be incapable of extri. eating himfelf otherwife than by this (hameful con- vention.— His operations in Germany being now at an end, he fet off for England, where he arriv- cd about, the middle of Oaober, and foon ai'ter refigned all his military offices ; retiring, hke an. other Cincinnatus, from the hurry and buftle of war, if not with fo great glory, at leaft with a better fortune, and to a better farm. But while we reprobate his cruelty, and defpifc his abilities as a general, juftice and impartiality oblige us to acknowledge that his condud in pri- vate life was highly praife-worthy. He was the patron of friendlefs merit, and alleviated, with a diffufive liberality, the diftrelfes of the poor and the unfortunate. CHAP. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 9r CHAP. VII. Expedition againji Rochfort^Fort on the ijle of Ala dcmolijhed-^lnaaivity of the Britijh commanders — Return of the fleet to England, Here, for a little while, we (hall leave the ]^ King of Pruffia in the molt dangerous fituation ; eu.ofe, and take a view of an enterprife which was con- certed in England, and of which the principal motive was to relieve him from his prefent cm, barralfed condition. The French had, at this time, in a manner evacuated their own country, to fall upon Ger- many with their whole force. Exhaufted of troops the fervice greatly exceeded the few that were left ; and fo vigorous an exertion on the conti- nental fide, had rendered a proper attention to the maritime parts impraaicable—The Englifh a„ cxpcdj- mimftry, well informed of this circumflance, fet IKfof on toot an expeaition, to winch this fituation of ^'""«- affairs m France was particularly favourable. To make a diverfion in favour of the King of Pruffia, and at the fame time to give an effedual blow to the marine of France, were the objev,th harlots, undraw his curtains, and repeat the fame mefTage. Then take your courfe to Sir Charles Frederick, a.d aflure him. that if his M-jertys orders are not obeyed, thefe ftall be the laft w^ich he .ha receive from me •_!„ confequence of thefe commands, Mr. Wood proceeded to Whhe's. and told his errand to the firft lord of the ad- xmra y ; who mfifted that the fecretary of ftate was out of his fences .nd that .. was impofllble to comply with his wifhe, : «. Howevlr S «oft to fatisfy l»m." From thence he went to the commander in chief ' Pf the forces and delivered the fame meflige. He alfo faid. that it wa, animpraaicab ebufinefs : " and the fecretary knows it. (added th old lord ; neverthelefs he is in the right to make us do what we can and ' rtral I'T"'/ '°' '"'"'" ''""' ^^" '^ ^"-•" The fXor ^>..d, 5»ftcr fomp hnle confid.ratio,, he begao to thii,k that the ord^r OF GREAT BRITAIN. t envious malignity, •t men — Certain it ttendants of all Mr. aps his colleagues in [encc.— -The follow^ i marks the ch? \k' "le fecret expeditions lers to the different ice departments, ta f (hips, and a pro* to have them all in ed an anfWer from y of a cumpliance hour, he fent im« crms of the higheft ignorance or negli- ing commands :— , ) to l,ord Anfbn ; y, he is not to be )ufe, and tell him crnmfnt which he dly impeach him. hould be bolflered le meflage. Thet» him, that if his jft which he (hall ands, Mr. Wood ft lord of the ad- >ut of his fenfes, : " However, he I will do my ut- nmandcr in chief faid, that it was :, (added the old hat we can ; and ' The flirveyor 'itt's refolution ; 1. that the ordfr* 89 '757. ivar were ready early in the month of Auguft, they did not fail from Spithcad till the 8th of ~"^ September. Pity it is, that the defign? of the greateft geniufcs are liable to be fruflratcd by fuch Fleet fair, contemptible and infignificant beings This for- h«l^P*** midable armament confifted of fixteen fliips of the line, feven frigates, two bomb-ketches, two fire- fhips, two buflcs,* and fifty-five tranfports ; on board of which were ten regiments of foot, two might be completed wuinn tne ltn,e pie.'cribcd. In (hort. the army, navy, ordnance, military (lores, &c. in fpite of impoflibilities, were all ready on the day appointed. Raid. ift 3d ^ ■"iz. Guns. 100 90 u 80 80 M 74 64 60 6th Frigate i8 34 a8 16 14 Bomb 8 Firefhip Bufs 6 Hof. fliip %% Mm. Ships. 870 Royal George 780 Ramiilies (Adm. Kawke') 770 Neptune 7JO Namur 770 Royal William 700 Baifleur 666 Princefs Amelia 700 Magnanime 700 Torbay 600 Dublin 5W Burford joo Alcidc 4*0 America 4»o Achilles 4»0 Medway 4ao Dunkirk 9»o Southamptort acx3 Coventry , 130 Cormorant 110 Poftilion 120 Beaver 80 Pelican 80 Efcort 60 Fircdrake 60 Infernal 4i Pluto 45 Proferpine 45 Canterbury 45 Medway 100 Thetis Hunter cutter Commanders. Matt. Buckle James Hobbs James Galbraith Peter Dennis Witt. Taylor Samuel Graves Stephen Colby Hon. R. Howe Hon. A. KepprI Geo. B. Rodney James Young iames Douglas Ion. John Byron H.L. Barringtod Hon. Ch. Proby Robert Digby J. Oilchrift Carr. Scrope Benj, Clive William Cooper Edw. Gafcoigne James O'HarA Charles Inglis Owen Edwards Jas. M'Kenzie John Lindfay Francis Banks Tho. Lamprlere Charles Lucas John Moutray flee\''w^2'h*'''■'^'^f ''' ''"'"'^''' that th.s was the fineft Med r ^ n "r" ^"'^^' °^ '"''''^' "^ '"^ '«»»d» that ev.^ i-iiled from the Britilh nation. 90 1757. MILITARY MEMOIRS • UROFE. regiments of marines, fixty light horfe, and a for- midab e train of artillery. Sir Edward Hawke. with tlie Admirals Knowles and Broderic, com- manded the fle.t ; and Sir John Mordaunt, with the Generals Conway and Cornwallis, commanded the army. The deftination of this armament was kept a profound fecret, and puz.led the penetration cf the mod fhrewd politicians; but an univerfal fpirit w,^ diffufed among the troops, to whom it was lufficient to know they were going againft the ti::! T'^'y- ^" '^'^ ^3^, about eight in the morning toaft. the van of the fleet flood towards the Ifle of Aix which lies in the mouth of the river leading up to Rochfort ; the reft of the fhips ancl.oring at a- bout two leagues diftance from the ifland. Cap- tarn Howe in the Magnanime led the van. /Sout noon, the French fired at him from their fort • but did linle execution. He continued his courfe with the grcateft compofure, without firing a fingle gun ; till having gained the length of the fort h'^ bore down, and dropped his anchors as clofe to the walls as the fli.p could come. He then began to return their falutations ; and fo incelTant was his fire, that m lefs than a minute his fhip feemed one continued blaze. The fort, unable to with- Itand fo dreadful a cannonade, furrendered in lefs than an hour ; and part of the land-forces were put cri fhore, to take polTeffion of the ifland.* .^lZ"!;;f r"r''"' '''^ "^''"■"■^ orciersaEai„ildru„ke„n.f.. both loldiers and fa.lors got exceedingly intoxicated on this occafion TU OF GREAT BRITAIN. EUROPE. This firft conqueft, however unimportant, was confidered as an omen of further fuccefs. It rjave fpints to the whole fleet; and had the troops been landed that night, or even next morning, there was good reafon to fuppofe, that every thin^ would have fucceeded that could have been ex peaed from fuch a force. But, as if it had been intended to give the enemy time to recoiled themfelves, and gather their forces together, eight days were fuffered to elapfe fince the fleet had been feen hovering off the French coafl ; and the greate I part of the time was fpenc in holding counals of war, and, founding along the fliore. I HE day after the taking of the little ifland of Aix, Sir Edward Hawke fent Admiral Broderic With Captains Dennis, Douglas, and Buckle, to reconnoitre and found the coaft, and to fix upon a proper place to land the troops which were in- tended to aa againft Rochfort. Thefe gentlemen reported, that there were two places at which the roops might be conveniemiy landed ; and that there was a Ismail fort at one of thefe places", but w.ich according to the opinion of Colonel Wolfe, who Lad previoufly reconnoitred it, might be eafily filenced bv a findp (l.m t r of tLf. r. . u ^ P" ^" confequence Procnnu ot thele reports, the commanders in ch-f feem^ri "r^'°" "^ etermined to proceed ; but were fl glred „ "^-- their refolution, by the information of f fp" "' 1 rc.,lute deliberation, and inadive caution, took a'd int 7'f '""'^'''''^ ^"^ ^^-S refo/ution ; and inftead of Drocerdino- uy^r^pA-.^.l. .. ^. ' -. "Mneutaiciy lo action^ 9r the time was fpent in talking abo ut It. The rcfuU 9» MILITARY MEMOIRS W- of this long deliberation was. That an attempt EUROPE. "P"" Rochiort was neither advifeable nor pradi. cable — Another council of war, however, com- pofed of the fame members, being foon after call. ed, they unanimoufly refolved, That it was ad- vifeable to land the troops ! IZZr Accordingly, on the 28th of September, difcnibark. orders were given to the troops to be ready to difembark from the tranfports at twelve o'clock at night. The difficulty attending the execution of thefe orders, was obvious to the mod unobferving foldier in the fleet. The fhips were at leaft four miles from the place where they intended to land; which was now, as may naturally be fuppofed^ in a more prepared order to receive them ; and two diftina encampments were faid to be obferved at a little diftance from the fliore. Notwithftand* ing thofe obftacles, and though the landing, both , as to the time and manner, bore great refem- blance to a forlorn hope, there appeared not the leaft fign of fear among the troops ; but, on the contrary, things were carried on with fo much a. lertnefs and difpatch, that the boats were filled at leaft an hour before the time appointed. The night was cold and boifterous ; and the boats, crowded full of men, remained beating againft the fides of the veffels, for the fpace of four hours; at the expiration of which, the troops Eftips ^''^""^ ordered to return to their refpedive fhips. • — Sir Edward Hawke declared, that he could not be anfwerable for the fafety of his Majefty's fhips, if they continued much longer on the coaft at that feaibn of the year. The two following days EUROPE, tain. OF GREAT BRITAIN. were fpent in blowing up the fortifications on the ifland of Aix; and, on the ift of Odober, the fleet, with the army on board, made the bed of their way home, where they all arrived fafc on ^^^^l^ln. the 6th day of the fame month. * *"'" • His Majefty's inltrudtions to air John Mordaunt are curious, and well explain the intention of this expedition. " George, R,^ 17?, You (hall immediately, upon the receipt of thefe inftrudion, re- pair to the ine of Wight, where we have appointed .hip, fZ 'v "j you, and the forces under your command, to the coaft of France- and fo foon as the aid forces /hall be embarked, you (hall according; pro.' cecd. without lo(s of time, under convoy of a fquadron of ZrLTo, ,v,ar. to e commanded by our trufty and well-beloved Sir EdwaS Hawke, knight of the Bath, admiral of the blue fquadron of our flee ^ «hom .ve have appomted commander in chief of our (hips to be m! P oyed in tins expedition ; the fuid admiral, or the commander in ch^f o our raid (hips for the time bei«g, being in(huacd to ..-.^...,,:;h you and to be .^Ang and ajjljl.ng in all fuch enterprifes. as by tl fc our inftniaions. you Ihall be diredled to undertake for .ur fe v c'e ' %d, Whereas we have determined, with the blefline of Cn^ ♦ profecute the juft war in which we are engaged a.ainnh.F u king, with the utmoft vigour ; and its being Ig f, expedie anTof prgent nece(nty. to make fome expedition, thaf m'ay Se Tdive fl make fome e.e^ual impreHlon^o. the'^;:Ltr:hict;'dri^: •^d (baking the credit of their public loans, impairing the (Irennh an J re o„rces ot their navy, as well as difconcerting.' a„d in partSL ' their dangerous and extenf.ve operations of war. may refledt luftre of our arms, and add life and rtrength to the comm'on cJufJ ani ! ere^ can fo fpeedily and e(rcftually annoy and diflrefs France ,s a fuc cefsful enterprize againft Rochfort : our will and pleaA.re is' Lt voa do attempt, as> «, ,> /,,// i, f,„„, ^^^.^J ^ J' -' ^^^ V- forces under your command, on the French coaft. at ^ n a Ro 1^ Z^Z:::t:'::i:^''^^'^^ - the «tmo«cf your p„wer. all and exert fi,o(,"n7 ""'a^'^"' """ "'^'"S' ^"^t liiall be found there. EUROPE, MILITARY MEMOIRS Such was the conclufion of the Rochfort ex- pedition ; which, for a time, difpirited the nation in proportion to the fanguine hope it had raifed. When the mighty Armada firft fpread its fails, it 3'/, After the attempt on Rochfoit (hall either have fucceeded or failed ; and in cafe the circumftances of our forces and fleet Ihall, with profpeftoffuccefs, fWl admit of further operations, you are neKt to confider Port L'Orient and Bourdeaujt, as the moft important objefls of our arms, on the coaft of France : and oMr will and plrafure is, that you do proceed fuccenively to an attempt on both, or either of hofo places, as (hall be judged prafticable; or on any other place that ihall be thought moft advifeable, from Bourdeaux homeward to Havre, in order to carry and fpread, with as much rapidity as may be, a warm alarm along the maritime provinces of France. Ath, In ca(i, by the hkfling of God upon our arms, you Hisll make yourfelf maftcr of any place on the coaft of France, our will and' plea- sure ,s, that you do not keep pofre(non thereof; but that, after de- inohihing and deftroying, as far as may be, all works, defences, ma- gazines, arfenals, (hipping, and naval ftores, you do proceed, fuccef- fively on the ulterior part of this expedition, according as ary of thm Jhall be judged advifeable, and may be performed within fuch time as fhall be confiftent with your return with the troops under your com- mand, fo as to be in England at or about, or as near as may be, the latter end of September, unlefs the circumftances of our forces and fleet (hall necefTarily require their return fooner ; and you are to land the troops at Portfmouth, or fuch other of our ports as the exigency of the cafe may fuggeft. Sth, Whereas it is necefTary, that, upon certain occafions, you (hould have the artiftance of a council of war, we have thought fit to appoint fuch a council, whicii (hall confift of four of our princinal land-office.s and of an equal number of our principal fea-cnmmanders, including the commanders in chief of our land and fta-forces, (except in cafes hap- penmg at land, relatiiig to the carrying on any military operations to be perlormed by our land-forces only ; in which cafes you may call , council of war, confining of fuch officers of our land-forces as you Ihall think proper) ; and all fuch land and fea-officers, in the feveral cafes before rtientioned, are hereby refpeftively directed, from time to time, to be aiding and afiirting with their advice, fo often as they fl.aJl be called together by you, or by the commander in chief of our iquadron for that purpofe ; and in all fuch councils of war, when aflembled, th? majority of voices fliall determine the refol"^;""' ♦I-!-"'- ---> =,- -'■- tn^joices (hall happen to be equal, the prcfident ftiall hare the caftinj EUKOPi. OF GREAT BRITAIN. carried with it fuch an air of conqueft, and fo elevated the minds of thofe who wiihcd well to their country, that its return, without effeding any thing but the demolition of the little fort of Aix, appeared fo much below their conception, they could compare it to nothing but the moun! tain in labour which brought forth a moufe. The clamour of the nation in general was fo great, as Public dif. to brmg the commander in chief of the land- *'°"*"^- forces, Sir John Mordaunt, to a court-martial, in which, from the dubiety of the evidence a- gainft him, he was acquitted — There remained, however, this confolation ; that, though nothing was done, there was nothing undone ; for the whole armament came fafe and entire home again. Without the lofs of any thing more than time and 6/i, And whereas the fuccefe of this expedition will »ery much de- pend upon an entire good underftanding between our land and fea offi «rs. we do hereby itri£tly enjoin and require you, on your ptt t maintain and cultivate fiich good under.landuig aod agreement • Ind t> order that the foldiers under your command fhould mlthe C when there (hould be occaCon for them, and when they can be fpar«! .nftrufted on h,s part, to .-.UrUin and cultivate the fame good under, ftanding and agreement ; and to order the failors and marines, and aU fo thefold.ersierv:ng as a part of the complements of our (hips, to aflift our land forces, if judg.^ expedient, by taking port on Ih^rc. nann.ng batteries, covering the boats, fecuring the lafe re-embarkatioa of the troops, and fuch other fervice as may be conf.ftent with thg fafcty of our fleet. And in order to cftabliih the fliifteft union thaV may be between you and the commander in chief of our fhips, you ar* hereby required to communicate thefe Jnftruaions to him, and he will be direfted to communicate thofe he (bj)' receive to you. ?/*, You (ball, from time to time, an . . you Ihall have opportunity, SIa"'**"^ accounts of your procetdings in the execution of thele our >n..!u. los-s, to eae of our puiicipal iccictaries of ftate, from whom you will receive fuch further orders and diie^ion* us we may think jproper to give to you. Q Si" n $(j »757- SUROPS. MILITARY MEMOIRS expcnce; and the experience gained by it, in foma meafure compenfated for that lofs. The court of enquiry and the court-martial appointed on the occafion, threw very little light upon this intricate affair. The commander in chief was honourably acquitted ; and meafures were ta- ken to prevent a parliamentary enquiry. But the public was lar from being fatisfied. The con. traft between the lenity of this fentence, and the rigour of that paffcd on the unfortunate Byng, excited an univerfal murmur. The failure of this enterprize, was attributed by many to fome fecrct caufe } and therv^ were not wanting fome refining politicians, who pretended to difcover a tendernefs for Hanover, or at lead a connedion with the convention at Stade.* — ^The minifter and admiral were, however, unanimoufly acquitted by the pu- blic, fo that this grand expedition mifcarried with. out a caufe. • — " In fho.t, there mull have been fome fecret in that whole affair which has not yet tranfpiied; and I cannot help fufpefting that it came from Sude. We had not been fuccefsful there; perhaps -we were not dcfirous that an expedition, in which t^? had neither been confulted nor concerned, ftiould prove fo. Mordaunt was our creature ; and » word to the wife will fnmetimes go a great w^y.- The day after we had taken the illand of Aix, Colonel Wolfe publicly offered to do the bufinefs with 500 men and three fhips only. In a|l thefe complicatea political machines, there are fo many wheels within wheels, that it is always difficult, and fometimes impoflible, to guefs which of them gives direftion to the whole. Mr Pitt is convirced that the principal wheel, or, if you wUl, thtfpoke in bis -wheel, came from Stade. This is cer, tain, at lead, that Mordaunt was the man of confidence with that per, fon. Whatever be the truth of the cafe, there is, to be fure, hitherto, f^ hialu: valde defendus." Cheftcrfield. edbyit, in fom« OF GREAT BRITAIN. CHAP. Vlit. toefperate fttuation of his Prujian MajeJiy^^Memet taken by the Ruffians--.Zittau Jiormed, and taken by the Aujlrians — Ruffians lay wajie the PruJJian dominions^^Oppofed by M. Lehwald-^Battle of Norkitten-^Sudden retreat of the Ruffians out of Frj{ffta% 1 HE affairs of the King of Pruflia now claim our attention j and, in this place, it will not be improper to take a fhort view of the many and almoft infurmountable difficulties he had to en- counter. Deprived of the aflifl:ance of his allies by the convention of Clofter-feven, he had no- thing to trull to, but his own magnanimity, and the bravery of his troops.— The whole Germanic body was now let loofe upon him. When this monarch was put under the ban of the empire, all the princes who compo*'" it, were required to furnifli their refpedive contingents of men and money againft him j notwithftanding which, they came in but very llowly, and with the utmofl: re- ludance. Four thoufand men belonging to the Duke of Wirtemberg, mutinied againft their offi- cers, and marched home again, maugre all the efforts to detain them ; and the Eledor Palatine lofl: above looo men by dcfertion. However, after many delays, this army was at laft complet- ed ; and, being joined by the French under the commanrl nf tl^<» Pi-In/^a r^C o .u:/- .• • „, i,,^ i isii,.^- \ji. uuuuijc, uaiouniing in all to about 65,000 men, were in full march to M 2 n »757* KU&Or£« Army of execution (lowly col« le£l«d. Joined by the Frfnch. $9 til I: .'•■ i MILITARY MEMOIRS JfruIEa. W. enter Saxony.— The Ruffians, under the com- EU..01.E. mandof Marfhal Apraxin , and General Fermor amounting to 80,000 regulars, befides Coflkcs and other barbarians, had already entered t>ucal Pruf- fia, Tvhich they were laying wafte with fire and fWord, and committing every fpecies of oirtragc. ^n'ZlZ '^hree feveral Auftrian armies, amounting to about thcKinsof ,20,000, wcrc in the field ; one laying fiege to Schweidnitz in Silefia, another to Zittau in ^.u- fatia, and a third prefcnted itfelf before the gates of Berlin. An army of 22,000 Swedes' had pe- netrated into Pruffian Pomerania, taken a couple of towns, and laid the whole country under contri. bution. Befides all thefe, the French army un. der the Duke de Richlieu, amounting to « 1,000, being, by the convention of Clofter-feven, left at liberty to turn their arms againft Pruffia, had pe- netrated into Brandenburg, plundering the towns, laying wafte the country, and praaifing every e- normity to gratify the rapacity of a needy general, ivhofe fortunes had been greatly Shattered by a courfe of luxurious diffipation. The eyes of all Europe were now turned upon his Pruffian Majefty ; and it was generally believ. ed, that his ruin was upon the eve of being ac- compliflicd. — Surrounded with enemies, any one of whom was fufficient to crufh him ; almoft the vvhole of his dominions in the hands of ftrangers ; his fubjeds opprefled, ruined, and murdered in cold blood, with all the wanton cruelty of inhu- man barbarity ; and without a friendly power to extricate him nut of th'ia rI*T»1i->.-.,Ki^ c..^..: u- found relief from his misfortunes in his own mag^ fits defpe rate fuua- tion. or CHEAT britaik: 9^ - lllUclUUXi J ilC «757". Aanimity ; and his genius, fertile in expedients and emerprifing in a^ion, pointed out to him the means to overcome thofc difficulties, which he F^haps, of all iiien, was only capable of furl And m.,. mounting.* So little was his mind affedcd with '""*^'* his prefent diftreflfes, that at this time he made a fort of phibfophkal teftamcnt, which he wrote Ml French vcrfe. Previous to the battle of Prague, the Empref, of Ruffia had publifhed an order, ftridly prohibit, ing all her fabjeds, who were captains of Alps, ^'■^'^ affifti ng the Pruffians ; and authorifmg her fcrLfhlfi "!?"<''"'"' """^ *" ''^ P-bli/hed by hi. authority. ^ KHDcs his ntuation m a very pWurcfque manner : through Lcpfic. cannot exprcfi how much he is altered. They i^ he b^ as ch:r';:rr^'''r ."'"''''• "^ *• - -chonS Dac« as Charles was, and oftc.. lies upon the ground. His inward fuf- ^rsr;'""^^" ''^""'*-^ ^ i^ct uscaaoureye:::;'::p ^i the 1 ruffian dominions; and meafurc what he hath left of th« ma- «y fa.r pofl-e/nons hc^ad in the month of April laft, of whkh a Z. Of e.e„ months hath ftript him. Whence can he ha,e men?!^ t coltvofL ' \ ''^' "' '''""• »»'»P"""P>«tyofMue... a-v-hrn, .^'"^' Embdcn, and its infant company, part of the Pot ral' '^'''''''''' '•""^ •'*''" P-^^ °^ '''' ^-''«. Dufa ^rrT'i' "■'? ''"^ °' '"^'«»' * 8'"* P-^ «f the kingdom of L L h'"'"^''; ^'"^"^"''"d-inions. in Ihort. are eUherta- with th. 1 i "^ ' ■■"'"""• ^^"^" °" *^= contributions, and with the money which they draw from the eleftorate of Hanover and o her conquefts. defray the expences of the war. This pi^urc certainly - ui Cumberland s convenf inn ..,i,:«u j,_..:..-j t. , , l»ff h?.« .. •»! ' ^" ^'^H'"c" "im 01 ah nis allies, and h.^ "^7'"^' P°""^^ ««^'>"g. -hich the Britifh parliament may gi,, Wip. Add hicewife fome domeftic uneafjn^'^V 'kG» MILITARY MEMOIRS ' ^7^7' commanders by fea, to make prize of all fuch who suaopE. fliould be found fo otFending, by the tranfporta- tion of troops, arms, or ammuniticn. She had fent a fleet of men of war to block up the Pruf- fian ports in the Baltic, which took feveral ihips employed in carrying provifions and merchandife from one place to another. The commandant of Memel, a fea-port of Poland, but fubjed to the King of Pruflia, upon a Ruffian man of war ap. pearing before it, fcnt an officer to know whether he came as a friend or an «ncmy.-^The Ruflian captain made no hefitation in declaring, that hij orders were to make prize of all Pruffian veffels he fhould meet with. Upon which the com- mandant iflTued orders for firing upon all Ruffian Ihips that fhould appear before that place* The Ruffian army, under Marfhal Apraxin, had hitherto proceeded fo flowly, having been upon their march upwards of fix months, as made it generally doubted whether they really intended to aft againft his Pruffian Majefty; but, on a fuddcn, orders were given for quickening their march, and they foon appeared earneftly determined to ruin that monarch — The firfl: open appearance of ho- klnTy !hc ^>^'^y» was their attack on Memel, which foon fur- rendered by Capitulation, the garrifon marching out with all the honours of war. The King of Pruffia, eafily forefeeing what enormous cruelties were to be expefted ^rom fuch barbarous ene- mies, who were unacquainted with the art of making war as pradifed by civilized nations, and who took everv oonortunitv wantonlv tn nillatr**. wafte, and deftroy, publilhed a declaration j in RudTians. OF GREAT BRITAIN. loi 1757; EUROPK which, after avowing his motives for making war on the Emprefs-qucen, and cxpofmg the artifices by which Ruffia was induced to efpoufe her quar- rel, he concludes with threatening, that whatever cxceffes and diforders the Ruffian troops fhould commit in his dominions, he would retaliate on ' the provinces and fubjefts of Saxony. Upon his Pruffian Majefty's quitting Bohemia, having fent his heavy artillery to Drefden, he en- camped on the banks of the Elbe, where he ftrongly entrenched his main army. The troops under Marflial Keith encamped on the oppofitc ihore, a communication being kept up between the two armies by means of a bridge. At the fame time he took every precaution to fecure the paffes mto Saxony, by flrong detachments from his army. The Auftrians, being thus prevented TheA««„-. irom penetrating mto Saxony by the way of the ^"''"* Elbe, marched a detachment mto the circL of ""'''" Buntzlaw, where they fuddenly fell upon the im- portant port of Gabel, which they took, after an obftinate refiftance by the Pruffian garrifon, confift- mg of four battalions, who, with Major-General t-utkammer, were under the neceffity of furren- dering prifoners of war. A detachment under the command of the Prince ot Pruffia had been fent to watch the motions of this army ; but the Auftrians having thus out- marched them towards Lufatia, his Majefty found himfelf under the neceffity of retreating, for which g.^^^ ^ anpoiitiou, that he did not ^ie a fingle man, though he paffed in fight of the Auftrian army. The Pruffian troops began I lOS »757' MILITARY MEMOIRS MUKOn. Titfaa florinccF, and tak liy the their march on the aeth of Junt, and by the end of the month encamped at Bautzen in Lufatia, without being in the leaft harraffcd by the enemy, though great numbers of Auftrian hulfars, and other irregular troops, frequently appeared in their lear. Immediately after the taking of Gabcl, the Auftrians marched a ftrong detachment to attiirax!n rrsncfrilffi irregular troops OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^ advance towards the Pruflian camp; by which '757- means, Marihal I.ehwald was not informed of it '^''^ till three days afterwards. He then difpatched ^"*°"* Prince George of Holftein with ten thoufand horfe in purfuit of them ; but notwithftanding all Pnrftcd h, his endeavours, he could not come up with their Z'tl"^' army, they having made forced marches in order ""* to be the fooner out of an enemy's country, burn- ing and deftroying the villages as they went along. However, the Pruflians m .de a few ftragglers pri- foners, and a good many were killed by the coun- try people, out of revenge for the miferies they had made them undergo. In ordering this re- treat, Marfhal Apraxin had divided his army into two columns, one of which direded its way through the bailiwick of Abfternen, and threw bridges over the river Jura ; whilft the other took the road towards Memel, where the pur. fuit of the Pruflians was -flopped, the bridges over that river being deftroyed by the violence of the ftream. All the roads were ftrewed with dead carcaiTes of men and horfes, the Ruflian army having fuffered for want of provifions ; the coun- tries through which they palTed being entirely ruined, fo that they could find no other fubfift- cnce than roots and herbage.* • Previous to this campaign, the Ruffian troo,>s were but little kno.., ; ,t ,s no wonder therefore that M. Lchwald (hould deem his troops greatly fuperior to theirs, and attack them with fucli an infe- nor number. But experience has proved, that tJ,e Ruffian infantry » If, 7T! '" '"''" '''''''"■ They cannot be defeated; the, mult he killed ; and great bodies of cavalry oely can sfTcii th\$. 1o8 MILITARY MEMOIRS CHAP. IX. the Truftan monarch offers battle to the Aujriam 'Which tbey rcjca-^Lcipf^c fuhjcaed to m/u.ry execution^Frederic advances a^ainji the combine^ army — Battle of Rosbach, »757. T suT^E r^''^ "' """"^ ''^^ ^ '''"^ ^f ^^^^ tranfaaions of • the army under the command of his Pruflian Ma- jefly m perfon, which, as was laid before, was, encamped between Bautzen and Goerlitz. The Auftrian army, amounting, by their own account to 130,000 men, was ftrongly encamped on the banks of the river Weifle. Although the army under the King of Pruffia did not amount to half that number, being about 6o,odo, he refolved to offer the Auftrians battle. For this purpofe he removed his head-quarters to Bcrnftedel, and, on the 15th of Auguft, his army came within cannon- ftot of the enemy's can.p. The Auftrians im- mediately ftruck their tents, and drew up in or- der of battle upon the fpot. Frederic likewife formed his army over againft them ; but the evening approaching, and being defirous of in- forming himfelf of the ftate of the ground between the two armies, he deferred the examination of It till next day; and the troops on both fides [pent the night under arms. Next morning, his Pruf. fian Majefty, upon reconnoitring the enemy, found their right defended by the river Weifle ; the main wody of their army extended along a rifmg ground, King of Pruflia of. fcrs battle to the All- firiaus. OF GREAT BRITAIN. nS7' EUROPE. «t the bottom of the hill, covered with wood Which proteaed their left ; and in their front was a brook, paflkble but in three places, and only for three or ur men a-breaft. There was an opening on their left, where three or four battalions mi^ht have marched in front, but they had placed three hnes of mfantry behind ; and within mulket-fliot of this opening, on a hill which flanked it. were placed four thoufand foot, with fifty pieces of ■ Cannorit In this ftrong fituation was the Auftrian army r /r^ °J ^™'^'=' "^"'"^ " battle. b« • Without eiFedt. Four davc r^;H w,^ n i.re.f in otde. o^ J^fZj'^'.::^J^ '-"•* who, though, as formerly faid, double its num! ber, would not move a ftep to meet him. Hi, Majefty findmg that nothing would do to brin^ tiiem to an engagement, returned to his camp « Bernftcde J but before he had gone half a iilT he agam drew up his army in a line of battle and rema,„ed m that pofition for upwards of an hour but w.th no better fuccefs than before, the Zl ftnans not darmg to leave their camp. iHE army of the empire, called the army of Jiiferent Germanic ftates, in obedience to the de- rees o the Aulie council, having been ioined by the French army under the Prince de SouWe ur h' "m' T 'r"^' ='"" ---pea af^: furth. When his Pruffian Majefty found that nothmst would nr..v,;i „„„.. .l. \ I . ™ """ th,l- ,', i" *"• "''"" '"^ ■'luimaas to quit the.r camp, he m,mediately formed the refolut^on of marchmg agai„ft this army. For this pu'pofe" I »IP MILITARY MEMOIRS M'i >757- HUftori Frederic foes fn &ai-ch of the com- bed arm}' *■'% The Pruf- fian general Seydelitz fttrptized. he ordered Marfhal Keith to join him with the troops under his command, confifting of fixteen battalions and forty fquadrons. With thefe, and feveral other detachments which had hkewife join- ed him, his whole force amounted only to 40,000 men; having, kit the reft of his army, under the command of the Prince of l^evern, ftrongly en. camped in the neighbourhood of Drefden. March, ing with the utraoft celerity, he arrived at ITrl furth on the 14th of September ; but the enemy, having intelligence of his approach, had retreated firft to Gotha, and afterwards to Eyfenach, where they entrenched themfelves in a very ftrong campj and his Majefty fixed his head-quarters at Kirf- chlaben, near Erfurth, after detaching General Seydelitz with a party under his command, to take poffeflion of Gotha, which the enemy had iuft quitted. ^ At this time, an .affair happened, which, the* not very material of itfelf, yet, as it marks tlie Prullian general's good conduft and fkill in im- proving circumftances, muft not be omitted. On the 19th of September, an attempt was made by a part of the conbined army, to furprize and carry off General Seydelitz and his party, amounting tp about 1200 men, who occupied Gotha. For this purpofe the Prince of Saxe-Hildburghaufen detach, ed a body of between 7000 and 8000 men, who, after marching all night, arrived at Gotha about eight in the morning. General Seydelitz, though furprifed, made a good retreat, not loCnig- 20 iTiv;!!.— iiic enemy muncdiately took poffeflion of the place, expe^ing to repofe themfelves after the OF GREAT BRITAIN. Ill »757- EUROrfi. night's fatigue. About this time a fog happened to arile, which General Seydelitz perceiving, de- termined to improve it. Concealing himfelf be- hind fome hills about a league off, he caufed loo dragoons to difmount to reprefcnt infantry, and divided the reft of his troops into twenty-two fmall bodies, which extended themfelves very far, and, by the favour of the fog, appeared like fo' Hi,fl,ccer.. many fquadrons. At one in the afternoon, he '^"^ ""*"• marched forward, and attacked a body of French '" with his huffars only. News were immediately carried to the French generals, that the whole Pruffian army was advancing, that they lay be- hind the hills, and that they were extending to- wards the left, in order to furround them; where- upon they made all poffible hafte to retreat, and, after having marched all night, were obliged to return the way they came, without getting any refrefliment — General Seydelitz purfued them, killed about 130, and made one lieutenant-colo- nel, three majors, four heutenants, and fixty- two private men prifoners, beftdes taking a good deal of baggage. Upon intelligence of this aQion, his Pruffian Majefty advanced towards Eyfenach, with a defign to offer the enemy battle j but he found them fo ftrongly entrenched, that an attack was judged impradicable. He was then obliged to retire a- gam towards Erfurth, for want of provifions, and afterwards to Naumberg, on the river Sala j up- on which the combined army again took poffef- •ton Oi \juuia ana ^riurtu. 113 militahy memoirs . 1 u i i Awftrians l^H^^B^ul ; defeat a party of ^^^KI^^^^^K I Trufljans ^^Ktflfl^n under Ge- ntral Win terfieia. iBS^^B^H ^- • J£- Soon after the King of Pruflia left Bernftcdel EVRoPi. theAuftrians took poffeffion of it, making pnfo! ners a Pruflian battalion, which had been left there.>-.On the 7th of September, two battalions ot the troops under the command of General ^mtcrfield, being part of the Prince of Bevern's ^rmy, havmg been ported on a high ground on the other fide of the Neifs, near Hennerfdorff, in the neighbourhood of Goerlitz, were attacked by 15,000 Auftrians, who made themfelves mafters of the emmence, after being feveral times repuif. cd. On this occafion the Pruffians fuffered a ve- ry confiderable lofs in killed and wounded. Their brave General Winterfield was killed by a can. non-ball, as he was leading up a reinforcement to the affiftance of the battalions that were engaged. When the King received the news of his death, and being at the fame time informed of the Swedes beginning hoflilities in Pomerania, he could not forbear /bedding tears, faying, « I may find .re. ^^ fourccs againft the multitude of my enemies ; but how few men are to be found equal to "Winterfield .'"--The lofs of the Auftrians in this adion, was very little inferior to that of the Pruffians. The young Count of Groefbeeck and the Marquis d'Afque were killed, and feveral offi. cers of diftmaion wounded, among whom were the Generals Nadafti and Clerici, Count d^Arbre? Colonel Elrickhaufen, &c. Six pieces of Pruffian cannon, and fix pair of colours, fell into the hands ot the Auftrians, who likewife made Genera! Kameke, the Count d*Anhalt, and a few other officers, prifoners. IS :ft Bernftcdel, making piifo. lad been left two battalions I of General " of Bevern's jh ground on inerfdorfF, in : attacked by elves mafters times repulf- ufFered a ve- nded. Their by a can- forcemcnt to :re engaged, jf his death, f the Swedes I could not nay find #re. y enemies ; id equal to ^uftrians in that of the ifbeeck and feveral offi- vhom were : d*Arbreg, of Pruffian > the hands e Genera! ^WA74Uy Mnn/int. rr a i )i M H Ifl 1 III I ^^»' ■HSrjl h'' . asi - C/Wjuy ^^AMntnnJ. OF GREAT BRITAIN. I "J EUROPIU The Prince of Bevern, after this aaion, found it ncccflary to retreat, with the army under his command, from GoerHtz to Uothenburg, and fooii afterwards palfed the queifs at Sygerldorlf ; he then marched to Buntzlau in Silefia, and, at length, arrived without any lofs at Breflau,' on the firft of October. Immediately upon his ar- rival, he ordered feveral new works to be added to the fortifications of that place, and chofe a ve- ry ftrong fituation on the other fide of the Oder for his camp, and under the cannon of that city. The French army under the Duke de Rich- lieu, having no enemy to make head againft it fincethe famous convention of Clofter-feven, a part of it had advanced into the territories of Halber* ftadt and Magdeburg, ravaging thefe countries, ' and laying them under contribution. Its progrefs,' French « however, was foon flopped by a part of the army ""V'"' of Prince Ferdinand, (to whom the defence of thofe ' provinces had been committed by his Pruflian Ma* jefty> under the command of Count Horn, wha obliged the French to evacuate Halberftadt^ with a cojifiderable lofs, making Colonel Lufignan, nineteen other officers, and near 50Q men prifo- ners, befides taking a great ouantity of bag^rage. But, on the 29th of September, the Duke de Richlieu, with the main amy, again took palfef- fion of Halberftadt, which obliged Prince Ferdi- nand to retire to Winflebcn, near the city of Magdeburg. Whatever the dominions of Iils Pruflian Ma- iefl:\fc micrhf- hrtxTf^ f.iffU^^J f .1. • ■^ ■' "o -'^ .<.tiiv.itu itwui luc incuriions ot urangers, was amply retaliated upon thofe places ar- rcceirc I O 2 m MiiLlTARt MllMOtR^ I' «757- tUROPE. y belonging to the enemy of which he had taken poffcffion. Among others, the unfortunate city of Lcipzic now felr moft fevereiy what it was to be in the power of a conqueror. The King had or- dered his commandant in that city, to demand of the mhabitants a contribution of the enotmous fum of three hundred thoufand crowns, (half of which was much beyond their power to raife) under the pain of military execution, allowing them but a very fhort time for that purpofe. All reprefcntations and remonftranccs were in vain - his Majcfty's orders were peremptory. Their utmoft endeavours to comply with the demand proved inefFcaual; and the fhort time allowed them being expired, their houfes were delivered up to the foldiery, who immediately took poffcffion j^ffio"'"° L^^^ apartments, and Uvcd at d::cretion.~, mi,t.ry On thte 15th of Oaobef, while the citv was in -uuon. this deplorable fuuation, an exprefs arrived tZ his MajeHiy, giving notice that he Would fobh be therc-^Frederic, who never travelled in ftate, but with the utmoft expedition, arrived in lefs than a quarter of an hour after, attended only by a lew of his guards. A rumour was immediately ipread, that the city would be delivered to pillage, which threw the inhabitants into the utmoft con, fternation His Majefty, however, foort eafed ' r"'^"^;^,^'^ f^^^S' by declaring, that, on condi, tion half the fum required fhould be immediately paid, he was willing to fpare the place. All the money they could poffibly collet among the mer, chants, traders, and others. am^M"*«'i -^-^y- -- hity tlioufand crowns. This would by no means ■■;€■ V 1 OF OnEAT BUtTAm. '*< »7J7- SUROM. fatisfy the King, who infifted for the full handrcd and fifty thoufand. The magiftratcs and princl pal inhabitants then drew bills of exchange upon London and Amftcrdam for feventy thoufand more --Th.8, however, was not enough. No abatement would be made.— At laft they gave hoftages in fecurity of the other thirty thoufand, to be paid againft a certain time.-^tiU the military execu- tion went on j and all the fatisfadion the mifc-' rable mhabitants could obtain, was, that it fhould ceafe as foon as advice was received of their bill* being accepted. Im the mean time, the Auftrians, who had made themfelves mafters of Lignite, and part of Silefia, now laid fiege to Schweidnitz. They like AuaHa„. wife made frequent incurfions into Brandenburg '^^'t ». evying contributions, and oppreffing the defence^ «?«:'''' lefs inhab.tants.-Thi8 induced his Pruffian Ma- jefty to detach the Prince of Anhalt-Deffau front Leipzic with ten thoufand men, to defend Ber- Im ; whilft, with the troops under his own com. mand, he marched to Interbeck, on the frontier^ of Lower Lufatia, in order to cover Brandetta bufg, and preferve the communication with Si- W„,tB hi, Majelty was employed in taking he.e precaution., a body of .6,000 Auftrians! under .l,e command of General Haddick, entered Brandenburg on the i6th of Oaober, and on tht K Pi-f "ted themfelves before Berlin. Thi. obliged the queen and Pruflian royal family to r^r.J'''^ 7 '7':6"^-^uig ; ana the moft valuable records of the kingdom were fent to the fort of p ■ >757- .MILITARY MEMOIRS Spandau, at the conflux of the Havel and the EUROPE, bphre. The Auftrian General demanded of the city a contribution of fix hundred thoufand crowns ?„"e?c:if. f 7^''^ ^" '■"^^•^^^ '^° hundred and ten thou! tribution. land. But upon intelligence cf the approach of the Prmce of Anhalt-DelTau, die Auftrians ini. mediately pillaged the fuburbs, and retired with the utmoft precipitation ; and the van-guard of the Pruffian army entered the city on the evening cr their departure. His Fiuffian Majefly had frequently endeavour-' cd to bring the combined army to a battle fomc thing upon an equal footing. But the two gc nerals, the Princes of Hildburghaufen and Sou- one, the one commanding what was called the , army of execution, and the other that of France feemed perfedly to underfland one another, and , cautioufly declined it, notwithflanding their fupe. Ks&"°"ty°fn""^bers. Frederic, therefore, had re- ££1fh^ '?^f V° °"' °^" '^°^' ^'^^^^ ^f generalfliip, by ' Zy t'a ^^^V^^""""^ ""^ ^ commander is better known battle. than by heading troops, in a field of battle, md for which alone he flood unrivalled. About the middle of Odober he made a feint, as if he in- tended to march his army immediately into winter. quarters, leaving Marfhal Keith with only about 8000 men to defend Leipzic. Frederic's defigns were not eafily feen thro', and, on this occafion, the enemy were completely deceived — They now looked upon Leipzic as al- ready m their polTeffion, and reckoned upon Mar, . Ihal Keith and his little army as their prifoners.-^ u ij.ni I uatu^ tiicy irumcuiatcly marched tierefore, had re- OF GREAT BRITAIN. ,,7 to that city, and fummoned the Marfhal to fur- 1757. render. His anfwer was, that he was left there to ^^^ defend the city, which he would do to the laft ^"*°''^ extremity. The enemy then prepared to befiege the place j but, before they could get any thinff in readinefs for that purpofe, they were alarmed with advice of the approach of his Pruflian Maje- fty. He, forefeeing what would happen, had pri- vately given orders for all his diflant detachments to join him, and he was now advancing by lonff marches to Leipzic_This entirely difconcerted the French and Imperialills, who immediately re- treated from that city, and repaffed the Sala at Weiffeiifels, Mcrefburg, and Halle, where they broke down the bridges. The King arrived with s„ecccd. his army at Leipz.c on the 27th of Odober, where he ftaid to refrefh the troops till the 30th, when he marched to Lutzen. In order to pafs the Sala. the Pruflian army were obliged to repair the bridges which the enemy had deftroyed at Weif- fenfels, Merefburg, and Halle, in each of which places they left a battalion. Having paffed that river through thefe towns, the whole army Joined on the 3d of November ; and, in the evening of the fame day, came in fight of the enemy, and encamped m a bottom between the villages of Bederow and Rolbach. The Pruffian armyt I'^av- ing left parties in feveral towns through which hey paired, amounted to fcarce 20,000 men, while un^ l'^^^""^"^y ^^"fifted of 40,000 French under the Prince de Soubife, and 25,000 Impc rialiits under the Prince of Hlldb " 15X. ii8 »757- MILITARY MEMOIRS SUROPE. 'I H Hit! November 4. The two armies kept a brilk cannonade againa each other, but without doing very material damage to either fide. On the 5th, at nine o'clock in the morning, the Pruffian army could perceive the enemy every where in motion, .^nd hear their drums beat the march. - So near -at this time were the two armies, that the Pruf. fians could diiVrndly fee the enemy's infantry, which had been ported on the rifing grounds over againft them, filing off towards their right j at the fame time that a large body of cavalry wheeled round towards their left, along the rifing grounds with which the whole Pruffian camp was furrounded. Soon afterwards their cavairy was obferved to halt, and to fall back again to the right. From motion! SSof ?" contradidory, no certain judgment could be thecombiri- formed of the enemy's real defign ; but, as it waj known that their army wanted bread, it was thought they had refolved to repafs the Unftrut. About two o'clock in the afternoon, however, all doubts were cleared up; and it plainly appeared, that they intended to attack the King's army, and that all the motions which had been obferved in the forenoon, were made with a view to furround the Pruffian camp, and to cut off their retreat to Me. relburg, which, in cafe of a defeat, ivas the only place to which they could have retired. As foon as his Pruffian Majefty was fully certain of the defigns of the enemy, he refolved to prevent them by beginning the attack, which, from the difpo. fitions of the enemy, he determined to make with the left wing only. He therefore immedi. x^ atcly iciit orders to the general commanding on OF GREAT BRITAIN. Eu&ori. f ,h^t : '°J''^"'\'"SfS hp^n n*>o..Ur «^.,«i *~ - defeat. '757. OF GREAT BRITAIN. By (he unfortunate accident of the Prince of Severn being taken prifoner, the command of the Pruffian army devolved on Lieutenant-General Kyow, who finding himfelf not in a condition to maintain poffeffion of fuch an extenfive and ill fortified place as Breflau, againft fo powerful an army as that of the enemy, determined to march with the army towards Glogau, leaving only a- bout four battahons u, the place, under the com- mand of Lieutenant-General de Leftewitz, in order to fccure the town from being pillaged, by obtain- mg a capitulation. Accordingly, on the 2jth of November, the city furrendered, the g^rifon , . marching out with all the honours of war, bu" '- under an engagement, not to ferve againft the Emprefs-Queen, or her allies, for the fpace of two . ycsrs. His Pruffian Majelly, immediately after the of n^ ?f "''' ""'"S put himfelf L the head ot part of his army, marched with his ufual ra- p.d.y into Silefia, having firft detached Marral fah with the other part, to make an irruption mto Bohem.a.-0„ the 24th of November, his Majefty arrived at Naumburg, where he ft id a : ''y^'" -';<="' ^- "oops. He then purfued his march to Barchwitz, where he was mZt Sir" "' ""?' ''°'^- °f -". p^"«: See If r *"" °i '^' "^^ '«^'!' ""der the ftince of Bevern, and the whole late garrifon of r^:^T' .r""''"« '"^ ""<"« 4000! who h^ cc^n made onfonfrs r^f «r,. u.. .u_ * n . . " ^'" !^^^'. ^^f ^f^^P« as they were condua. Prifon, m the following manner. Hearing ing m 126 MILITARY MEMOIRS nST- -f the King oi Pruflia*s viaory over the combined »orofr,. ^"^"^y ^* Hofbach, and at the fame time obftrrving that they were but flcnderly guarded, they una- nimoufly rofe upon their cfcort, who, not expcft. ing any fuch thing, were eafily difperfed. Hav- ing fucceeded thus far in their defign, they im. mediately fet off to join the King's ai my, march- ing at a hazard, not having any certain diredion where to find him Luckily, however, they fell in with him at Barchwitz, while he was on his march, tho* too late, to the relief of BreHau. The army un4er the King amounted, now, to about 40,000 men ; with which, though greatly inferior to that of the enemy, he determined to attack the Auftrians, who were ftrongly entrench, cd at Liffa, near Breflau. On the 4th of De- cember, he arrived at Neumarck, where he found a confiderable magazine belonging to the enemy, and all their camp ovens. — -This magazine was guarded by two regiments of Croats, who, upon his Majefty's approach, retired to an adjoining rifing ground. Here they were furrounded by the Pruffian huflars, and fummoned to furrender A party of prifoners of war. — This, however, they thought oflrTy the P^oP^^ ^o '^^^f"^-' making the appearance of refift. pruffians. gnce. Upon which General Zeithen, with his huf- fars, was ordered to fall upon them fword in hand) which was immediately executed, and fome hun. dreds of them having beei» cut to pieces, the reft threw down their arms, and begged for quarter. After diftributing the bread his Majefty found at Neumarck among his foldiers, and repofmg the troops for that night, he begun his march early next morning, towards Liffa, to meet the enemy. OF GREAT BRITAIN. On the firft notice of his Pruflian Maiefty's approach the two -Aultnan Generals. Prince Cliarlcs of Lorraine, and Marflial Daun, called a council of war; in which it was unanimoufly re- folved, to march out of their camp, and meet the enemy about two Ger,nan miles from their en- trenchments. Elated with their late fuccefs a.ainft the Pnnce of Bevern, they affefted to dcfpife the fmall number of the Pruffians, notwithftandinff the Kmg was at their head ; and thus, for once an .Ikmied confidence got the better of Mar' ihal Daun s ufuai fagacity and circumfpedion. ^ On the 5th of December, about feven o'clock in the morning, General Zeithen, who led the Pruf. fian van.guard, fell in with a large body of the enemy's cavalry, who had been detached to re- tard the King's march till the Auftriaiis had ^ot ome batteries ereded. This patty he immediate, ly attacked, and drove to a confiderable diftance. Being then got fo near the enemy, that he could perceive their whole army forming, he imme- dmtely acquamted his Majefty of it, -.vho, aftev obferving the.r difpofuion himfelf, drew up his army agamft them, with that celerity and accuracy of judginent for wliich he was fo remarkable. The Eatt.of enemy, he found, had ereded a battery of forty ^"^''• pieces of large cannon, fo as entirely to cover he,r right wing. With the attack of this battery the aaion began. Upon this fcrvice, Frederic or- dered h.s two battalions of guards, troops rec koned at that tmie the beft in the world, with tlie --uacnts of the Margrave Charles, and of Itzen. z> ihefe troops, notwithftanding a mofl dread. «»7 Pl Ill MILITARY MEMOIRS JW- ful fire, which fwept them away by muhitudes, ■uaopi. went calmly and dreaUtully forward, with bayo- nets fixed, to the very mouths of the cannon. Their undaunted refolution, in contempt of death, vas irrcfiftable. The battery was abandoned by the enemy, almoft as foon as they got up to it. The Auftrian artillery was now turned upon their late mafters, and played upon them mod furi. oufiy with their own ammunition. His Majefty, who could forefee confequcnces farther than any man of his time, had made a moft excellent difpofition, and provided againft every contingency. Obferving that General Nadafti wag placed with a corps de referve upon the enemy's left, in order to take his right in flank, he ported four battalions of grenadiers behind the cavalry of his right wing. When that general, therefore, made a furious charge upon his cavalry, he met with fo warm a reception from the grenadiers, as forced the Auftrians to retire with the greateft precipitation., — At length the enemy, being thrown into confufion, gave way, and retired to a little diftance, where they again formed j but were im- mediately attacked by the Pruflians, with redou- bled vigour. In (hort, the Auftrians rallied three feveral times, and returned to the charrre, but were as often obliged to give way before "the de- termined bravery of the Pruflians. On the ap- proach of night, the rout became general, and the enemy fled; one party towards Breflau, while an- other took the route of Schweidnitz. According to the Prulfian accounts of this battle, they loft enly about 5Q0 men killed, and Z300 wounded, Battle of LiiTa. OF GREAT BRITAIN. ,jg vhife the lofi of the Auftrians amounted to about .7J7. 7000 killed and wounded. Amonjc the firft werr "-■ Generals Luchen, Otterwolf. and Prlnee sioC! •"°"' and among the wounded were the Generals HiU- ler, Macquire, Lacy, Lobkowitz, and Preyfac — . The Pruflians loft no officer of note. There were taken pnfoners in the aftion and purfuit, of the Aullnans, upwards of .0,000 n.en, among whom were the General, Noftl.z and Odonneh Th" Pruffian. hkewde took .,6 pieces of cannon, c. pair ot colour,, and 4000 baggage-waggons. As no time was to be loft at this feafon of the year l„s Pruffian Majefty immediately marched to Breflau, which he inverted on the 7th, and. m two days every thing was in readinefs to bel «ege It in form. The befieged, dil^lrited with I eir late defeat at Liffa, and having about 4000 fick or wounded m the garrifon, did not make a very obft.nate defence. A bomb, during the f.ege. hv,„gfet fire to a magazine, and damaged L ot the baftions, hkewife accelerated the taking of r un ^""'■'''"g'y. on the 20th of Decern. »"«■«.». inJ'nf I '^^"■'•^'lered. The garrifon, confift. ""■ >ng of about .4,000 men, including the fick and bounded, were made prifoners of L. Among riiefe were fourteen officers of high rank. Thf Pmffians found in this place the Auftrian military hell, and eighty pieces of cannon.-The lof. of I e befiegers was very trifling, amounting only to ut twenty men in all from the time they'^be- gan their approaches. 'au, he fent General Driefen with a body of troops Ihe Count d. Cfcrmon, . ,.' «j c«„i ,h. char .r^d ' ; rr"' ■"" °'" "■' "■ «'"""« aiiif Md benevolence of ll,e Duke dc R,ndan. 13* MILITARY MEMOIRS 1*1 2£7- likewife refufed to confider this convention as ob- SUROPE. llgatory upon her. Treaties between nations, are fcldom oblerved any longer, than intereft or fear hold the union ; and among nations that take every advantage, political faith is a term without meaning. The Hanoverians only wanted a pre- text to take arms, and a general to head them. They were not long in want of either. — Richlieu had made a further breach of the articles, by attempt- ing to feize upon places not comprehended in them ; and by fhutting the troops up in fuch nar- row diftrids of cantonment, as rendered it im- poflible for the inhabitants to fubfift. The op- preffions of the tax-gatherers, whom the French had appointed, were likewife fo fevere, as to drive the inhabitants to defpair All thefe circumftances co-operating together, and the battle of Rofbach critically happening at the fame time. Prince Fer- dinand of Brunfwick put himfelf at the head of the Hanoverians, who refumed their arms, and broke from their difgraceful confinement. The French v'ere in no cordition to refift the fpirit of liberty, inflamed by refentment. They were every where beaten. The Hanoverians took the town of Har- burg J and the gallant refiflance made by the ca- ftle, which was alfo reduced, was the only inftance in which the French could be faid to aft like fol- diers or men By this fudden mfurredion of the Hanoverian forces, the King of Pruflia's* affairs were greatly mended ; and he was now enabled Co oppofe his enemies upon a much more equal lootin"". Banoverl- ans refuitie their atm;. oms convention as db- cwcen nations, are n intereft or fear nations that take is a term without ly wanted a pre- head them. They r — Richheu had icles, by attempt- comprehended in ts up in fuch nar. rendered it im- ubfift. The op- i^hom the French "vere, as to drive efe circumftances attle of Rofbach ime. Prince Fer- t the head of the arms, and broke It. The French fpirit of liberty, ^ere every where he town of Har* nade by the ca* the only inftance i to aft like fol- furredion of the Pruflia's ♦affairs as now enabled ich more equal OF GREAT BRITAIN. , Thus ended the German campaign of ,7-57 ; ,7,7. wh.cn, for variety of events, the number of /real ^ aftions, and the uncertainty of its iffue, was the '"'*''"' moft nnportant of any recorded either in ancient or modern hiftory. Within the compafs of a fingle year, revolutions happened, which appeared to require the duration of a century.-^The Kin? of Prullia at firft vidorious ; the Auftrians every where flying before him; while he advances, with a rapid march, to the gates of Vienna. A fmelc battle turns the fcale. A new general defeats the Pruffian monarch, and hurls him down to the lame Itate of humiliation, to which he had iuft re- duced the Auftrian power. Apparently on the brink of rum, abandoned by his allies, and fur- rounded by enemies intent on his deftrudion another battle, the probable confequences of which were the total annihilation of his little army, raifes him agam beyond all hope; and the Auftrians, and their numerous allies, are, in their turn, de- feated and difperfed—Forty thoufand Hanove- nans, either, from the mifcondud of their leader or from fome hitherto unknown influence, fubmit to 80,000 French, without a battle. Under the diredbon of a more enterprifmg general, they re- fume their arms, recover their country ; and the vithout fighting, retire beyond the Rhine.-The ufhans, though eVery where fuccefsfal, fuddcnly r treat as if purfued by a viftorious enemy ; and ^m o "'-^ iUuq a battle. «34 175-7. ■VROTE, MILITARY memoirs- Neve R was the art of war carried to fuch a pitch as by the King of Pruffia ; and, itmiuft be added, its horrors alfo. While we 'are dazzled with the gallant exploits of the warrior, we are fomctimes at a lofs to find the milder and mort amiable virtues of the man. Happy had it been for mankind, if to thofe wonderful and heroic qualities by which he obtained conquefts, there had been added that lenity, that temperate ufe of viftory, which finiflics the charaaer of a true hero. The outrages committed by a barbarous and inhuman enemy, by no means juftify retalia- tion. We do not accufe the King of Pruffia of abfolute inhumanity ; but there is a feverity, a difregard for the interefts of mankind, difcover- able in fome of his tranfa£lions, which cannot be reconciled with that charaftcr which he afTumeg to himfelf, a philofopher, and a lover of mankind. Humanity is never more prafticable, and never (Iiines with fuch luftre, as amidfl the horrors of war ; and the reciprocal exertion of this virtue between the Britifh and French, redounds infinitely more to their mutual honour, than all the art and valour they can difplay From the annals of this campaign, fucceeding generals will take their leffons of devaflation, and refine upon the arts of mcreafing human calamity. CHAP. OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^$t CHAP. XL Vnfuccefiful expedition againfl Louisbourg — Fort Wil- liam Henry taken by the French — Admiral Wat- fin and Colonel Cllve reduce Calcutta^ and hum- ble the nabob — Chandenagore taken — •Nabob de- feated and Jlain — Advantageous treaty with the new nabob — Admiral Wat/on dies, 1 HE confcquences of the ill-conduacd councils i^* of the old miniftry, {till continued to fpread their America, baleful influence over the Britifli operations in America. Want of unanimity in our meafurcs at home, had produced carelefsncfs and inaftivity in our commanders abroad. Party had fwallow- ed up the fmall remains of patriotifm, and the fpirit of difcord had pervaded the camp, as well as the cabinet. Our commanders knew not to whom they fliould be accountable for their negleds, or who was to reward their fervices ; and were con* fequently deficient in that firmnefs and enterpri- fing refolution, without which the greateft talentg and bed intentions can do nothing in war. The expedition againfl: Crown Point, which had engroffed the principal attention in the begin- ning, was now laid afide ; and it was refolved to Expedition attack Louifbourg, which was deemed of much Siibourg. greater importance. Lord Loudon had coUefted a body of 6000 troops, with which he embarked at New- York on the 19th of June, and arrived at Halifax on the 29th. Admiral Holbournc did I 13^ MILITART MEMOIRS !!£!: "0^ ^^ach that rendezvous before the 9th of July AMEiucx. So much time being loft, it was naturally ima, gnied, that the commanders would proceed imme- diately to adion ; but, as if delay had been an ^ ^ cflential part of their inftruaions, near a month the BHtift ^^s confumed at Halifax, in ej^ercifmg the troops c?r" ■' ^"^ accuftoming them to divers forts of attacks and defences.* When this formidable armament was ready to proceed to the place of its deftina- tion, a circumftance happened, which ftruck a panic into the troops, and rendered the wholp fcheme abortive. A packet, fuppofed to be a ftratagem to intimidate the Britifh commanders, with an exaggerated account of the French force at Louift)ourg, threw itfelf in the way of the En. glifh fleet, and was taken with all her difpatches, tho' chafed many hours j a circumftance fufficient to fufpea a contrivance, for real packets always throw their difpatches overboard. By the letters found in this pretended packet, the naval ftrength at Louia)ourg was fixed at feventcen fliips of the Imc, and three frigates ; and the land forces a- mounted to 6000 Europeans, 3000 natives, and 300 Indians. It was likewife remarked, that the place was well fupplied with military ftores, and •Lord Charles Hay, a major-gpneral in this armament, and one of the braveft and beft officers in this fervice, ridiculed the behaviour of the commanders in this refpeft. He faid, " That they kept the cou- ?n makmg ftam-fights and planting cabbages, when they ought to hare been fightmg the enemies of tb.ir king and eountry in reality."-I„ the enfuing council of war. he was the only officer for proceeding • but he wa. put under an arrcft. not without arong fufpicion of hi» bc- ^g a madman ; and afterwards tried for his life, on an «cufation of OF GREAT BRITAIN. 1 TCcufation of ni AMSKIC4ri that the people were defirous of nothing more than to be attacked* This intelligence immediately fufpended the preparations againft Louifbourg. Councils of war were held, the refuh of which was, to lay afide, for the prefent, the intended expedition ; a refo- lution which appears to have originated from the exaggerated account of the French fordes The eommanders, in this expedition, fcemed determined to truft nothing to fortune or refolution. Every circumftance of difficulty and danger was weigh. Expedition ed in the fcale of rigid prudence, before the exe. ?^''"^ r . v^ » 7 •."*- \.A.\.- Louilbourg cution ot it^ was attempted* The confequence '"''^ *'~'^«* was, what is generally the cafe where too much deliberation and caution is ufed, that nothing was done — Lord Loudon with the land forces return- ed to N-w-York, and the admiral continued for fome time cruifmg off Cape Breton, in expefta- tion of drawing the French fleet to an engage, ment, or at any rate to block up Louilbourg har^ hour. In both thefe expedations he was difap- pointed. The French, whofe force was greatly inferior to his, were too wife to attack him j and, on the 25th of September, a terrible florm arofe, which difperfed and fhattered his fleet, one fliip being lofl, eleven difmafted, and the reft very much damaged. Leaving eight men of war to proted the trade, watch Louifbourg, and annoy the enemy, he fteered with all fpeed for England* The proceedings in America during the re- mainder of this vear- wptp q f^/i^c «f ^;r ^, and difappointments. By taking Ofweo-n. fh*. «rench became entire mafters I all the lakes R 2 I3t MILITARY MICMOIRS V ^757' and the Englifli were unable to hinder their col- AMERICA, leding the Indians from all parts, and obliging them to ad in their favour. Inftcad of endca- vouring to prevent this deftrudtive alliance, we a- bandoned to the mercy of the enemy, all the coun- try of the Five Nations, the only body of Indians who preferved even the appearance of fricndlhip to us. Our forts were demoliflied, our frontiers invaded by the French and their favages, who de- ftroyed all our fine fcttlements on the Mohawk's river, and the German flats j and at laft the fiegc of Fort William Henry, built on the fouthern edge of Lake George, was formed ; a place of the utmoft importance for covering that frontier. There was a garrifon of 2500 men within Fort William Henry ; and General Webb, with about 4000 men, was pofted at no great diftance. By Lord Loudon*s draughting off the forces from the northern provinces for the expedition againft Louifbourg, the frontiers were left expofed to the defigns of the French, who prepared to take advan^ tage of their abfence. On this occafion, the adi- vity and Watchfulnefs of M. Montcalm were con- fpicuous. No fooner was it known that the troops were embarked for Halifax, than he aflembled an army of 8000 men, including Canadians and In- dians, drawn from Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and the adjacent ports. The aflfembling of thefe forces was not executed with fuch fecrecy, but «» that an early account of it was fent to General Webb. That commander gave no credit to the report j judging it impolTible that the French could raife a force fufBcient to difpute the poflet French form the liege of Fort Wil- liam Hen- OF GREAT BRITAIN. ,^ fwn of the fort with him and the garrifon. His 1757. incredulity was attended with the moft fatal ef- JT^ feds. No care was taken to bring the militia to- **'""^** gether, which, had it been done, would have rendered the Englifh far fuperior to their enemies. On the 2d of Auguft, Montcalm appeared on the lake, which fo intimidated Webb, that he march- ed off early the next morning, leaving the defence ' of the fort to the Colonels Monro and Young. Montcalm, informed of Webb's retreat, fum- moned the garrifon to furrender ; but was given to underftand from Colonel Monro, that nothing but extremity would make him give up the fort. —The garrifon behaved with courage and fkUI, fo as to retard the enemy's works for four days • during which time they had the misfortune to burft moft of their cannon and mortars. Thus reduced, and no profped of fuccour from with- out appearing, and being advifed to furrender by Garrift« a letter from General Webb, intercepted and fcnt ''"''^^" into the fort by M. Montcalm, the garrifon capi- tulated on the 9th of Auguft.— They engaged not toferve againft the French for 18 months; and obtamed the favour of marching out with their arms and baggage. The French favage'> paid fo little regard to the terms of capitulation, that they plundered the Englifh foldlcrs, as they marched out ; fcalped the Indians and Blacks, that had been m- the garrifon ; and pradifed a thoufand other mhumanities, from which the French ge- nerals pretended to reftrain thpm but u " pole. The French demoliflied the fort, and ear- ned off all they found in it. furrenders< >7i7 ASIA. Admiral Watfon fails for £=-gaI. MILITARY MEMOIRS The conclufion of this inglorious campaign k North America, was more dilgraceful to the Bri- tifh arms than even the two former. An army of 20,000 men, exclufive of Provincials, and a vaft naval force, provided with every thing that could make war glorious and fuccefsful, were per- mitted to loiter away a whole year, in doing TVorfe than nothing. The French fucceeded in every thing they attempted, though their force was greatly inferior to the Englifh. It ^vas lii the Eaft that fuccefs began firfl to dawn upon the Britifli arms. No fooner did in- telligence of the fatal difafter at Calcutta arrive at Madrafs, than Admiral Watfon, with Colonel Clive and the military on board, failed to take revenge for the cruelty pradifed on their country. men by the nabob. After a tedious voyage, he arrived at the port of Balafore, in the kingdom of Bengal, on the 5th of December. Here he ftrengthened his force with what recruits he could draw together ; and, entering the Ganges, pro- eeeded to attack Bufbudgia fort, which command- cd that part of the riv^r. After a fhort refiftance, he made himfelf mafter of this fort, which was extremely well ficuated for defence, but badly provided with cannon and ammunition. As he proceeded -p the river, the enemy abandoned fcveral fmall batteries, which would have obftruded his progrefs, and a clear paflage was opened to him to the fort of Calcutta. Fired with indigna- iion and revenge at the affedting fight of this place, the troops attacked it with fo much fpirit, OF GREAT BRITAIN. thai 1. furrendered in a few l>ours._It was then ',,7. propofed .0 reduce Hughley, which was fuJatel ^ further up the Ganges ; and this was likewife ef "'*• fefted with the fame facility. f;^ The nabob was now convinced of the necef. " "^ % of providing a more refpeaable force, to ftem .he progrefs ot the Britifh arms, than the febfe I rr, ons of unexperienced Indians. Aflifted by French ofBcers, engineers, and gunners, he af! fembled an army of ,o,coo horfe, and abot .5,000 foot. Wifh this nu,«erous body, he took paired the Englifl, camp, at the diftance of about a m,le and pitched his tents on an advantagl fpot of ground near the town. NoTw,THSTAKD,Ko the great fuperiority of IderrH-r""!"/ ""'"''"»' "'^B""* com rfc L :f """ ^f''' =" '"°'"™' =•»"»« what was tc be done. A detachment of 6oo failors 2hi':rp.'''''"'°^"--''''--'^-abob AccoRDiNOLv, on the 5th, about five in the mornmg, .he Britifh army L'aneed towlr^ the Srs,''i;fe:trt "I '"^ ^"""-'y °f— Tw '^'^' ^"^^^ed them with ereat daughter ^^^'««*- been ^,fl, j, „^ ,„^^,^_^^ ^^ ^^^^^ S av^ very fohctous to haften a peace; which, in a y rrom all taxes was granted, and a rc. 4t 142 MILITARY MEMOIRS ^75> ftitution promlfcd for all that the trade had fuf. AS! A. ^^^^^ *" ^^^ taking of Calcutta. Having thus humbled the nabob, and rc- eftablifhed the Company's affairs in Bengal, the Admiral BHtiih commandcrs refolved to turn their arms Colonc"!^ againft the French ; having juft received intelli. feed'aJaTnft ^^"cc from Europe, of war's bfeing declared be- the French, twecn Britain and France. It was agreed to be. gin with Chandenagore, a place of confiderable ftrength, and the principal fettlement of the French in that part of India, fituated a little higher up the river than Calcutta. Colonel Clive, with a. bout 700 Europeans and 1600 Blacks, undertook the land fervice ; and Admiral Watfon di reded the attack by fea. His fleet, confifting of three ihips, the Kent, Tyger, and Salifbury, came to .m anchor about two miles below Chandenagore ; where he found the paffage obftrufted by the fmking of fevcral large ihips, both above and be. low the forts, for there were four in the whole, This difficulty was, however, foon furmountcA The admiral proceeded up the river ; and, on the ;i4th of March, got a-breaft of the forts, chandfna- The attack, both by fea and land, was fo vigo- fore taken, i • , r i i , rous, that m lefs than three hours the garrifon capitulated. Five hundred Europeans, and 700 Blacks, furrendered prifoners of war ; 183 pieces of cannon were taken ; and a large fum in ready money, with a vaft quantity of goods, became the property of the captors. The French power in India having thus rc-» ccivsd a ievere check, it became neceliary to ad- vert to the proceedings of the nabob, whofe di. %. adc had fuf. >ob, and rc- Bcngal, the I their arms eived intelii. declared be- greed to be. confiderabic >f the French le higher up ive, with a. s, undertook Ton di reded ng of three ■y, came to indenagorc } led by the eve and be. the whole, furmounted r ; and, on • the forts. vzs fo vigo- the garrifon IS, and 700 183 pieces im in ready ds, became g thus rC"» ilfary to ad- , whofe di» OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^^5 »7J7. ASIA. latory performance of his obligations by treaty and his flrong attachment to the FrencU intereft gave juft rcafon to fufped that his intentions were' bad.— rhe ferocity of his manners, and tfie cru- elty of his difpofition, had difgufled even his owa fubjeas ; and, as fuccefs is the onlytitle that thofe nabobs can (hew for poffeffion, Jaffier Ali Kawn then a principal officer in his army, and his prime minifter, who pretended to have a right to the nabobfhip, put himfelf at the head of a confpira- cy againfl him, and applied to the Englifh fop aiiiitance. ^ It would be equally tirefome and unentertain. ing to enter into a particular dlfcuffion of the T% ri. f '^"'^ "'^°^^- ^^^^^'" 't i«' that the Enghfh found it expedient to enter into a treaty with Jaffier, and the reft of the confpirators ; in which It was ftipulated, that the company fhould immediately renew hoftilities with Suraja Dowla, oblige hmi to fulfil the articles of the late trea- y; and Jaffier, on his part, promifed to defert his mafter, with the beft troops in his army, on the the field t' ^^^°^^'"g'y> C-'°-l Clive took Co,o„. 2000 iiiacks , befides 50 feamen, to be employ- ed as gunners, and in direfting the artillery.! lie admiral engaged to garrifon Chandenagorc v.th his feamen ; and a 20 gun fhip was flation- ed above Hughley, to preferve a comnuinication between the fleet and army. On the 19th of June, a detachment was fent to nttnrl. r.^^^.^ wn^ch lurrendered at tne firfl fummons. ^" ' .vn A^"''^'; ^^""^ continued at Catwa three day^, f^pe^mg advices from Jaffier ; but, not receiv. 3 i V44 MILITARY MEMOIRS __ ing any, he crofled the river on the aid, and ad. 4?iA. vanced to attack the nabob's army, which wa* encamped on the plains of Plaffey, and confifted of 20,000 men, well provided with artillery j ex- clufive of two divifions under the command of the confpirators.-^However lighdy the Britiih com, mander might think of the Indian troops, it ap. peared rafli and defperate to march up to the mouths of fo numerous an artillery, which was placed in an advantageous fituation, and under the direaion of French gunners. A fortunate circumftance relieved him from this embarraff. ment. A heavy fhower of rain had made the enemy draw their cannon into the camp under cover. Clive immediately availed hlmfelf of this, and placed a detachment to prevent their being again brought into adion. Three different well, direfted attacks were made upon the enemy's trenches, and each of them proved fuccefsful ; in XScT ^?°'^' ^^^ ""^^^ army was in a little time com. puted. pletely routed, and 42 pieces of large cannon fell into the hands of the vidors j whofe lofs was quite inconf.derable. Such was the facility with which the mofl im^ portant conquelts were gained over this weak, effeminate, and unwarlike people. The cuftoms, habits, and opinions of the Afiatics, all tend to effeminate the body, and difpirit the mind. Let us conceive a numerous army led on to battle, dreffed in long filkcn garments, with no other courage than what they poffefs from the infpirar tJon Oi cp-ium, with the fame views whether de- kmd or vi^orioysy their general mounted op aa OF GREAT BRITAIN. H$ 17 si* AsiAi elephant, and confequently a more confplcuous objed of aim ; their artillery drawn by oxen, im- pcJtient and furious on the flighteft wound; if we refled on all thefe circumftances, we fhall not be furprifed at their mod numerous armies being defeated by a handful of European troops, harden- ed by difcipline, and animated by honour. Immediately upon viftory's appearing in fa- vour of the Britiih, Jaffier Ali Kawn, and the other donfpirators, declared themfelves openly a- gainfl their defeated fovereign, and hafled away to fecure Muxadavad, whither they were foon followed by the Britiih army. In a few days, Ali Kawn was proclaimed nabob, according to treaty; and foon after Surajah Dowla was traced, feized' and put to death.-^Many were the advantages Aimti. v^hich the Englilh Eaft-India Company derived ^--'-^^ from this revolution in Bengal. The French were -w^'aVot! tor ever prohibited from fettling in the three pro- vinces of Bengal, Bohar, and Orixa j the com. pany's territories were greatly enlarged ; their pri- vileges confirmed; two millions fterling were granted as an indemnification to the fufferers at Calcutta ; a leafe of the falt-petre of Patna was granted to the company ; and the army and navy were rewarded with a prefent of 625,000 1. Sterl. befides immenfe riches in jewels, &c. bellowed . on the officers — The public joy at thefe fignal ad- vantages, was confiderably abated by the death of .. - Admiral Watfon, who fell a vidim to the un- ^^aSS Wholefomenefs of the climate, after haviiiir efta- ''"* fi'iiied a lalting reputation, for his wifdom, hia courage, and his humanity. 8 2 146 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1758. tUROPE. CHAP. XII. E,peditio7i againjl St. Malo— .Ships burned^Flcci returns—Expedition againjl Cherbourg^Its bar. bour dcjlroyed— Defeat at St. Cas, The late unfuccefsful expedition againft the coaft of I ranee, was far from difpiriting the enterprifin. genius of the Britifh minifler. He was determined to carry on this littoral war with vigour. Accord* affembled agam in the ifle of Wight. It confifted The- , v\'J^ battahons, 400 of the artillery, and 540 Thc^.va..hgh horfe J ,n all about ,3,000 men. The pril! Sict T '""'T^^ ""'' ^'^^^ ^" Charles Duke of Marlborough, grandfon of the celebrated hero, v^hofe name is yet a terror to France ; and the fuborduiate general officers, were, Lieutenant-Ge- nerals Lord George Sackville, and the Earl of Ancram ; Major-Generals, Waldcgrave, Moftyn, Dury, Bofcawen, and Elliot. Two diftind fleets ^v-ere aiTembled at Spithead ; the firft, confiftin. of twenty.two fail of the line, was commanded by .. Lord Anfon j che fecond, conhfting of feveral %atcs, iloops, fire-fhips, tranfports, &c. was un- der the command of commodore Howe, who was .n rufted wuh the diredlion of every thing that related to the landing of the troops in the enemy's dominions. ' ^ Born fleets failed from St. Helen's on the firft ot June. Lord Anfon, with the line nf I„„|. OF GREAT BRITAIN. '4? ftips, flood away to the well ; whilft Commodore .718. Howe (leered acroft the cha„„el._On the cth of ^ June, the whole fleet flood into the bay of Can """"'• calle at a little diftance from St. MalL where" the forces were landed without oppofition —■Ae t .roopslay upon their arms all night and^uK, mommg afpot of ground was marked ou, fori camp, wh,ch was fortified with entrenchments, in order to fecure a retreat._No.withftanding the ftr,a orders agamft marauding, as well a! the r n^. "S''^"« ="d moderation of the officers that fell m their way, to the difgrace of difcipline and reproach of humanity. ""cipune. Early in the morning, on the 7th of June he army marched towards St. Malo in two co ^jmns i the firft commanded by the Duke of Marlborough, and Lord George' Sackv^eT the fe end , , ^^^^^_ ^. the , dTanceoflrtl • 'u' ^^V ™--l«d at the ditance of httle more than a mile from the town of St Malo ; which, upon examination, was fo3 ' by no means liable to be taken by fu prif ^j a fiege, from our want of proper ^J»Z' altogether impraflicable A^r '^' *"' th^Lu 1, /"'""^*'"« — ^As foon as It was dark. - lar hed H ' ""t '"'""^'^ "^ ">^ ^^ole army marched down to the harbour, and fet fire ,Tl bout an hundred fail nf n,: .'•"""« "re toa-E™„,,., the cannon of he fort andC'f " f '"' '"''"^^^. filled with naval ftores and a 1 ,h " "T""^^ without thp l,!ft ' '*"* *"* performed ithou, the lead mterruption from the enemv._ :„' "" 'f "' '"e tents were (Iruck, and the"arm7 « one column, marched back to Car.caie. ^' 148 MILITARY MEMOIRS Fleet re- turns. '758' The intention of this invafion being fully an* KUKOPE. fwered, the troops were reimbarked, and failed on the 16th e:irly in the morning ; and in the evening, came to an anchor off the harbour of St. Malo. The weather proving tempeftuous, the fleet returned to Cancalle bay next morning, and continued there till the 2 2d, when they again failed. — ^The fquadron continued beating about the channel, and feemed at different times to threaten feveral other places on the French coaft; but provifions being nearly exhaufled, and the men grown fickly from their being crowded in the tranfports, it was judged neceffary to return home, and the whole fleet arrived at St. Helen's on the 29th of June. However {hort of the public expeftation the fuccefs of this expedition might fall, yet, as it ex* cecded the Rochfort cnterprife, and as the opera* tions of this armament were not yet at an end, the people were tolerably well fatisfied, and ex- pected greater exploits from the next attempt.— The fticklers for a continental war, indeed, kept up their ufual clamour, and called thefe attempts breaking windows with guineas, and again applied the fable of the mountain and the moufe. The Duke of Marlborough, and Lord George Sackville, having been ordered to command the Britifh forces which were fent to Germany to re* inforce Prince Ferdinand, Lieutenant-General Bligh \iras appointed to command the army of invafion, which was encamped on the ifle of . Wight, but uiu not riow amount to more than 6000 men. Prince Edward (afterwards Dul« of York) re- JUOO 111V.I1» ~ OF GREAT BRITAIN. ,4^ folved to go as a volunteer in this expedition, on 1758. board of Commodore Howe's fhip, in which he e^ ferved as a midihipman. This armament, fo much reduced in its num- bers and ftrength, failed from St. Helen's on the Fleet faiu ift of Auguft, and, on the 6th, came to an anchor Smc?"* before Cherbourg,* into which a few bomb-fhells were thrown that night. Early next morning, the fleet got under way, and brought up about two leagues weft of the town, where it was refolved to land the troops. The enemy had thrown up feveral entrenchments, and planted fome batteries along the coaft ; and there appeared about 2000 regular troops, befides militia, who threatened to oppofe the landing of the Britifh forces. On the 7th, at two in the afternoon, the grenadiers and guards, commanded by General Dury, landed without oppofition, under an inceflant fire from the fleet. Forming his troops on the beach, the T«v,p, general marched immediately towards the enemy. '""*'' ■»<* He received their fire, and then attacked them c^'!' '^ with fuch refolution, that they foon fled in the utmoft cor'fufion, and with a confiderable lofs. •Cherbourg is an open half-fortified town, with a bad harbonr- but Its peculiar f.tuation in the channel renders it of importance ; bd •ng fo fmiated, as to annoy the Englifli, and proteft the French com- merce in time of war. It is about 70 miles from Portfmouth. Mr Be- hdor, the famous engineer, had demon (trated its importance, and propofed a plan for the improvement and defence of the harbour, u wll as for the fortification of the town. This plan was approved. and partly put in execution by the building of a mole, digging a bafop. and making lluices and flood-^gates, with excellent materials, at a vaft expcnce. As fh.fe works were left «n!ir.i{hcd, in »11 uppemucc U:; ^lan had fallen into diirepuje. 1758. EUROPE. The har- bour of MILITARt MEMOIRS The remainder of the forces being landed, Generzrt Bligh encamped at a village called Er- ville ; a fituation, it was faid, in every refpe£l improper. — Next morning the army proceeded towards Cherbourg, in two columns, which they entered without the lead oppofition. The inha- bitants, confiding in a promife of protedion from the general, received their hoftile vifitors with politenefs and hofpitality. But their confidence was abufed ; the common foldiers returned to their infamous pradice of pillaging ; and it was not till they had done a confiderable deal of mif- chief, that they were reftrained by the general. The Britilh commander now proceeded, ac« cording to his inftruftions, to demolifh the har- Cherbourg ^^^^ ^^'^ bafon, which was executed under the demoiiihed. direction of the engineers. In the mean time, the Britiih light-horfe were fcouring the adjacent country, and had frequent fkirmifhes with the enemy j in one of which, Captain Lindfay, a brave and gallant officer, was unfortunately killed. The harbour and bafon being now deftroyed, all the veffels found there burned, and hoftages taken for the contributions levied on the town, the troops evacuated Cherbourg, and reimbarked without any interruption. — It is remarkable, that this army continued ten days in France unoppofed and unmolefted. The news of this advantage were received in England with the greateft joy. All the brafs can- non and mortars taken at Cherbourg were drawn, in pompous proceliion, thf ough the city, amidp: the joyful acclamations of ilie people, whofe minds OF GREAT BRITAIN. 1758. IUROP& Were now as much elevated, as they had been but a little time before deprefled. The operations of the little army of invafion were not yet at an end. The fleet weighed an- chor on the iSthof Auguft, and fleered for St Maio ; but were obliged, by contrary winds, to run for the Englifh coaft ; and it was the 4th of September before it came to an anchor in the bay of St. Lunaire, about two leagues weft of St MaJo.-The troops were immediately landed, not Troop, a. without fome misfortune, one of the boats being itst"^'^ overfet by a frigate. Four companies of grena- '^^*'- * diers, under the command of Sir William Booth, by, were detached to deftroy the (hipping in the harbour of Briac, a place near St. Malo : which was executed eflfeaually. The Britilh army continued in their camp near St. Lunaire four days, which was fpent in dclibe- rating whether an attempt upon St. Malo was prac- ticable, and it was finally determined to be imprac . ticable. It being found impofTible to reimbark the troops at the fame place where they had landed, it was refolved that they fhould proceed to the bay 01 St. Cas, and there remain till the fhips were ready to receive them. Accordingly the fleet Itood away to the weftward ; and General Bligh, With his little army, began his march, on the 8th of September, towards Gildau, where he was told the river, which he muft neceflkrily pafs, was fordable at low water. On his arrival at this place, he found himfelf mifinformed as to the time of fordinir. for if wao h\n-]. „,.*»- :„a.„ j Of low } and the troops were obliged to wait nine I 151 MILITARY MEMOIRS IZl!: ^ours before they could attempt to pafs ; and iimoFE. then they were fired upon from the oppofite vil- lage, by which Lord Frederic Cavendifli, and a few grenadiers, were flightly wounded It was only three o'clock in the afternoon, when the troops paffcd this river ; and, from a feeming fetality, they marched no farther that evening.* Next day, Sunday the loth, they proceeded towards Mattingnon^ where they met with feme fmall oppofition from a party of the enemy. Here the geheral received intelligence^ that nine bat- tahons of foot, two fquadrons of dragoons, with 500 guardes de cojis were on their march from Breft, under the command of the Duke d'Aguil. Ion, and that they were not above two leagues diftant from the Britifh army. This intelligence had. no effeft on the general's condud. He pro. ceeded in the fame flow and dilatory manner. The ufual drums, preparatory to a march, were beat early next morning ; and the army proceed- Brmfljarmy ed, in a fmgle column, towards St. Cas, which i^ ward, St. about three leagues from Mattii--non. The march of thofe three miles, however, contained in it cir- cumftances and incidents more puzzling and un^ accountable, than that of Hannibal over the Alps; and we are hotter acquainted with the particulars of the latter, than the former. When the head of the column had attained the heights which envi. ron the bay of St. Cas, about half a mile from II -^ii— ^B^— ^^— ^^^— ^,___ .u * ^- ''I'"*^ '"^"tuatcd fecurity feem, to have poflerted the leaders of the Bnt.lh army. They appear to have thought it impoflible that their career could be ftopped ; for it was vauntinply faid bv fon,e of the p. WK.,.l officers-—.. By G-^d, a man might march thr«.|b . I'l-ancc wuh a finglc company of grenadiers." OF GREAT BRITAIN. >53 1758. the fca, they had orders to halt, and the regl- merits formed the line as they advanced in fuc- ceflion ; but before the grenadiers in the rear reached the ground, the youngeft brigade was ordered to march down to the beach. Mean- while the frigates which were intended to cover the embarkation, and the boats, were approach- ing the land. The grenadiers marched delibe- rately down to the beach, and there refted on their arms, whilft the battalions were conveyed to their tranfports in the flat-bottom boats. Scarce had the Britifli grenadiers quitted the heights, when they were occupied by the ene- And are my. When they began to defcend, the Britifh *^°"°'"^ ^r commodore made a'Hgnal for his frigates to fire ; *''""""''' which order was executed with fuch fkill and dex* terity, that many of them were killed, and their whole army thrown into confufion. The troops were now all embarked, except the grenadiqr^ ol the whole army, and four companies of dfe firft regiment of guards^ in all about 1400 men. Indeed the whole army might have been embark- ed by this time, had the boats returned with that punduality which was rcquifite ; and even when they did come, many of them were employed in carrying off horfes and cows inftead of men . The enemy continued to advance, and their ar- tillery began to play upon the boats with great effect. Major-General Dury, who was now the foiior officer on fliore, formed this fmall remnant of the Britifli army ; but inttead of endeavouring to tnainfain W,„ ^^ 1 !.! 1. . "■ " -__ — .._., ,,,^ ^ixjuiiu, vviucii was aavantagcous, fie quitted it, and advanced up the liill to meet the enemy. '>«>■■ T a »54 1758. MILITARY MEMOIRS PUi^Ol It is a delicate and a difficult point to form ■vjj omnion of the behaviour of a general in fuch a r.hiation as the prefent ; few, but thofc who have been in fuch fituations, can judge of them • and it might appear arrogant in one who i not a foldier, to pretend to point out the deficiencies of a comman'ler in fo critical a conjunaure The bravery of the troops, on this defperate oc cafion, did honour to their country. They fu- ftained the attack with great fortitude ; and it was not till their ammunition was entirely fpent, that they retreated to the boats. Unhappily the boats then on fhore were infufficient to receive half the number of men which now crowded to the beach, and they were in an inftant fo over, loaded, that moft of them were aground. In th;i terrible condition, expofed to the fire of a numerous army, they remained for feme lime ; till, at laft, Commodore Howe ordered himfelf to be rowed afhore, and took one of the flat-bottom boats in tow. Animated by this no- ble pattern, tht reft of the fleet foUov -d his example, and about 700 men were brought on fnhTm^ ^°^^'*- '^'J^e remaining 700 were, many of them, jifha^y Ihot or drowned ; but, the far greater part ^vero taken prifoners. General Dury, Lieutenant Co, lonel Wilkinfon, and Sir John Armitage, a vo- lunteer, were killed. Lord Frederic Cave ndiih, Lieutenant-Colonels Pierfon and Lambert, and fix- tcen officers of ir Terior rank, with four captains of the navy, were taken prifoners. This unfortunate difafter was by moft pen. pic imputed to the injudicious ^nd dilatory coflr OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^^S'S dua of the general. After the defign againfl St. 1758. Malo was laid afidc, his remaining fo long on jT™" ftore, and pen;*trating fo iar into the country v.ithout any vifible objea, is perfedly unaccount- able. His marching through the enemy's country^ in a fmgle column, was highly imprudent ; and communicating his midnight motions b; beat of drum, to an enemy double his force, was quite Inexcurublc. — The flaughter would have been much Icfs, had not the French foldlers been ex- afperated by the fire from the frigates, which ftill continue ' after the Britifti troops were defeated • but this was no fooner filenced, than immediate quarter and protection was granted.-^The lofs of the French, on this occafion, was very confidera- ble, and xceeded that of the Englifh. — Several civilities paffed between the Duke d'Aguillon and the Britifh commanders, who were favoured with. a lift of the prifoners, and affurcd that the wound-' ed fhonld r ccive all poffible comfort and affift- ance.~Thefe matters being fettled. Commodore Armament Howe returned to Spithead, and the roops were S^ET difembarked. ^ The public were, as ufual, very much difpirltcd by this check. The enemies of the minifter en- deavourri to throw the blame upon him, but in vam ; I .e plan was allowed to have been well concerted, however it might be bungled in the execution. The French exulted in the trivial ad- va,ntage they had gained ; and magnified it into a mighty vidory ; when indeed they oudu to have bccn aiiiuiiica 10 nave luiicred iuch a handful of men to ravage their country, for fuch a length of time, with impunity. 15^ MILITARY MEMOIRS 1758. EUROPE. CHAP. XIII. Hoya and Minden taken from the French — Their dif trefs — They retire beyond the Rhine — Embden taken by Commodore Holmes — Schweidnitz taken • — King ofPruffla enters Moravia, and lays fie^e to Olmutz — Embarrajfed by Count Dam — Sie^e of Olmutz raifed-^king of Prujta marches in^e Bohemia, 1 HE various fortunes and bloody events of the laft campaign in Germany, bad not difpofed any of the powers at war to make fo much as a propofal for peace. The enemies of the King of Pruflia were more ftrongly united againft him by fear and hatred, than they would have been either by intereft or principle. That his troops might have fome repofe, the campaign did not open till the beginning of April. The confequences of the battle of Lifla had been extremely favourable to that monarch, as by the contributions he ralfed in Saxony, he was enabled to fpare his own do* minions, and to fend a fmall body of cavalry tq the afllftance of Prince Ferdinand. The Count de Clermont had fuperfeded the Duke de Richlieu in the command of the French army in Weftphalia. But the change of their general proved of no fervice. They retreated, or rather fled, every where before the Hanoverians, who marched in two divifions ; one on the right to the country of Bremen, and another, under ^57 OF GREAT BRITAIN. General Zaftrow, to the left toward Gifforn. In a few days, the French retired from Otterfburg, Bremen, and Fcrdcn, and the caftle of Rottenburg did not hold out above fix hours. It was cxpcded that Count Chabot, who was ported with a ftrong detachment at Hoya upon the Wefer, would make a vigorous ftand ; and Prince Ferdinand appointed his nephew, the young Prince of Brunfwic, with four battalions of foot and fomc light horfc, to diflodgc him. This prince, though but twentys year of age, had fecn a great deal of aftion ; and his genius was fo truly military, that he had performed exploits which would have done honour to the ableft generals. He had fignalizcd himfelf at the battle of Haften- beck } and fuch was his ardour for glory, that he had, though with the feeming difapprobation of his father, followed his uncle to the field. The enterprife he was charged with, was not only full of difficulties, but a train of difappointments threatened to render it unfucccfsful. He had a broad and deep river to pafs, and r.i, . but one float to carry his troops over it. Before ^^^ the half of his detachment had pafled, a ftrong p"n«o7 wind arofe, which rendered the float ufelefs • fo '''"^*^* that his party, fmall as it was, was divided. Confci- ous that not a moment was to be lofl, the Prince refolved not to delay his time in attempting to join his forces, but to proceed immediately, with hofc he had left, againfl the enemy. It was the 23d of February, and between four and five clock m the morning ; and he determined to -rpnie uie town, before it was day-light fufficiem I 158 MILITARY MJEMOlRS 2£f; for the French to difcover the fmall handful oi »,uaoPE. *"^" ^^ w^s attended with. Before he arrived at the town, an accidental firing had alarmed the enemy, who were prepared to meet him ; but the prince, by his courage and excellent difpofitions, conquered all oppofition. He beat the enemy from the pofTeflion of a bridge they held, took poffeflion of the town, and forced Chabot, the French commandant, who had thrown himfelf in- to the caftle, to furrender it with all his (lores and magazines. Prince Ferdinand, at the head of the Hano. verian army^ continued his march in two divi- fions ; and, nt laft, cleared all the eledorate of the French, Minden excepted, which was garri- foned by 4000 men ; but the place being invefted, they were obliged, on the 14th of Mafch, to fur- render prifoners of war, after a fiege of no more than nine days. The ikirmifhes which paffed be- tween the French and Hanoverians, were always to the advantage of the latter ; and indeed the former fcarce made any refiftance, but when they Diftrcfs of were prompted by defpair. Their fituation was ♦hi" Fr»>nrh - now become completely wretched. All fubordi- nation was loft among their troops. Deftitute of cloathing and covering in a bitter fealbn, many perifhed on the roads ; and the fword was fcarcely wanted to finifii the deftruftion of the furvivors, tiioft of whom were fo weak and difeafed, that they were knocked on the head by the clubs of the enraged peafants, while the Hanoverian huf- fars and hunters harraifed the few who had ftrength enough to attempt an elcape. Upon the the French fcrroy, OF GREAT BRITAIN. 1 59 1758. EUROPK. whok, It is reckoned, at a moderate computation, that of 130,000 French who had ente.cd Weft- phalia, not above 50,000 were alive at the end of the campaign. Thefe being colleded from all parts, at laft reached the Rhine, except a body which maintained itfelf at Wefel, under the Count de Clermont. The fame misfortune and defpondency feem- cd to attend the French troops in other places. A fmall Englifh fquadron, under Commodore Holmes, arrived before Embden, which, as we have already mentioned, was taken from the King of Pruffia by the French, and by them garrifon- ed with 4000 men. The Britifli commodore cut off the communication between this place and the mouth of the river ; and the garrifon, ftruck with Commo- a panic, fled the town, and conveyed their artiU Smes iery and heavy baggage up the river. Holmes or- f^^"/„f dered fome armed boats to purfue them, and fome Embden. of their veflels were taken. In one of them was a youth, the fon of a French officer of diftindion, whom the commodore immediately fent to his father, and offered to fend him the money too, upon his giving his word and honour that it was his own property. Notwithstanding the great lofles which France had fuftalned in a few months, ihe was far from being, as many imagined, in a ruinous condition. Her internal ftrength was great, and ilie had prodigious refources. Her councils, it is true, were not only divided, but unfteady and infirm. All reciprocal confidence had been loft between her court and parliaments, and the ableft u tiofit. 1 Jir :# 2*1 1^0 MILITARY MEMOIRS iZ£i- of I^er minifters had with indignation retired from EUROPE, public bufmefs. The flighteft condefcenfions, how. ever,^ on the part of their King, gave fpirit to the French ; and even the loffes he had fuffered, Th n . ^?^^^ ^° ^"'""^^"^ ^^^^^ ^'^^ a Paff^on to repaiJ le LTieifl'c t^^^"^- The Duke de Belleifle, fo celebrated for Co/ihe ^"' ^''P'^'^^' ^'^^^^ ^s well as military, was pointed SniSa-'" °''' ^^ ^^^ P'^^*'^ ^°'^^ ^s the o»ly minifter who could prevent farther difgraces ; and the French King accordingly put him at the head of the war. department, to the general fatisfadion of his fub- jefts.* •There appeared in tho public prints, at tins time, a fpeech faidto be dehvered by that nobleman in council, which does honour to the fpint and patnotiim of the old Marfhal, who had ferved his King and country with honour, during better times, rt was as follows '• I know, faid he, the ft.te of our armies. It gives mc great grief. and no lefs mdignation ; for, befides the real evil of the difordcr in if felf the d.fgrace and infamy which it reflefts on our government, and on the whole nafon, are ftill more to be apprehended. The choice of officers ought to be made with great deliberation. I know but too «ell to what length the want of diicipline, pillaging, and robbing, have b«a carried on by the officers and common men. after the example fet them by tl,e,r generals. It mortifies mc to think 1 am a Frenchman ; .ny prmcples are known to be very different from thofe which are now followed. I had the fatisfadtion to retain the efteem, the friendlhip. and the confiderat.on of all the princes, noblemen, and even of all th com,ru,n people in all parts of Germany, where I commanded the King s forces. 1 hey 1, ved there in the midft of abundance ; every one was pleaded ; it fills my foul .i:h angui.h. to find, that at ',:.ZZ French are held .„ execration ; that every body is dilpinted ; and that able. The evLsfo great, that it demands immediate redrefs. 1 can Irfjiuc ' U \ '"''" '." "' ""■" ''''^' '' ^'^^^ °- generals fed condua Tu-T- , r"f f'"'''"'- '" ^"'"^">> concerning our oZTjnT' : "'" ' '°" '""''^' ^° ^' -•"P--r OF GREAT BRITAIN. ,^, Affairs in Britain bore quite a different a- 1758. fpea -The adminiftralion was popular ; and fuch ,=^ a harmony fubfifted between the court and par- liament, and the parliament and people, as was altogether unprecedented in hiftory. The glorious vidories of the King of PrufTia, after the train of diftreffes he had undergone, rendered the Ger- man war popular ; and the miniftry, with fafety entered more deeply than ever into continental meafures. The retreat of the Ruffian troops was confider- cd as a prelude to an alteration in the Czarina's condua; but the public were foon undeceived in this refpea. Apraxin was difpofted, and put under an arreft ; and the command of the an y was given to Generals Brown and Fermor - -^ he difgrace which the Swedifli arms had fuliained, ferved to mcreafe their animofity ; and they were determmed to profecute the war, with more vi- gour than ever. As foon as the feafon would permit the Kin^r of Pruflia to renew his operations, he turned the blockade of Schweidnitz into a fiege, and pufhed Sch.cid- it with fo much vigour, that the garrifon, redu- "^" " ^^d by fic knefs and other loffes, furrendered pri- U 1 nitz taken. 11 1^2 1758. lUROPE. v.- MILITARY MEMOIRS foners of war, in thirteen days. By the reduc- tion of this place, Frederic had cleared his domi- nions of his enemies, and he began to think of attacking them in their own. His credit was now high, and his armies ftrong. He had a body of troops commanded by Count Dohna, on the fide of Pomerania, which over-awed the Swedes and Mecklenburghers. Silefia was covered by another body, polled between Wohlau and Glogau j while an army of 30 battalions and 40 fquadrons was formed in Saxony, under the command of his brother Prince Henry, to face the army of the empire, which was again become formidable. Thofe armies were all fo jiidiciouily polled, that each had a ready cpmmunication with the other. The Pruflian monarch*s affairs wearing fo pro- . mifing an appearance, he refolved upon an offen- five war, and to ..lake the untouched country of Moravia its theatre. To conceal his defign, af. ter the reduftion of Schweidnitz, he ordered fomc troops to take poft as if he intended to invade Bohemia ; but all of a fudden, making a rapid rJuffif lays "^^^^^' ^^^ ^P^"^^^ trenches before the city of 01- Jegc. to 01- mutz, the barrier of Moravia, on the 27th of May. The flattering profped of carrying the war to the gates of Vienna, was probably Frederic's main motive in this expedition, v;hich at firft threw the Auftrian councils into great perplexity. Marshal Daun was then in Lufatia ; but no fooner was he apprifed of the King's march to- wards Moravia, than he immediarely marched through Bohemia to that province, and took the command of the army which was to oppofe his OK GREAT BRITAIN*. *«3 e, and took the PrufTian Majefty. He took pofl between Gcwitz 1758. and Littau, by which fituation he had at his back *===* the fruitful country of Bohemia, and could, by '"*°*^ his parties, intercept the Pruflian convoys from Silefia. V . . It foon appeared, that his Pruffian Majeay had not fufficiently confidered tfie difficulties attending this enterprize. Olmutz was a city of fuch ex- tent, that his troops were not numerous enough completely to inveft it ; fo that Daun was enabled to fupply it with provifions, and every thing necef- fary for making a vigorbus defence. Never did Daun fhow himfelf ib compleat a general as upon this occafion: Petceiving that his Prulfian Maje- fty had taken a falfe ftcp, he availed himfelf of it to the utmoft ; and took fuch meafures, that his royal antagonift, notwithftanding all his endea-. vours and provocations, found it was impradicable to force or entice him to a batde. In the mean time, the befieged plied the Pruflians with incef- fant fallies, by which they ruined their works, not to mention their lofs of men— The Pruffian mo- Dirad.,„ narch'o fituation was fuch, that by the neighbour- *='fi^""* p»- hood of Daun's army, he found himfelf unable ^^ll^lt to employ above 10,000 men upon the ficge, and "'^' they were in a manner themfelves befieged by the enemy. The country about Olmutz afforded them no fubf^fl-ence, all having been deflroyed by the Auitr? i.s and to complete the' King's mif- fortune, the Auftrian general lay fo near to Sile- f'a, that, by means of intelligence from the coun- try people, he intercepted almoft the whole of "IS convoys. 1 H I ^Bl 1 'BUU s, mgS^m I^R ^^^M^^^^^^B 'HB ' wU^^^K t54 1758. MILITARY MEMOIRS ASIA* PrufTian I^i Daun having received intelligence that a large and important convoy was to leave Troppau on the 25th of June, he refolved to ftrike a blow, which fliould prove him to be an enterprifmg, as well as a cautious general. He ordered two de- tacbments from two very different places, Muglitz and Prerau, to put themfelves in motion ; and prefcribed them luch regulations for their march, as that they ihould come up at the fame time, fo as to attack the enemy on both fides. To favour this manoeuvre, Daun made difpofitions as if he Xu'an '"^^'"'^^'^ ^"^ ^S^^ *^^ P^"ff^an army under the King, important who had left the command of the fiege to Mar- Ihal Keith. This fudden change in Daun's ope. rations, gave the King fome fufpicion, and he fent General Ziethen to fupport his convoy. Zie- then came too late to prevent its being attacked ; but it had repulfed the Auftrians. The latter] however, were reinforced by Daun with frefh troops, who renewed the engagement next day, defeated Ziethen, feized on the centre of the con. voy, while the rear precipitately retreated to Trop. pau, and but few of the van reached the Pruffian camp. The lofs of this convoy proved fatal to the afpiring views of his Pruffian Majefty. July was now drawing on ; and he had thrown away a moft precious part of the fumnier in unfuccefsful operations, without having it in his power, fo judicious were the meafures of his advcrfary, to difplay either courage or generalfliip. The Ruf. fians had taken the field, and their Coffacks and Calmuck5 were, as ufual, making cruel incurfions OF GREAT BRITAIN. 65 1758. f , ^'^"^'; ^^ B"«n "felf was threatened.- when he ,00k the fecret. but unwilling refoluln '""" cf ra,fmg the fiege of Oimutz. By thi! time Daun W,nadeamot,o„ to Pofnitz, ^,leh „,uft have la.d the Pruffians under ftill greater dlfEeukr and n„ght have not only raifed the fiege! I; gets, iredene by an uncommon effort of genius .nftead of ret.nng, refolved to advance inr h L' en nues dom,n,ons ; a refolution equally bold and w,fe Perceiving that Daun, by the ^change "f h.s fituat,on had left Bohemia uncovered Xor dered on the laft of July, ,he fiege to be carrS on w^-^ more vigour than ever, L on the „g Aultrians, defeated all thf^ «. .• , •"^'•'^''w .0 oppofe'him, fie ed u on a ":»d ^'^P'^" r""'"" i^euto-mffel, and arrived^ Lrg^ratTre ol Ae mod .mportant ports in Bohemia^ whh all w! »::~rb:fShf ---t.. -^ diate poffeffion of it F J ^ ' *°°^ '"'"^^- Silefia, wherehetnT A ^"^ ,"^^^^^'"g towards nburg. and la.d fiege to the important fortreli hes ia-« i66 1758. MILITARY MEMOIRS SK l^'W of Cuftrin. Count Dohna, though he cbfely at. jkuRopE. tended their motions, was by no means in a fitua- tion to give them battle. His army was by far too much inferior in number to hazard fuch a ftep, and, in a matter of fuch importance, the perfonal attendance of his Prufiian Majefty was abfolutely neceflary. Marshal Daun*8 reputation, as a general, was greatly heightened by this laft meafure. This com- mandcr feems to have been exprefsly formed to penetrate the defigns, thwart the meafures, and check the daring genius of the PruiTian monarch. He was compared to the celebrated Roman gene- ral, Fabius Maximus, whom he greatly refembled in vigilance, caution, and fagacity. His Prufiian Majefty*s reputation fufFercd no abatemen* j for it muft be acknowledged, that his genius and abilities were more confpicuous in extricating himfelf from the greatell: dangers, than in his moft complete vidories. In the former, the merit was entirely his own ; in the latter, fortune was entitled to a ihare in the praife. Here we fhall leave the Prufiian monarch advancing with his ufual celerity, to give battle to the Ruflians, in order to attend the operations oi another great general. Prince Ferdinand. CHAP, OF GREAT BRITAIN. 167 temen'- : for it CHAP. XIV. Prmce Ferdinand pajes the Rhine^Battle of Cre. njelt-^Battle of Sangerfoaufcn^Adion at Meer —Prince Ferdinand repafes the Rhine— -Allies defeated at Lanwerenhagen^They retire into imnter-qiiarters. Prince Ferdinand, finding that he could not '758. prevent the French from paffing the Rhine, pur- b^S. lued them acrofs that river, on the ift of June and paffed it, in fight of their whole army, at ?-« Fcr, Herven and Rees. Aftonilhed at the boldnefs of tZ p^'" this paiTage, ^hey retired towards Meurs ; while ^'"'• It was plain he defigned to pafs the Maefe, and thereby oblige the Prince de Soubife to abandon an enterprife he was meditating againft Hcfle CaffeL To prevent his executing this fcheme, the French at laft made a ftand at Crevelt, with their nght towards the village of Vifchelon, and their left towards Anrath ; Crevelt lying in the front of their right. In fhort, their fituation was Itrong, their difpofitions judicious, and it required great exertion of military genius to attack them with any appearance of fuccefs. A wood covered their left wing at Anrath ; and the Prince, after accurately reconnoitring all their vifible polls, and ^forming himfelf of the nature of the crround judged that an attack on the flank of theh- right ^ving was the moft pradlicablc. It was necefl-arv this attack Ihould be favoured by two others j 3? i68 lUROPE. ?attlc of ^irevclc. MILIi VRY MEMOIRS which, though real, were in a g at mcafure to be continued or difcontinued according to tlie fuc- cefs of the main one, which was to be condudcd by liimfelf. He accordingly advanced, at the head of tlir grenadiers, againfl the enemies left wing, which fuffered feverely from the luperior fire of the Ha- noverian artillery : but the French, favoured by the wood, ftill maintained their pods, which made it necefiary to dino.i,<^e them by a clofer engage- ment. This was > -gun by the gallant Heredi- tary Prince of Brunfwic, at the head of the firfl line of foot, with which he had formed a front againft the wood, and the fire of the mufkctry here cpntinued inceifantly for two hours and a half. The Hanovt iian infantry at lafl penetrated into the wood, where they found two ditches lined with troops, which were fucceilively forced. This intrepidity threw the French into a diforder, which was a prelude to the defeat of that wing ; but a defeat which in its confequences was no way correfpondent to the courage and condud of the conquerors. The French cavalry were not to be broken by the utmofl: efforts of the Hanoverian horfe, and, notwithftanding a mo; dreadful fire, maintained themfclves in good order upon the plain, and covered the remains of their infantry of the left wing, as they were driven out of the wood. The two other attacks went no farther than cannonading ; but though the enemy fuffered by it, their right wing and center retired in goo^ order to Nuys. y OF GREAT BRITAIN. 159 There is great reafon to believe that the iofs »758. on both fiJes in ; s adlon was carefully conceal- ''^^^ ed. That of the French, in killed, wounded, and prifoncrs, w^ 7000, according to the bed accounts ; and uic lofs of the Hanoverians c\'- cecded 5000 : but it is difficult to afcertain the lofs an army that is victorious, and keeps the field ot battle. In this engagement fell the Count count de dc Glfors, the only fon of the Duke de Belleifle, £^'"" *^^' a y ung nobleman not above 25 years of age, but fo amiable in his nners,,and fo accomplifhed in his perfon, that m mm feem to have expired the remains of French urbanity and m ue. Books, travelling, converfation, and ftudy, had given him every kind of knowledge, except that of war, which he refolved to gain by experience; but he fell at the head of his regiment, in his firft eflay. Though the military merit of Prince Ferdi- nand, and the courage of his troops, were emi- nently confpicuous in this adlion, yet fome were apt to wifh, that tiicy had been employed on an occafion, in which fuccefs might have been at- tended by decifion. The French, notwithftand- ing their repulfe at Crevelt, drew fuch refources from their own country, as not only made them ftronger than ever, but enabled them to reinforce the Prince dc Soubife. Prince Ferdinand was confcious of his inferiority, and fought to avail himfelf of his vidory. He paiTed the Rhine, and, on the 29th of June, appeared before the impor- tant city of DufTeldorp, fituated on that river, be- longing to the Eleaor Palatine, and the capital of X 2 ^ > N\. % IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET {MT-3) // // 4rj bring no mo^ .^ to, e held than they had done; the Dutch hid abfolutely refufed to join us ; and to receive ^^I mpraacable. All thefe conf.derations, joined to the d,lpont,ons ol the public in their feviur « couraged the Engliih miniftry to fend about ,0,000 Brifilh troops, under the Duke of M, 11, , .0 Hanover , and they hadTnL^^E^rnt' J'T - bout the ,,mc the unfortunate battle was fouVh;-^'" at Sangerihaufen. It muft be obferved rhrfh new e«abllftn,ent of a militia in EnZd' wtt T. «h fo much fuccefs at this time,' hat f! c nC derable an evacuation of regular rn„„. Act felt nor dreaded by thelublic '^^ "^ "^'- the ™/,! r"""* ^'"' ^^P^ff^'' 'h- Rhine; but the roads he had to march through were =1 "f ""Paffable, by the rains that had failed and were abated, could he pafs the bridge at Rees toZrZT'^ f"- ""ho/with about' « Tt hfalir'" °' ''^ ^"''"^ '™°P^ -" Fr«cr'"« ' ^''?'^' '^' "'°" '■aive of all the r™ch oacers, had formed a plan, which, if U 1758. MILITARY MEMOIRS BUROPB. had fucceeded, mufl: have put the allies into the grcateft perplexity. His plan was, to diflodgc ImhofF, to burn the bridge at Rees, to make himfclf mafler of the magazine, and to render the jundion of the Englifli troops with the Hanovc. rians imprafticable. To execute this judicious fcheme, he had flrengthened himfelf with draughts from garrifons, whivih cncreafed his army to abo« 1 2,000 men, while that under Imhoff did not ex- cced 3000. But while the French general thought himfelf fecure of his blow, a refolution, not per. haps wholly uninfluenced by defpair, (for he could obtain no fuccours from Prince Ferdinand, be* caufe the fwell of the waters flill continued) prompted ImhofF to become the aggreflbr. He then lay near Meer, to the right of the Rhine; and, on the 5th of Auguft, his detachm.ent, with Gcn.fmhofftiieir bavoncts fixed, attacked all the armv under defeats the ' , . . ' French. Chevcrt, whilc they were in difficult ground, and in a critical fituation. An attack fo fpirited and unexpected, ftruck the French with a panic, from which all the cflbrts of the general could not recover them. Their refiftance did not continue half an "hour ; for they took refuge under the can- non of Wefel, leaving many dead upon the field, with a great number of prifoners, and 1 1 pieces of cannon, in the hands of the Hanoverians. Af- ter this victory, which did ImhofF great honour^ he fccured his magazines at Meer, and after re- ceiving a few reinforcements, which pafTed the Rhine in boats from Prince Ferdinand's army, he inarched to meet the Britifh joined without farther trouble* troops, whom he I OF GREAT BRITAIN. »73 EUKOPK. lUunc. Prince Ferdinand was now to repafs the Rhine, which he did under the grrateft difficulties ; dif- Acuities in which the gallantry of his officers, and the fpirit of his troops, were eminently difplayed. The Hereuitary Prince forced a ftrong poft pof- feflfed by the French at Wachtendonck, being the firft who plunged into the river to attack it, and was followed by his grenadiers, who diflodged the enemy with fixed bayonets. This bold adion en- creafed the terror of the French ; and, though the Pnncc Fcr- bridge at Rees continued ftill impaffiible, Prince piffeftC" Ferdinand effeded his paflage, on the 9th of""'" Auguft, at Griethuyfter, a little below that bridge. The operations on both fides feenied to ian- guifh for a confiderable time. Prince Ferdinand entirely adopted the defenfive plan. The grand army under M. de Contades found it impoffible to difturb the admirable difpofition of his army along the Lippe ; and the Prince of Yfenburg, with the few forces he had under him, maintain- ed his ports upon the Wefer 5 fo that the French had hitherto made little progrefs, either againft HelTe, or Hanover. Senfible that an attack upon the main body of the allies would prove a dange- rous attempt, the French refolved to ftrengthen the Prince de Soubife's army, fo as to enable him to diflodge the Prince of Yfenburg from the Wefer, and to open a palTage into the Landgraviate. Prince Ferdinand was aware of their intention, and fent the Prmce a detachment under General Obcrg ; but, after it had joined him, all the force of the allies m Heffe did not exceed 15,000 men. They were attacked, on the 30th of September, at «74 MILITARY MEMOIRS !!£!: Lanwerenhagen, by the Prince de Soubife, at the WROj-E. head of about 30,000 men ; and were defeated and forced to take fhdter in fome ftrong grounds' covered with woods, in the neighbourhood, with the lofs of about 1500 men. Prince Ferdinand flew to theif relief fo critically, that the Prince was enabled to join him at Ilheda. This, how. ever, neceffarily uncovered the eledorate, fo as to lay it open to the incurfions of the enemy, whofe light troops penetrated even to the gates of Hanover. Nothing further was atchleved by the allies, during the remaining part of the feafon. The troops were difpofcd in the Landgraviate of Heffe Caffel, and in the biihoprics of M anfter, Pader- born, and Hildefheim. The French eftabliihed their winter-quarters in Weftphalia, and extend- cd themfelves along the Rhine, fo as to command the whole courfe of that river, on both fides.-. Upon the whole, the campaign in Weftphalia, this year, was rather bloody, than advantageous to either party. Both parties had negledted, or had it not in their power, to improve their viae ries ; and, .n reality, reput-^ .n was all that ei- ther fide had loft or won ; and, in that refped, the advantage lay clearly on the fide of Prince Ferdinand and his troops. The Britifh forces had no opportunity of %. nalizing themfelves this campaign ; but they fuf. fered greatly by the feverity of the climate and feafon ; and their commander, the Duke of Marl. borough, died of a dyfentery at Munfter, univer- felly lamented. By his death, the command of the Britifh troops devolved on Lord George Sackville. OF GREAT BRITAIN, " '7f CHAP. XV. Critical fiualhn cf his Pruf.a„ MajcJly-.Re„eau marches ,m Saxony— Surf ri/id at Hohkirchen and ^caiei Marches info Sikf.a-Coun, Da2 lapfose to Drefden-The fuburbs lurn,-^" 'fPruffia ra,fes ,he f,^e of Neifs and cSl lieturm into Saxom Tl,, A„i> ■ ■ ■' Bohemia. "'"'y—T'" ^Hflnans ret.rc into The affairs of his Pruflian Majefty were never '22l KuJians had now penetrated into the New Marche of Brandenburg, where tl,ey were benegl„/ca- fc|n , and a few days would have led the! fo the K..„r . dcfencelefs gates of Berlin Tl,= « j ■ , >"'"«!■■' eaincdarnnn^ 1. T -^ns Swedes had criik,in. a Mameufet ""p ^™'^''" generals, Wedel * and Manteufel in Pomerania ; and the army of ft „l nl ' T"^"°' °"'r P°ffeffed of many tag pofts on the frontiers of Mifnia, but be^ ruffia, who lay at D.epoldfwald with about «: wa""''"''" °^""' -o'^4 allo^^^ ">' Ivng of Pruflia into Silefia, fou,etimes again! tuation. ..J xyS MILITARY MEMOIRS )8. Berlin ; but, laft, ____^^ aving the Generals Harfch JUROPE, and de Ville on the fouthcrn frontiers of Silelia, to amufe the Pruflians, he began his march, by Zittau, Goerlitz, and Bautzen, towards Drefden. By croffing at Meiflen, he might have cut off all communication between Drefden and Leipfic ; and, by attacking Prince Henry, who was now encamp. ed at Seidelitz, he might have put him between two fires, that of his own army, and that of the army of the empire. But the vigilance ot Prince Henry, who fecured a communication with his biother, and took care to keep Drefden at his back, fruftrated, for that time, all the fchemes of that cautious general. In the mean time, his Pruflian Majefty, riot- withflanding all the interruption given him by the Auftrians, marched by Wifoca, Politz, and Land- fhut ; and, on the 20th of Auguft, he reached FraSfort Franckforl on the Oder. Here he joined the on the troops undcr Count Dohna. The Rufiians had, ever fince the 1 5th, been throwing bombs and red-hot balls into Cuftrin ; by which the place was fet on fire, and the inhabitants reduced to the mod deplorable flate that imagination can form ; and, to complete their misfortune, their principal magazine had blown up. Frederic haflened to avenge himfelf on thofe deftroyers of his dominions. On the 23d, he paffed the Oder, with his whole army, about 'io miles to the north coaft of Cuftrin. The Ruf- fians, on his approach, marched from before Cuflrin, and took pofl between the villages of Zwickau and Zorndorff.— ^The King had now to Oder. OF GREAT BRITAIN. ,77 Cope with an enemy, with whom he had never 1758. been perfonally engaged before. The greateft ,". generals have their faihngs j and that of his Pruf- fian Majcfty, is perhaps a too great difregard for his enemies. He confidered the Ruffians as bar* bariansi without relieving, that they were bar- barians who never knew how to yield ; and that they were commanded by officers of experience, who knew how to turn that barbarifm, which he affeaed to defpife, into fteady courage, and mi- litary difcipline, fo as to baffle all the efforts of more ad:ive valoun His Pruffian Majefty at firfl attempted to put Rattle .f in praftice one of thofe military motions in which ^""""• he had been often fuccefsful, by turning the left flank of the enemy, and attacking them in the rear. The Ruffians^ forefeeing his defign, had thrown themfelves into a kind of hollow fquare, which prefented him every way with a front for! tified by artillery, and chevaux de frize. It was therefore neceffary for the King to attack them with his artillery. The cannonading began at nine in the morning, by a mod dreadful difcharge of great and fmall artillery, in which the Pruffians were greatly fuperior ; and which did amazing execution upon the Ruffians, who Hood as if they had been invulnerable, and fupplied every va- cuity in their ranks> with unparallelled readinefs and alacrity. This behaviour was new to the Pruffians, who, feeing their enemy in a manner court death, made a paufe ; which the firft line of the Ruffians, having exhaufted their Ihot, im- proved into a panic, by breaking in upon them Y J f78 MILITARY MEMOIRS EUKOPX. ^758- with their fwords and bayonets, and which forced the hitherto iinpenarable body of the Pruflian in. fantry to recoil. This change in the fortune of the day, cffeaed by their broken and defeated battalions, was fo unexpeded by the Ruffian gc- nerals, that they made no difpofitions for fupport- ing their infantry with their cavalry. Had this been done, this day had probably been the laft of the Pruffian greatnefs. Frederic, whofc prefcnce of mind never fail, ed him, was not fo negligent. He inftamly brought the whole of his cavalry under General Seidelitz to the center, and they made head a- gainft the fatigued Mufcovites, while the Pruffian infantry, recovering from their diforder, and ftung Xvith what had happened under the eye of their fovereign, formed behind them, and made fo dreadful a charge upon the unfupported Ruffian battalions, that they recovered the field. When the Ruffians are beat, they never fly ; but they grow ftupid, unlefs they are under the command of generals 4n whom they have a great confidence. At prefent, they were under no command j and, unable to advance farther, they remained where they were, plundering their own baggage, and drinking brandy, wherever they could find it. To encreafe their confufion, the wind blew the duft and fmoke diredly in their faces, while their cool enemies, by their King's directions, improved every advantage. It was now no longer a battle, but a horrid and undiftinguifhing carnage. Still the Ruffians, amidft this inconceivable flaughter, kept their ground. At laft, their cavalry, as yet Battle of Cuftrin. OF GREAT BRITAIN. •79 unbroken. Ml upon the left wing of the Prufllans, .7J». now fatigued with conqueft and carnage, and — favoured the broken infantry fo far, as to eive """• them an opportunity of forming anew, and marrh- Z^r^l,wTT S'"""''— The lofs of theur... Rulhans m this battle, amounted to above 21 000 '"'"^» men, m k.lled, wounded, and prifoners ; amo'ngd v-hom were 939 officers. Ten thoufand were kill- ed upon the fpot, and the wounds of above 6000 more proved mortal. The Pruflians did not lofe above 2000 men in the whole ; and the Ruflian m .ta,y cheft and a noble train of artillery, feU mto their hands. , ' The Ruffian generals having colIeSed the broken remains of their army, gave orders for a ret eat, and they marched to Landfperg on the frontiers of Poland; while their general in chief Fermor, requefcd the King of Pruffiafor leave to bury the dead. This viflory, glorious and complete as it was gave no relief to his Pruffian Majefty. LauTeU and thorns grew on every f.de of him. He made . po mons for improving his viSory , but dagger - *d h,m towards Saxony, where Marffial Dai P d to t em by neceffity. or invited by a cer. my of fuccefs was encamped at Stolpen, to eallward of the Elbe. This fituation, in which e was more fafety than glory, fcrv'ed, hoi ™s °ri .f "P'""""^ "^ "><= Aullria« r ;,r ""^ ''"'"'^ ""f'^''' "^^ Ville, and i8o MILITARY MEMOIRS I75P. KUR.OPE The refolutions of the Imperial court, in all matters of war, are taken with the utmoft fecrecv} and every miuidcr and Aulic counfcUor there, is cither a general, or a judge of generals. It was therefore diOicuit to pronounce, whether Daun's not proceeding to ofFenflve operations, in the ab- fence of his Prullian Majelty, againfl Prince Henry in Saxony, over whom he had fo great a fuperio* rity, did not proceed from the felfiflmefs of the court of Vienna. They had promifed the King of Poland, and all their allies, that the recovery of Saxony fliould be the cliief, if not the only objccl of the campaign ; but it is prefumed, i..at they would have been much better pleafed to have re- covered Silefia. While Daun overawed Prince Henry, and hi! Pruflian Majefty was employing his army againft the Ruflians, Laudohn lay upon the borders of Brandenburg, with the apparent intention of draw- ing the PrulTian troops to the northern, while Ilarfch and de Ville aded in the fouthern parts of that province. The ftrong fortrefs of Sonneftein, in the neighbourhood of Drefden, which had long overawed Daun, furrendered, in a very unac- countable manner, to the Auftrian general, Mac- quire, on the 5th of September. Upon this, Daun propofcd to execute the plan he had form- ed in the beginning of the campaign j that of pafTmg the Elbe, and putting Prince Henry be- tween his fire and that of the army of the empire, and thereby cutting off the communication be- tween the Prince and Drefden. But his PrulTian Majefly was by this time on the borders of Saxony. OF L..(EAT BRITAIN. ift The terror of his approach obliged Laudohn to »758. forego his advantages in the Lower Lufatia, and ^^^ to fall back upon Daun, who was fo far from executing his grand plan, that he retired to Zit- tau, fo as to have lioheniia at his back ; while the army of the empire remained inadive in the Itrong pofl at Pima, which thc7 ^^^d fcized. Those glorious fucceffes of the Pruflian mo- narch, who in the fpace of fifteen days had defeated a fupcrior body of his enemies in one extremity of his dominions, and baffled, without fighting, another fupcrior body in another extremity, gave' him refpite rather than fecurity. The Swedes, on hearing of his viftory at Zorndorff, had retired in diiorder; but they ftill kept their arms in their hands, without evacuating his dominions. The Ruffians had ftill a ftrong footing in the moft po- pulous parts of his territories j and he had no fuperiority in Saxony, but that of generalfhip and reputation. In fhort, his affairs were ftill in the moft critical fituation j and the leaft error, or neglea, threatened ftill to plunge him into an a- hyfs of calamity and misfortune. Daun ftill kept poffeflion of his almoft impreg- s:t„,tion<,f nable camp at Stolphen ; and the Pruflian mo- ''"''^^''^'^'• narch had taken poft at Bautzen ; a fituation, by which he was enabled to ad as he pleafcd on the fide either of Mifnia or Lufatia, his right wing extendmg to Hohkirchen. B/ this pofitlon of the two armies, it appeared, that the Marfhal intend- ed to cut off the King's communication with Si- ^fia, and the King to cut ofF that of the Mar- M mh Bohemia. The fituation of his Maje- I 1 92 1758. KVKorc. h MILTTAKY MEMOIRS fly, however, was, upon the whole, the mod ad- vantageous of the two. A battle fcemed inevit- able J ard it was evident, from the fituation of both armies, that the qggreflbr would have the difadvantage. It will, perhaps, be ever a fecret, by what means Daun came to have intelligence thaL the Pruffians were more carelefsly encamped, and more remifs in their quarters, than uluai. He had before concerted meafures with the Prince of Deux-Ponts, who commanded the army of the empire, for a general battle ; uud, in the dead of the night, on the 14th of Odober, he order- ed his army to decamp in three columns, and to march, by different ways, with '■'e utmoft filence, fo as all the three divifions fhould meet together near the Prullian camp, at five in the morning. Daun's orders were obeyed with aftonifiiing fecrecy and precifion. 'ilie divifions, in falling in with one another, formed a regular line of Knyof battle, and almoft inflantaneoufly attacked the imftd in his rruUian camp towards Hohkirchen, where it was SSLr'. weakeft. Confidering the bravery and difcipline «*^ of Daun*s army, and the advantages under which 'this attack was made, it is aftonifiiing that a fingle battalion of the Pruflians fliould efcape. Not a fhot was fired by any of the Pruffian out-guards ; and their enemies were in the midft of their en- campment, while they imagined them to be lying at Stolpen. Field-Marshal Keith had, the day before, pointed out fonie weaknefTes in the Prufllan en- campment, and had even remonftrated to his Ma- jefty on that occafion. He was the firft gencial OF GREAT BRITAIN. ere it was fcated. bfficer who got upon horfeback, and gave the a- larm to h,s quarter : and to his vigilanee and ae- ,v,ty was ,t ow,„g that the whole army was not cut off, for the fmall party under him, gained time for the.r tellow-foldiers to put th^nffelves under arms. Tlic Marflml K™, "civcs „„,!,. r . u ™irmal, however, was killed on the fpot, by two mulket-balls ; and the head ^ ot Pnnce Francs of Brunfwic was carried off by a can„on-ba , as he was mounting his horfe. The dea, of thole two great offieers, the next in com! n>and as ,n ment to the King himfelf, fccmed to portend the entire lols of the armv • h,u Maieftyhadbyti.isti.ea^rLe'toJr «re formed. Weder.c perhaps never had fo dif. " ficult a part to aft. The conteft was ngt now for v.aory, far lefs for glory, but for fafety. ^L- flew from pofl. to port, with that inconceivabe rap. .ty, and prefence of mind, which fo flrongl mark Ins charader. As his right wing was I .he greateft danger, he reinforced it with fome battalions from the left • inH ,„^ 7 covff fl,„ • ' "endeavoured to re- °Z r ""''°"™' '*'* "^ Hohkirchcn, from .=h h,s troops had been driven in the be.i,^ n«ig of tlie attack. ° Ims reinforcement enabled hhr, after fo-.r ^'oody charges, to retake t!,at poft ; bm tie Au nans „, .,„ ^n,,, ,, ,' ;^„J «;- teow „r ™ """""S laughter. General Pn r . ~""«"m which and fmall, ' General )eared be- I batteries as pradi- at for fix :. Thofe f the offi- II a coun- and his that bane Milibay Mtmnnt. I ''■ Cnf^rrwral /y< oje^M'^yn, .ymkay MmtMnt. OF GREAT BRITAIN. ,53 of all our national enterprizes. He was rcfolved 1758. to land the troops nt aU events. '=^ On the 8tJi of June, the furf was a little aba- ''"'" ted, and difpofitions were made fot landing the troops in three divifions. I'he left, which was dclhncd to the real attack, was commanded by General Wolfe ; the divifions in the center and right, were only intended to draw off the enemy's attention, and to diftrad their defence. The boats now rowed brifkly towards the fliore, while the frigates and armed Hoops kept up an incef- fant hre upon the enemy. The French referved their tire till the Britilh troops were near the /liore, and then gave it in full effed, both from their cannon and mulketry; but neither the flaugh- ter of men, the overfetting and wrecking of boats, nor the advantageous pofition of the enemy, could daunt the affailants. The gallant Wolfe was the foreniofl in this hot fervice. He leaped into the furt, and his example was followed by his whole divifion. Each encouraged his neighbour. Thofe The troops who could not jump, waded afhore j and at laft ''"''''" tae whole fell upon the enemy, and drove them irom their ports ; upon which the other two di- vifions made good their landing, with far lefs lofs than could have been expeded. The Chevaher Drucour, the governor of Louif- hourg, having received detachments into the town - deftroycd his out-pofts, and prepared for a vigo- rous defence. The furf on the fliore continu- ' Jng, rendered it aifficult to land the artillery and t-ie mrpiernenis neceiTary for the liege ; and the i^rench had in the harbour of Louifbourg, five A a 2 «94 MILITARY MEMOIRS ^5?» men of war, who could bring all their artillery to *MSRiCA. bear upon the approaches ot the Britifh troops. Thofe difficulties were all furmoimted by perfe- verance, intrepidity, and judgment. Geij. Wolfe, on the 2 2d of June, took from the enemy, a poft called the light-houfe battery, by which he was enabled to annoy the enemy's fhips, and the bat- teries on the other iide of the harbour. On the 45th, he filenced what was called the ifland bat- tery, which bore the hardeft upon our forces. Notwithftanding this, the enemy continued to inake a brave rcfillance ; but, on the 21ft of July, a fliell from the Britifli batteries fet fire to one of their . fhips, which immediately blew up, and two other men of war having caught the flame, were alfo deflroyed, This lofs feemed to damp the garrifon, and the admiral now thought it pradicabje to deflroy the two remaining fhips. To cffed this, a detachment of about 600 feamen Were fent in boats, under the command of Cap. tains Laforey and Balfour, who executed their inflrudlions with amazing intrepidity and luccefs. They towed one of the fhips out of the harbour, and burnt the other which ran aground. Upon the fuccefs of this fpirited enterprlfe, a council of war was held within the place, and it was determined to treat about a capitulation. Dru- cour, at firlt, deman^ied the terms that were granted to the garrifon of 3t. Philip in Minorca j but the Pritifh admiral and general, m a joint letter, informed him, that they were about to enter the harbour, and batter the town, in which pafe Jie muft fland tp all the bloody confcquence?. OF GREAT BRITAIN. .^^ if he and his garrifon did not inft-.ntly furrender 1758. priloners of war ; which they immediatelv did =^ The taking of this important place, refleaed d^r jnddible difgrace on the French government '"''""''"*• prucour, and the troops under his command] behaved w.rh fpirit ; and though they were weU provided with artillery, (lores, and ammunition, yet the fortifications were Ihamefully negleaed • and the French court had failed in all its promifes to Drucour, of finding him a force from Canada fufficent to raife the fiege. The harbour of Louif- pourg had always been a receptacle for the ene- my s privateers, who infeiled the North American feas, and the redudion of it gave infinite fatisfac- tion to ail the Britifh colonies. The ifland of St John, and all the French ftations for carrying on' their filhery, towards Gafpefie and the bay dc Chaleurs, furrendered in confequence of the tak- ing or Louimourg. When the news of this important event arrived mBmam, it could fcarcely be credited ; fo much nad the pubhc, of l,te years, been accuftomed to "..fcamages in America. Indeed, the acquifuion ot die place «ras not of greater fervice than the lp.r.t It raifed m the people, who were now con- vmced, that the high ideas we had entertained of he French power had been the chief means of *e,r fucceft. They had been infulted in their »n country, and deprived of the ftrongeft, as well as the mofl convenient place they held in America; for Loninir„.-o^ ,.„. .1,. _!._; r J ;. 6 ""^- i"«- piatc ui rcn— n'wry, and all the troops they fent to Canada. Mg6 1758. AMERICA. Exfetirtion a-gai'nft Ti- cuuikroga. I Skirmifh iwith tlic enemies ad' xanred guiurd. MILITARY MEMOIRS The views of the Britifh government were not confined to this object, however important it might be. It was judged expedient, if not ne- ceflary, to drive the French from Ticonderoga, deemed their mofl impregnable pafs on the conti- nent of America, and Crown Point, which Ticon- deroga covered. General Abercrombie, who had fucceeded Lord Loudon as commander in chief of the Biitifh forces in America, undertook this expedition. On the 5th of July, he embarked upon Lake George, with about 16,000 troops, regulars and provincials, and a numerous well provided artil- lery f and, next day, he effedted his landing with- out oppofition, the advanced guard of the French retiring at his approach. It is impoffible to con- vey to the reader, without he has been in Ame- rica, a juft idea of the face of the country, which lies between the place of landing and Ticonde- roga. It had, perhaps, never been trode by hu- man feet, if we except the favage, thinly fcatter- cd, natives. The Britilh troops had no diredion for their march, but the quarters of the heavens ; and even thefe were intercepted by the trees of the v/oods through which they were obliged to pafs. No wonder, therefore, if both officers and men, who cannot be fuppofed to have been very expert alironomers, lofl their way in this more than bewildering march. The French advanced guard did the fame, and fell in with our forces. A fiiirmilh cnfued, in which 300 French were killed, and 148 taken prilbners. But this ren- counter, though the Engliili were viftoriou^, coft OF GREAT BRITAIN, Lo" Howe ^°' '" *" ''"^ "'">' '°" "'^ S^""^"' The name of this nobleman obliges us to in- terrupt our narrative to commemorate his virtues. He famed formed, by nature, for all that was a- .mable m focety and great in war. While he .fed the order, he fet the example ; and by his behavu,ur to h,s fuperiors. he taught his inferiors .l>e,r duty towards him. To great merit as an officer, he added great genius as a foldier. From . e moment he landed in America, he refolved to adapt h,mfdf to the fervice he was engaged in difcouragmg and difficult as it was, by retrench ing m h,s own perfon every fuperfluity that he was" enwled to from his rank, either as a nobleman or an officer even to the cutting off his hair, riie common foldier faw him fare like himfelf • Jiord,d he feem to affeft the leaft pre-eminence! bu mh,s forwardnefsfc encounter danger, and n ure fat^ue. His officers and foldier! chear- fully obeyed the commander, becaufe they loved 1.^ man ; and indeed he appeared to be rather .n>.«ed, than obeyed, by all under his command^ 1H£ Brifffi army, which had marched in four columns, appeared before Ticonderoga, on the bt: t^^'^'°"'^'"""^'^''--'^'- bthveen I ake George, and a gut which commu- .ca.es wuh Lake Champlain. S'he FrenchTaJ been apprifed of this expedition, and had omitted Sir ''f" ";^ "''' '"'P^^Snable. It It acccllable only m front : where a l^ge i--- ;« .0 be paired, the vacuities" of whlh'Xe %'.cd by a fortifcation eight or ten feet hTgfC '97 1758. AMERICA. »98 MILITARY MEMOIRS KS^' vitW furniflied with cannon^ and lined by about The engineer reconnoitred the ground accord- ing to General Abercrombie*s order, and gave in his report, that he thought the entrenchment} prafticable by mulketry alone. This fatal report produced a refolution, not to wait the arrival of the artillery, which, on account of the badnefs of the ground, could not be eafily brought up, but to attack the enemy immediately. This refolu-' tlon was confirmed by a rumour, that the French were about to be joined with 3000 troops, who were on their march to Ticonderoga. The attack was made with that vigour and intrepidity peculiar to Britifh troops ; and they performed every thing but impoflibilities. The pafs was not only fortified, as already defcribed, but ihut up with vaft trees felled down with their leaves towards the affailants, fo as both to conceal and favour the French. They marched up to the attack with an undaunted refolution, and fuf* tained a moft dreadful fire without flinching. The ThcBritifli enemy, fccure in their intrenchments, deliberate-' troops ic^^ j^ direftcd their fire, and the carnage of the Bri- piillcd wit (reat lofs. tifh troops was horrible. The general, at laft, convinced that the attempt was imprafticable, or- dered a retreat, after lofing 2000 men, in killed, wounded, and taken prifoners, in the adion, which laded about four hours. The troops, on this unfortunate occafion, behaved with the great- cfl intrepidity. Lord John Murray's highland regi- ment (the 42d) futfered greatly ; above one-half of the private men, and twenty-five officers, were cither killed on the fpot, or defperately wounded. I OF GREAT BRITAm. ,^^ There was plainly a defe£t of judgment In »758. this precipitate attack ; but it is not to this day ===== determined where the blame ought to lie Ac '''''^''^^* corduig to the general's account, he was" mifml forrnol by the engineer. But ought he not per- fonaJi) 10 have reconnoitred the enemy's works and not trufted entirely to the vague reports of lus enguieer ?~ Would a Wolfe, a Ferdinand, or a Frederic aded in that ungeneral-like manner .^-. But, be this as it will, the retreat feems to have been the wifeft, as well as the mod expeditious Frt of this enterprife ; for the Britifh army re. gained their camp to the fouthward of Lake George, on the evening after the aftion. To compenfate in fome meafure for this unfor- tunate aiiair, Colonel Bradftreet was fent with 3000 Irovincials againR Fort Frontenac, the gar- Fortrron. nlon of which was underltood to be but weak *^"^"=^^''^"« Ihe great difficulty of this expedition, lay in the length of way which the army had to furmount. beiore they could come at their objed. At laft With allonifliing perfeverance, the Colonel -arrived at Olwego embarked on Lake Ontario, and, on !r Tl /"^"^' '^"^ ^''^^''' ^--^ l^^°»tenac, w .ch flands near the communication between that ake and the river St. Laurence. It could not be expeded, that a place garrifoned as that was only by 150 men, could make any confi- erable rehltance. The colonel, two days after 'e came before it, took it, without the lofs of a man and dcitroyed a large • magazine of provi- louthern fo N me armed floops were alfo taken and burnt, ajid fi b 20O MILITARY MEMOIRS ^75^' the fort was deftroyed, bccaufe, as matters were AMERICA, then circumftaiiced, it would have been facrificing men to have left a garrifon within a place at fuch a diftar.ce from our own ellabliftiments. Expedition The execution of the expedition intended a- du quciiie. gainfl Fort du Quefne was committed to General Forbes, an ofllccr of great experience, who had been tutored in the art of war by General Camp- bell, who loft his life at Fontenoy, and who had been prefent at mod of the confiderable aftions in Europe during the preceding war. He had now a fpacious field to difplay his talents. This en- terprife had hitherto been fatal to our troops ; and the failings of his predeceffors contributed to render the general more cautious and circumfped:. He particularly adverted to thofe deficiencies which had occafioned the fall of the unfortunate Brad- dock. — He marched from Fhiladelpliia, with a confiderable army, through a prodigious track of country,j intricate and unknown, and infefted on every fide by the enemy's Indians. Major Grant, with a body of Highlanders and Provincials, as being moft proper for that fervice, had the com- mand of the advanced guard, which confided of about 800 men ; but advancing too near the fort, probably with an intention of furprifing it, he was defeated and taken prifoner by the garrifon. The fort a- The main body of the army coming up, the gar- liy'thc'ene- Tifon, which did not exceed 500 men, after da- "'y* maging their works, fell down the Ohio, and left the general to enter the place. The fort was repaired, and the name changed, with an obvi- ous propriety, to that of Pittfi3urg.-:-The general OF GREAT BRITAIN. returned to Philaddphia; but did not long furvlve his fucctfs, his conftitution having been fxhaufted by the Incredible fatigues of the fervice. Though the fucceffes of the Britifh arms in America this year were neither Itriking nor fplen- did, they were folid and advantageous. The fe, curity of our back fettlements, which was the primary objed of the war on our part, was effe^- ed ; and the enemy, by the lofs of Louifbourg, winch may be termed the American Dunkirk was deprived of the fource of all their fupplies ; and their other fettlements were now open and expofdd to the attacks of the Britilh forces. The tranfaaions of the war in the Eaft-Indies were chequered with various fuccefs. The French had fent a confiderable reinforcement, under the command of General Lally, an officer of Irilh ex- traclion, from whofe great experience fanguine hopes were conceived. Lally, though one of the bravefl foldiers in the French fervice, was the moft unfit man in the world to be connected with a trading company. He was proud, fierce, and precipitate; and there was a mixture of avarice in his difpofition, ivhich tempted him to fliare in their gain. Bred up to arms from his tarjiefl youth, he carried the fpirit of difcipline to a faulty extreme, even in this country, where the nature the fervice required its relaxation.— They had likewife fittd out a new armament under M. d Ache, who commanded their marine. '-M1RAL Pocock, who had lucceeded Admi- atfon, was reinforced 201 1758. AMERICA, n\ ASIA. B b the bcginninpf of 1L0% MILITARY MEMOIRS 1758. ASIA. Engagc- inent be- tween Po- pock and d'Ache. Fort St. P : id ta- the year with feveral fhips under Commodore Stevens. Upon this jundion, he immediately failed in quell of the French fleet, whom he dif- covered, on the zgth of March, in the road of Fort St. David. It confided of eight Ihips of the line, and a frigate. They immediately Itood out to fea, and formed the line of battle ; and Pocock, ^vhofe fleet confided only of feven fliips, fol- lowed their example, and, bearing down upon M. d'Ache, began the engagement. The action was fupported with great warmth for two hours, when the French commodore llieered off. Being afterwards joined by two more fhips of war, he again fliowed an inclination to renew the engage- ment. But this was merely to amufe the Britifh admiral ; for, in the night, they made no fignal, nor fhowed any lights, and next morning they were not to be feen.- — Three of Admiral Pocock's captains miflDchaved in this engagement. They had acquired immcnfe riches, which they were impatient to enjoy in their country ; and this impatience might probably relax their attention to difcipline. Lally, in the mean time, had landed his troops at Pondicherry, and laid ficge to Fort St. David, while the fquadron blocked it up by fea. The garrifon, being deftitute of provifions and frefli Vv^ater, furrendered in twelve days, after having fudained a fevere bombardment.- — Admi- ral Pocock, having repaired his fliips, went again in qued of the French fquadron, whom he came up with on the 3d of Augud. They would will- :o an engagement j comm; OF GREAT BRITAIN. 403 1758- ASIA. but finding that impradicable, tht7 maintained a running fight for near an hour, when they crowd- ed all their fail, put before the wind, and efcaped Into the road of Pondicherry. The lofs of the .second en- trench, in this adion, amounted to 540 in killed s's^-"'"' and wounded ; and that of the Englilh did not P'-"and exceed 146. D' Ache's fquadron was likewlfe fo *"''''''• much damaged, that, in the beginning of Sep- tember, he failed to the ifle of Bourbon, in order to reht ; leaving the command of the Indian feas to Pocock, whofe fleet, in point of number, men ' and weight of metal, was infinitely inferior to the French. Lally was deftitute of provlfions, mcicy, and almoft every thing, excepting men, that could give fuccefs to his operations. In order to fup- ply Inmfelf, he demanded a fum from an Indian potentate, called the King of Tanjour ; and his requeft being rejefted, he befieged that prince's capital ; but was driven from it, though it was I'ttle better than an open place, through the bra- ;^ry of fome Britifli gunners. He arrived at lond.cherry about the end of September, where we fliall leave him making preparations for the iiege of Madrafs or Fort George. We are now to give an account of an cxpedl- africa. ^on to the coaft of Africa„Mr. Gumming, a Quaker having made a voyage to PortenderHck, ^n the charaaer of a merchant, became perfonally acquamted with the Mooriih King of Leoibelli -^ an mtt.hgcnc and Icniibic man, he availed i-mlelf of this prince's prepollcflion in l^ivour of 104 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1758. AFRICA. Expedition afuinft Se- negal. Succeeds. the Englifli, and Iiis diflike of the French, whom he wilhed to drive from their fettle mcnts on the river Senegal. Mr. Cumming informed himfclf particularly of the nature, extetit, and importance of the gum trade, and alfo the fituailon and ftrength of the Fr ndi forts on that coalt; and, on his return to England, cominunicated his obfcrva. lions and projedt to the board of trade. The miniftry approved, and finally adopted his plan. —After a confiderable delay, a fmall fquadron was fitted out, confifting of three Ihips of war, a floop, and three bulfes. They had on board 200 marines, a detachment of matroffes, and ten pieces of cannon and eight mortars. This fmall fquadron, under the aufpices of friend Cumming, came to an anchor in the mouth of the river Senegal, on the 24th of April. The French governor of Fort Louis, after making an inefiedlual attempt to difpute the pafTage of the bar, furrendered j and the inhabitants of the town of Senegal fwore allegiance to his Britannic Ma- jefly. This important conqueft was atchieved, agreeable to the religious tenets of the projeftor, without fpiiling a fmgle drop of human blood. — The fleet now proceeded to attack the ifland of Goree ; but, from the infufhciency of their force, the attempt mifcarried. Our fuccefs on the African coaft was flill in- complete, while the ifland of Goree remained in the pofitHion of the French. The Britifli miniftcr was fenfible of this, and fent out a fmaU fquadro;i ol four fliips of the line, two frigates, and two bomb-ketches, under the command of Commo- OF GREAT BRITAIN. ao5 175«. AFglCA. dore Kcppel, with 600 land forces under Colo- nel Worge. On the 28th of December, the commodore brought his fhips a-brea(l of the fort of St. Michael, when a terrible cannonading enlucd, in which above 100 of the Englifh were killed or wounded. The French garrifon, tho' Cnrccu they loft not a man, were fo intimidated by the ^""""' fire from the fhips, that they furrendered in a very fhort time. A detachment of marines was landed, who took pofTeflion of the iiland, and hoiltcd the Britiih flag on the caflle of St. Mi- chael. Commodore Keppel, having left a fufficient garrifon m this place, and reinforced that at Sene- gal, returned to England.— The Litchfield man of war of 50 guns, a tranfport, and a bomb- ketch, belonging to this fquadron, were, on their outward palfage. wrecked on the coaft of Barbary. One hundred and thirty of the crew were drown- ed. The remaining part reached the inhofpi able lliore, where they fuffered great hardfliips, and were enflaved by the Emperor of Morocco, at that time our ally ; nor were they delivered from their captivity, till ranfomed by the King of Great Britain. CHAP. %o6 i75«. MILITARY MEMOIRS C II A P. XVII. Detached naval Iranfaclions in the year 1758. 1 HE niaflcrly (Irokcs of coiuluil, aiul the in- trepidity of coiniiuvnJcrs, are not conlincd to povvciful tlccts, or iuin\crous armies. A greater degree of fagac'ty, refolution, and prerence of mind, is often ilifpliiyed in a petty engagement, than in the mod momentous cnterprifes. The generality of people, indeed, eonlidering more the greatnefs of the event, than the fpirit of the adion, are apt to pafs over thofe matters llightly, "whieh are atehieved by a perfon of little note. Captivated by " the whiftling of a name," they conhne military merit to a partieular rank ; while it is often more confpieuous in the lieutenant of a fmall frigate, or the leader of a foraging party, than in the admiral of a numerous fleet, or a ge- neralillimo. Though the particular exploits of ftparate commanders at fea are properly unconnected with the plan of general hillory ; yet, in relating the events of this period, it would be ungenerous not to do juftice to the aftions of thofe gallant men who have deferved fo well of their country. — To enter into a particular and chronological feries of naval events, would far t xceed the limits of our undertaking ; and there is a famcnefs in moll fca engagements, which would render fuch a detail tedious and difaiireeable. We have endeavoured OF GREAT BRITAIN. 207 '75«. lURors, to Idea elic tranfaftions of greatcft celebrity, and to narrate them nearly in the order in which they happened. ■! The war was pretty far advanced before our naval commanders began to diftinguift ,hem. fc- ves i a,ul Hawke and Bofcawen were the firft »ho w,ped off the difgrace which the mifcha- viour of Byng had thrown upon the Bntilh flag. -Wc have already related the fuccefsful opera, fons of the latter againft Louilbourg, and will now proceed to give an account of a tranfaflion. wl..ch was m fome degree conneded with them. 1 HE trench fleet, which had proteftcd Louif. bourg the preceding year, had returned to France in a Mattered condition. To prevent their cet- "ng back to that important (lation, two fleets were d.lpatched, to block up the French harbours ;n the bay of Bifcay, and in the Mediterranean. I lie firft was commanded by Sir Edward Hawke, the latter by Admiral Olborne. wh„"r'!'t '^"; "l '''''™"y' A''-"'"' 0(borne,sncc- On finding themfelves in he nudft of Olborne's fleet, the French fquadro, ™ed,ately difperfed, and took different lourfrs °i*r' ?? ™mediately purfued by detachments -.. tne ijr,t„l, fleet. The Pleiade, being an 'Wllcnt fader, efcaped. The Oriflamme was run c c «oS MILITARY MEMOIRS ^UKOPS. ■ ' pngage- !fnent be tween the I758- afliore, by the Monarch and Montague, under the caftle of Aiglos, and faved only by the refpeft which the Engliih had for the neutrality of the Spaniards. The Orphee was purfued by the Re- venge and Berwick, and taken, by the firfl: of thefe Ihips, in fight of Carthagena. The Fou- droyant was chafed by the Monmouth, Swiftfure, and Hampton-Court. About feven in the morn- ing, the Monmouth and Foudroyant began to en- gage, the reft of the fleet not having come up. There was a very great difproportion between the two fhips. The Foudroyant had one thoufand men on board, and mounted 80 guns, 42 and 22 pounders ; the Monmouth mounted fixty-four Monmouth j 2 and 24 pouudcrs, and had only 470 men.— iliopnt. A notion had long prevailed, that the fuperior weight of metal wliich the French Ihips carry, ren- dered them an overmatch for the Britifh, even for thofe of an equal number of guns. It was the apprehenfion of this, that had made Admiral * Byng decline fighting Galliflbniere in the Fou- droyant. Gardiner, who at that time was cap- tain of the RamiUies, publicly declared, that he iliould not be afraid to fight the Foudroyant in an Englifh 70 or 64 gun fiiip. On the prefent oc- cafion he was as good as his word. He brought his fliip within piftol-fliot of the enemy, and the aftion was fuftained with great fury on both fides. About nine o'clock, the gallant Gardiner loft his life : but the fight was ftill continued, with un- abating vigour, by his firft licutcnaut Carkei ; and the Foudroyant, after having loft two of her mafts, ^nd about 200 of her men killed, was obliged ta 209 1758. EUROPI. bF GREAT BRITAIN, llrlke. Juft before the Foudroyant ftruck^ the Swiftfure came up ; but though a fuperior Ihip to the Monmouth, Monf. du Quefne would acknow- ledge no other conqueror but Carket, to whom he pohtely delivered his fword.—It appeared, up. on an admeafurement, that the Foudroyant ex- ciufive of her vaft fuperiority in weight of metal and number of guns, was as broad as an Endifli firft-rate, and 12 feet longer,— This aftion filen. ced the ridiculous boafts of the French, and put a flop to the cuftom which fome of our cautious commanders had adopted, of calculating their comparative weight of metal before they ventured to engage. The fame fuperiority, in point of ikill and re^ folution, attended the Britifli mariners in other m^ of the globe. * Several g allant aftions, belonging to St Malo Th P"^«'/". of 3^ guns, and 360 men, firft broadfide Th! ' ' "'^■"""aft was fhot away by the oroadlide. The engagement was (hort, but perhars tb^ J^Ja ^ they found only twenty-fix perfdns alivp -.11 f u '^ """ *'""'>» condition . and b„M,r ^'^'^T^S"'^" ^vas nearly in the fame nr.f.„.H - ' ''' """^' ^'^' '"^ "^'^'^ S'- Malo. where th.y citing'tt^^a^ J '"'T' "^ ^""'''*°"' '"^''^ •^""''^ "'•^ '^i' "f "^x- the Angular combination of names belonging to the Englifl, c c a ■ IIO MILITARY MEMOIRS AMERICA. Engage- ment be- ^75^^ worthy of being recorded, were performed in the Weft-Indies. Captain Forreft in the Augufta, attended by the Dreadnought, Captain Suckling, and the Edinburgh, Captain Langdon, had for fome weeks blocked up a numerous fleet of French fhips who lay at Cape Francois. The French command?' ;, piqued at being thus infulted by fo fmall a fquadron, refolved to give them batde, and ufed every precaution to render the deftruc- tion of fo puny a foe inevitable. His fquadron confifted of four Ihips of the line and three fri- gates, well manned, with foldiers on board, and their full compliment of guns. Forreft, perceiv- ing the French fleet advance, held a fhort fpirited tween Cap- confultation with his two captains ; the refuk of rel" and the which was, immediately to attack the enemy, off cape''"'^ Accordingly, he bore down on them, and came Francois, jq action about four in the afternoon. The en* gagement was very hot for two hours and a half, and the French having loft 300 men, and as ma- ny wounded, "Were beat back to their harbour. They had, however, according to their ufual cu- ftom, dilabled the EngUlh fliips fo much in their rigging, that they were rendered incapable of pur- fuing them. Captain Forreft had another opportunity of dif- playing his courage and fagacity. Receiving in- telligence that a numerous fleet of French Ihips were ready to fail for Europe, he went in purfuit of them J and, in order to avoid difcovery, dif- privateer, the Teriible, equipped at Execution-dock, commanded by Captain Death, whofc lieutenant was called Devil, and who had one Ghofl for his furgcon. OF GREAT BRITAIN. I gulled his Ihip, and hoifted Dutch colours. When .758. he came up w,th them, he kept aloof, and avoid- .^ ed the appearance of giving chace ; 'but, on the approach of mght, purfued them with all the fail and havmg manned this veffel with thirty.five of »'""« his own crew he ordered her to (land for the-K- harbour of Pet.te Goave. and ,0 intercept any- veffels that m,ght attempt to reach it. He then made fad after the French fleet anH ^„ • withthe.byda,.hrealc,hfi:;;:f.Caira^ he cou d bnng h,s guns to bear. They made a ftewof renftance , but three of them being fe! cured, they were employed in taking the other five veffels, not one of which efcaj^d. The' were earned in to Jamaica, where the condul and courage of the captors were rewarded byT fale of their rich cargoes. " oy tne DoS iJ^Tgut^^d "Jr"'" °^""'' °^ "^^ -- n.T ui ^ ' ™ ^^° ™™> engaged the Raifonable, a French 64 gun fl,ip, ^Uhe^o men bazon, who after having 6. men killed, and 00 wounded, ftruck to Captain Dennis, ;hore lofs was only ,5 men killed, and., wounied. Many more gallant aftions were atchieved in Aecourfe of this year, by our naval com.nrde The names of Lockhart, Tyrrel, &c. were em en^ diftinguilhed. The B^ift'flag wa^ reftor- ed to Its ancient dio-nirv . nn,! ^„^ xi. .. ^ , "ons of French armaments, and French p,^ara. 412 Military memoirs ',7^^' tions, were permitted to carry their power into the tUROPE. ocean. * Cutis. By -whom taken. to Ramillies, Captain Gardiner 74 Oiford 64 ■> 64 J Admiral Boftawea 64 Admiral Olbornc 64 Dorfct SO Litchfield 50 Eagle 4S Antelope 36 Torbay 36 Unicorn 34 Tartar, Captain Lockhart 34 Southampton 34 Hampton-Court 30 HufTar %% EHex ♦ The following is a lill of he principal fhips which were taken from the French : Ships. Foudroyant Efperance Alcide l^ys Orpheus Raifonablc Arc-en-ciel Due d'Aquitain Aquillon Royal Chariot Hermione Melampe Emerald MTymph Brune Galatea 784 Befides a great many more that were funk or otiicrwife dcftroyed; The following Englilh fliips were taken by the French : Warwick 60 Greenwich 5O Winchelfea 514 134 650 Balance in favour of the Englifli. The Mars of 66, the Tilbury of 60, and the Invincible of 74 guns, •were loft.— On the 13th of April, the Prince George of 80 guns, commanded by Rear-Adniiral Broderic, in his pafllige to the Mediter- ranean, took fire, and notwithftanding every endeavour to extinguilli the flames, the vcflel was burnt down to the water edge, a.;d the re- maining part funk. Out of 800 men, only 300 were faved ; and tlie admiral, after fwimming above an hour, wa» taken up by the :ioat of a merchant fhip. OF GREAT BRITAIN. |s»3 CHAP. XVIII. Situation and re/ounes of the contending powers^ Prince Ferdinand defeated at Bergen^Succefsful operations of the French army^Battle of Minden ^Gallant exploits of the Hereditary Prince of Brunfwick^Mun/ier furrenders to the allies, J. HE affairs of Germany dill carried the fame 2^ uncertam and undecifive appearance. The vie. ^"^0^=. tories and defeats, which both parties had reci- procally gained and fuffered, were produaive of no confequences. The deftruaion and plunder- ing of numberlefs towns, the fpilling of a prodi- gious quantity of blood, and the vaft expences vvhich fell upon all, far from exciting a defire of accommodation, ferved only to confirm the ani- mofity of the belligerent powers. Both parties The p™. leemed nitent on revenge, and the profpea of^P'^^f peace was farther removed than ever. The neu. S^S tral powers with-held their mediation ; and the contendmg ones were aauated by motives of con- veniency, as well as refentment. The impending death of the Spanifli monarch would in all pro- bability im^olve the fouthern parts of Europe in tlie war, and confequently give a new turn to the Jace ot affairs, in which all parties expeaed to ind an advantage. The great exertions made on - »aeo, .ar num cxnauftuig, feemed fcarcely to hnv. ^-.miniflied their ftrength j and whatever tiiight have occurred in raifmg fupplie« «lifficulti Nil fti4 MILITARY MEIVJOIRS '758» of money and of men, they were apparently fur. luRopE. mounted before the opening of the campaign. Situation of The fituation of the Pruflian monarch, not. his Priiman • i n j- • ,- 7 ^>- Majcfty. witnltandmg its favourable afpe£t, was in reality far from being defirable. The whole kingdom of Pruflia ' - ''HI in ihe hands of the Ruilians, and the dure, Cleves was held by the French. The fine armies with which he had performed fuch wonders, were now no more ♦, nor was he longer afTifted by the counfels of thofe able ge- nerals, whom fatigue, difeafes, and the fate of war, had carried off; and it was but a fmall com. fort to him, that his enemies were as much dif. trelTed as he was.— -Thefe difadvantagcs, how. ever, were in fome meafure balanced by the pof. felTion of Saxony, and the annual fubfidy from Gre- 1 Britain ; but though he could raife money, • he could not re-animate men.-^The court of Vienna, though deficient in pecuniary funds, found refources in the fertility of its provinces, and in the number and attachment of its fubjefts. No people in Europe more highly honour, or more chearfully acquiefce in the difpofitions of their fovereign, than the Auftrians ; and, when pay • cannot be afforded, they willingly contribute free quarters for the fubfiflence of the army. — The Czarina continued true to her refentments againft the Pruflian monarch, and her defire of obtaining » permanent intereft in the Germar mpire ; and, though her fubfidies were ill paid, flie flill per- fifled in purfuing thofe favourite aims. — Sweden ftill kept up a Ihew of hoftility againfl his Pruf- fian Majeffy j but her efforts were, as before, in- OF GREAT BRITAIN, EUROPE. confiderabie and inglorious.-France, thoufih her finances were apparently exhaufted, and her com- merce abridged, maintained a refolute counte- nance. Ihe general bankruptcy which was then Cu to preva,! „, that kingdom, was found to be ..le more than a fidion, invented by the court! .0 preva,i w,th ,ts fubjeas to replenilh the roya cflcrs. -Holland ftill preferred the fame intereft. cd and contemptible neutrality. The love of gain ad prompted feme of her fubjefls to carry on 1^ trade of France in their bottoms, which fub" jefted them to frequent captures from the Englifl, men of war and privateers. Loud complaints were made by the Dutch at tins outrage, which they reprefented as a violation of the law of nations! Little attention was paid to thcfe complaints, and !ihZ""':;"K-""' '"''^™^'* again/each other » the mod b-tter animofity. The difpute, how. ever, ceafed by the deftruSion of its objeft, the French trade becoming too inconfiderable to =^ord ony advantage. The allied troops under Prince Ferdinand ftrengthened by freih reinforcements from Britain nd a ted by German recruits, were f^ ! Pl.ed w,th every convenience and neceffary which :f;rTr"'"^"'^°""sethemtofac':^l:^ oTZl\ , '' ""' ■" " Sreat meafurc deprived r„,.uuy t e "n 1 T„'ff ' ''%' "'^ "^"^"''■"S °f --" By th ft u %^ °^ V'^^ncton, a neutral city. of t ' M ''' ""^ ^'""'^ ='""^ '■^^^^'l 'he courfe •L- ,^"^^"'' 'he Khine, and could, without force y Or aanger, receive every kind of rein- vent and fupply J and it maintained their D d ii6 1759- Europe. Battle of Bet-gen. MILITARY MEMOIUS communication with the chain formed by thtf Auftrians, and the army of the empire, from which they derived a confiderable advantage. Sensible of their advantageous fituation, the great objeft of Prince Ferdinand was to drive the French from Francfort. Accordingly, having af- fembled all his forces, to the amount of 40,000, he came in fight of the enemy on the 1 3th of April, whon\ he found ftrongly encamped about the village of Bergen, between Francfort and Hanau. They were commanded by the Duke de Broglio, 'efteemed one of the beft officers in France. His fituation was fuch, that he could only be attacked through the village, his centre and flanks being perfedly fecure. The attack ^vas begun about ten in the morning, and was fuftained with great alacrity for the fpare of two hoursj during which time the allies were three times repulfed. Finding that little impreffion was made upon the French ports, and that his own troops fuffered greatly. Prince Ferdinand's chief confideration was, how to retreat with honour and fafety, in the fight of a fuperior enemy. Night was the only means to cover fuch a retreat, and the day was not yet above half fpent. In this embarraifment, his Serene Highnefs made fuch movements, as i!-idicatcd a refolution of renewing the battle with redoubled vigour. By this means, the French were amufed during the remaining part of the day ; and night fecured to the alhes, an eafy, lafe, and regular retreat to Windeken, with the lofs 2000 men. u f five pieces of cannon, including the Prince of and about Yfenberg, who fell in the adion. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 317 The good conduft and military knowledge of 1759. Prince Ferdinand, were eminently difplayed in this ^"""^ engagement ; but, though the allies preferved *"''°"* their reputation, the confequences of this battle were as ruinous to them, as they were advanta- geous to the French. The latter ftill kept pof- fcffion of Francfort, and all advantages they drew from that fituation ; and the former were reduced to act only on the defcnfive, for a long time after. The French army, elated by their fuccefs at ' Bergen, advanced with great vivacity ; and Prince Ferdinand, finding himfelf inferior to the united forces of the enemy, retired as they advanced, after having left flrong garrifons in Lipftadt, Ret- berg, Munfter, and Minden. The progrefs of the French arms was but little retarded by thefe obftacles. Retberg was furprifed, Lipftadt was blockaded, and Minden was taken by affault. Ge- neral d'Armentieres befieged and made himfelf mafter of Wefel, where the garrifon of 4000 men were made prifoners of war. In lliort, the pro. Rapid pro, grefs of the French was fo rapid, that they look- F^nch'ar-' ed upon the conqueft of Hanover as an event not "'^'* to be doubted of; and the moft fenfible people in England were not of a different opinion. The Jirchives, and moft of the valuable efiefts of that eleaorate, were fent to Stade ; and the difpofition of the French army near Minden, was' fuch as encouraged them to boaft, and believe, that the allied army under Prince Ferdinand would lay vown Its arms without a ftroke. I'hey were thea D d 2 4i8 MILITARY MEMOIRS '759' encamped in a very advantageous fituatlon at Pe- euRopE. *er{hagen, about nine miles from the French. A battle was the only means to prevent the e. ncmy from taking their winter-quarters in Hano- ver J and to attack them in their then fituation, was imprafticable. Stratagem was to fupply the place of ftrength ; and it muft be confeffed, that the operations of Prince Ferdinand were mafterly. Cool and deliberate, he perfifted ftcadily in his own plan, and was always ready to take any ad' vantage that might ofter. Manoeime On the 28th of July, he detached the Heredi. Ferd'Sd. ^ai'y Prince of Brunfwic with 6000 men, to make a compafs towards the enemy's left flank, and to cut oflf their communication with Paderborn. On the 29th, Prince Ferdinand forfook iiis camp on the Wefer, and marched to the right ; leaving a ftrong body of troops, under General Wangen. hcim, intrenched on the borders of that river, and fupported by a confiderable artillery. The allied army was now divided into three bodies • and it was evident, that the defeat of any one of them muft decide the fate of the other two. The French generals gave conpleatly into the fnare that was laid for them. Nothing appeared mon. eafy, than to defeat the body under Wangenheim, by which Prince Ferdinand muft be cut off from all communication with the Wefer, and be there- by compelled to furrender at difcretion. This was deem .d the more pr .dticable, as Prince Fer- dinand, with the divifion under his command, ^vaa then fuppofcd to bi; at rlilien, a village at a OF GREAT BRITAIN. confiderable dillance, by which pofuion the French were in hopes of cuttuig off his communication with Wangenhcim's corps. Early on the ift of Au- giift, the French lett their advantageous poll near Mincien, and advanced in eight columns to attack the allied army. The Duke de Broglio was to lead the attack ; and he marched on, with the ut- molt alfurance of having a cheap conqueft over the uivifion under Wangenheim : but, gaining foine heights, he was aftonifhed, when, inftead of a few pofts weakly guarded, he beheld the whole aHied army drawn up in excellent order, fo as to form in hd but one body. This was an unex- pefted ftroke : but he had advanced too far to retreat without fighting ; and the difpofition of his army was fuch, as indicated that they did not ex- pea to fight at all, their center being compofed ot their cavalry. The Englifh infantry had at once the port of danger and of glory. They were attacked by the tach cavalry, which were deemed to be irrefift- able, and were fupported by their infantry on the ilanks ; but nothing could withftand ±2 addrefs courage, and intrepidity of the Britifli infantry, tipported by a few corps of Hanoverians. Their boailcd cavalry gave way before the regiments of ^■ngfley and Waldegrave ; and there was fcarce a niuH^et m'the Eritifli army, which was not filled With the blood of their enemies ; fo eftedually did 'ley ule their bayonets. As foon as the French ^egan to fly, the Prince fent orders to Lord -'-^Y ^^^^kviile, who commanded the cavalry, to advance, and compleat the rout. Thefe or- 219 1759. ATRICA. Battle of Mnidcn or Thoru- hauffu. azo MILITARY MEMOIRS Ita'tle of ^^759' dcrs were but ill obeyed. Whether they were EUROPE, contradidory, or unintelligible, is yet a point to be determined. Certain it is, that while the Bri. tifli general was coolly waiting for an explanation, the critical moment was permitted to pais away, and the r'rench made good their retreat to Min. den, without being lb totally defeated, as they mud have been, haci the Britilh cavalry aded * , TFiis is one of tlioie diiiiiiik aiul aclic.itc points, on wliich it is }mponil)|e to decide, without incurring tlic imputation of partiality. 'I lie oiiiy method to avoid lliat imputation, is plainly to relate the fail as rcprefented by the dilFcrent parties, and to leave the reader to judge for himfclf. — The advocates of the Uritilh general, ftate the tranlailion as follows : " There had for fome time fubfirtcd a coolncfs between the comman- der in chief and the Britilh general. The penetrating eye, cxtenfive iinderftanding, and inquifitivc fpirit, of the Englilhman, were by no means aciccuble to the German, who was not accullomed to have his opinions contravertcd, or his plans difapproved of. He had likcwife txhibited fomc indanccs of a prying difijofitian, and was confidercd as •a check on the interelkd views of ilie commander in chief. Nothing therefore was more eagerly delired, than a plaufible jirctcnce of remov- ing him from the hijh (btion he filled. He was kept in the dark, as much as could he, with regard to the intended operations ; and omit- ted, as often as polliblc, from alTiding at the military councils. At laft an opportunity prclLntcd itfelf, for ruining hi.n entirely in the opi- nion of his iovertign and his countrymen. On the famous ift day of Augurt I7J9, orders were fent to him, lb contradiaory and unintclli, gible, tliai it was imjwfliljlc for him to avoid the ihare. The fcheme t.f the political German, was as fuccelsful as he could have widied. 'I'hc Englilh nation, who never fcrutinije too deeply into matters of that nature, itgarded the condudl of their general with abhorrence rnd dctellation. He demanded a trial, in which, though he clearly proved that the orders could not polTibly be complied with, without an explanation, he was found guilty of difobcdicncc, and adjudged unfit to fervc his Majefty in any military capacuy whntfoever.— io render liis difgrace more complete, his Majedy ordered his name to be ftnick out of the lid of privy counfellors." 'J'he partifans of the German commander reprcfent the afiulr in the following manner : " The Er.glifh general had for foms time been ambitious of oiitaininj Jhf Supreme command, which he (lattcrcd hinifelf l.e might cafily ar- OF GREAT BRITAIN. ill lu the mean time, tlie detachment under the lie- »759' Tcilitary Prince of Brunfwic, defeated a large bo- dy of the Frencli under the Duke de Brifac, and forced it to take refuge in Minden ; by which the enemy lofl all their advantageous pods upon the Wefer, and were obliged to refign all the pro- M'uJen miling glories of the campaign. Their lofs on this occafion amounted to about 7000 men, and that of the aUies to about 2000, of whom 1200 were Britilh. bURUt'B. Battle of ; affair in the rive at, if lie could m;ikc the German general ol)iioxious to his coiintr)'- mcii, wliicli I1C cndcavoureil to do by every artifice he could ulc. Haughty and iinpeiious in lii» temper, lie could ill brook a fupcrior ; and, when he artirtcd in direrting liic operations of tiie war, he con- ftantly contradiifled what( ver was propoled by the commander, and treated all his fchemes with contempt, without ever otrcriiig any thing himfelf in their place. His eloquence and knowledge in the theory of war, enabled him to perform this with facility, the commander be- ing a thQUghtful referved man, of few words, whofe whole life had been fpent in action, and who could more eafily have executed than explained his defigns. 'I'hus counterafled in all his plans, the German general immediately wrote t' his Britannic Majcdy, dcfiring permiflion, either to refign his command, or to be relieved from this vexatious oppofition. The Biitilh monarch was no Hianger to tlie captious dif- pofition of his general ; but, as his dillinguidied rank and abilitici rendered him of great importance in England, it was not quite fo pro- per to remove him entirely from the command. He therefore gave the German general an unlimited power to carry on the war according to his own judgment, without confulting or being liable to be oppofcd by any other perfon. Having received this enlargement of his authority, the German general planned his fchemes, without confulting any pct- fon ; nor were tliey known till the moment of being put in execution, when he iiTiied his orders with the peremptory precidon of an alifolute monarch. This was a galling circumflance to the Englifh general; whole high fpirit was hurt, by being obliged to fubmit to a perfon whom he held in contempt. He obeyed, however, in fulien fence, refolving, the firfl opportunity, to defeat his meafures, as he could no longer difconccrt his councils. The famous battl'-, of Minden offered him an opportunity to attempt putting his defigns in practice. The fiontradittory orders he received, he imagined would prove a fiafficicnt I 222 '759' tUROrE. MILITARY MEMOIRS The eclat attending this celebrated vidory, made an impreflion on the mind of his Britannic Ma* jefty, which was by no means favourable for the noble Lord who that day commanded the Britiih troops. Prince Ferdinand had, in an oblique man- ner, refleded upon his backwardnefs. Lord George infilled upon a trial, the event of which was un- favourable to his Lordfhip : he was declared in. capable of ferving in any military command for the future ; with what juftice, let thofe determine who at this day read it coolly and difpaffionately. Without derogating from the abilities of Prince Ferdinand, we may venture to affirm, that his glorious fuccefs at the battle of Minden, was, in the main, owing to caufes which he could not reafonably forefee. Thofe who are converfant in hiftory, know what a great fhare fortune has in the moft decifive military operations, and how apt mankind are to attribute fortunate events to fagaci- ous forefight and wife difpofitions. The vidlory at Minden was one of thofe hafty, but happy, pro- ductions of a next to enthufiaftic valour, and rrafon for his jioS obeying them, and by that means defeat the mei' /ores of his commander. The extraordinary fuccefs of the day difap- pointed him ; and the Iiattlc, as it had been planned without his advice, was liliewile gained without his affiftance. Difgrace fuccceded difap- point!ncnt. He refigned his command, returned to England, and de- manded a trial, wliich, though it cleared nim from the imputatioa of cowardice, which had been raflily laid to his charge, was Hill unf;i- vourahle to him in every other refpe^t." Both thefe accounts may be exaggerated. We live too near to ar* Hvc at the truth of farts, while the parties are living ; and the refpcd due to high rank, and dininguiQicd abilities, precludes too hafty or too fiik a corrjufioj!. 3u tliat, after ail, liiii una;^i lUli lemain* ti j)wiiil fw pyfterity to debate upon. OF GREAT BRITAIN. iii ^59- SU&OPb Bnt,fl, of which forcgners can have no idea, and which fets at nought all fyftems of war. The afcr.b,ng the viQory to accident, therefore, is no re(lea,on on the general : his manceuvr.s were admirable ; but no human forefight could poffibly have formed any plan for fuch an improbable in! ftance of bravery, as that which obtained it. The confequences of the battle of Minden, were Conf.,„„ and condua difplayed in it. However fplendid "T""- and honourable to the allies, laurels were 'almoft "^S he only advantage reaped from the field of bat- tle.-Prmce Ferdinand obliged the French to re- .- towards Cafl-el, but it'was the uth of S^^: tember before the mconfiderable caftle of Mar- hourg furrendered to the allies, after having kept 'hem at play fo long, that, at the end of the campaign the French found themfelves in a con! duion to begin another. The Hereditary Prince er aaive and enterprifing, defeated a body of 1^ enemy, killing a great number, and taking prifoners._Munfter, however, ftill remained ' n their hands ; and the Hanoverian general, Im- oir was detached by Prince Ferdinand, to brfiege ' ItL: "" °"'°^'' '° "■"= '"^ ^^g^' ^y '''^- CoNs,i„.,Ka the defpondency and bad fitua- enerf, ;i*'''f "'"^' '' '•' ^"""ifting 'hat the n'lf..'"? '"•■^^ "'^ -' i"P-e the'opportu. ' I™ "'•""' ;?"™^' ='"'' 'he Britilh valour, had hrown m,o his lap. Little advantage was gained / viaory, and few misfortunes were fuffercd by £ e 224 »759- tUROPE. The He- leditary Prince fur- prifes the Duke of Wirtem- burj. MILITARY MEMOIRS defeat ; and, indeed, the fucceffes on either fidey appeared as a compaa, by which both engaged ta lofe much, and gain little. The Duke de Broglio, and Contades, recri* minated on each other. Broglio was acquitted by the public ; but Contades, who was the favou- rite of Belleifle, under whofe direftion he adkd, loil all his reputation. D'Etrees, a general of greater experience and capacity than both, was fent to their camp, to prevent an open rupture, and to reduce the troops, who held their generals in the utmoft contempt, to their duty. This o" fice he executed, at the mortifying expence of ferving under his giddy-headed inferiors — ^The Duke de Broglio, however, by his influence at Verfailles, having got the better of his antagonift, acquired a marlhal's flaff, and the command of the army. Nothing material happened between the two armies, while they lay encamped in the neighbour* hood of each other, for a confiderable time. Munfter, after a long and obftinate defence, fur- rendered on the 20th of November. The Duke of Wirtcmburg, having recruited and augmented his troops, had taken poirefTion of Fulda. ° The Hereditary Prince refolved to beat up his quarters ; and having feleacd a body of troops for that purpofe, he began his march from Marbourg, early in the morning, on the 28th of November. On the 30th, he arrived at Fulda, where the Duke of Wutemburg, tar trom ex- peaing fuch a vifit, had in^^ited all the falhionable people to a fumptuous entertainment. The Prince, OF GREAT BRITAIN. 22s after reconnoitring the avenues in perfon, took »7?9. fuch meafures as totally difconcerted their fchemes, '^'^ both of war and diverfion. A body of the enemy^ ^"''°'^ who were polled on a plain before Fulda, re- tired with precipitation, and were driven through the town. Four battalions were defeated and taken ; and the Duke hinifelf, with the rcfl: of his forces, efcaped with difficulty. The rigours of the feafon were now too fevere. ly felt, to permit any vigorous exertions on either fide. There was no longer a neceffity for the allies to keep fo large a body of troops in Weft- i^halia ; and Prince Ferdinand, adverting to the diftreiTed fituation of the Pruffian monarch, de- tached 12,000 of his beft men, under the Here- 1 ditary Prince, to his affiftance. They marched, „e.dha^ m the depth of a fevere feafon, the diftance of^™'^' 300 miles in fifteen days, without - lofing a man t!'"'«''ft-''* byficknefs or defertion, and joined the King of S^'' Pruffia at Freyberg in Saxony. '"''°'^' Broglio, having received intelligence of the allied army being weakened by this detachment, deternimed to avail himfelf of it, and to diftin- guifli his entrance into command by an aftion of importance. Accordingly, on the 25th of De- cember, he marched to attack the allies; but found them fo well prepared to receive him, that he thought proper to lay afide his defign, and nothing but a mutual cannonade enfued ; then he returned to his former quarters — With this un- .uccefsful attempt, tlie operations of the French army were terminated ; and the fanguine hopes ^'hich France had entertained from this campaign, E e 3 Majefty, %%6 PUROPE. MILITARY MEMOIRS were entirely blafted. This difappointment may be afcribed to three caufes ; their unexpefted and extraordinary defeat at Minden, the vigilance of Prince Ferdinand, and the bad conduct pf their own commanders. The events of this campaign are a convincing proof, that viftories do not decide the fate of nations. We have feen armies, after complete vie- tory, obliged to a£t as if they had been defeated ; and, after a defeat, taking an offenfive part with fuccefs, and reaping all the fruits of the viftory. For inftance, the viftory of Crevelt, could not enable Prince Ferdinand to defend the Rhine ; the battle of Bergen, did not give M. Broglio an en- trance in Hanover ; and the great victory at Mia- ^en, did not drive the French from the Maine, CHAP, OF GREAT BRITAIN. 227 y-"' CHAP. XIX. Frince Henry* s expedition into Bohemia and Fran- conia — Count Dohna fuperfeded by Wedel, -w/jo is defeated by the Rt'JJtans — Battle of Cunnerfdorf—^ Frince Henry marches into Saxony, and defeats General Vehla — General Finck furrenders to the Aufirians — Prujians defeated at Meiffen — Con- clufion of the campaign. i759« EUROPE- 1 HE armies under the diredlon of his Pruffian Majefty, proceeded in their operations with vigour. On the 23d of February, his general, Woberfnow, marched into Poland with a Itrong body of troops, deftroyed feveral vafl magazines belonging to the Ruffians, and returned, without any lofs, into Si- lefia, on the i8th of April. In the mean time, Prince Henry commanded operations in Saxony; and his army entered Bohemia, in two Hei^y"'* columns, with great fuccefs. General Hulfen, who commanded one of the columns, defeated a large body of Auftrians at Paiberg, and made a- bout 2000 prifoners, with the lofs of only 70 men; while the other column penetrated as far as Lo- bofdiutz and Lcimeritz ; and both returned to Saxony, with hoftages for the contributions they had exaded. Soon after this, the Prince entered Franconia by the way of Hoff, and defeated a body of Auftrians and Impcrialifts under General Macquire. The confequence was, that the bi- ihoprics of Baraberg and Wurtzburg were laid 228 MILITARY MEMOIRS >759- EUROPE. General Week', de- feated by the Riif. fians. under contribution. In taking pofleflion of Bam. berg, the Pruflians were guilty of fome unjuftifi. able irregularities, which were produdive of loud and jud complaints, and, in due time, of a fevere retaliation. During Prince Henry's abfence In Franconia, a body of Auftrians had penetrated into Saxony. The Rulfians were too formidable to be at« tacked by Count Dohna, who contented himfelf with obferving their motions, and harrafling their march. The King of Pruflia thought this con- dud too timid and cautious, confidering the e- mergency of affairs : he therefore gave that gene- ral leave to retire for the benefit of his health, and conferred his command upon General WedJ, with pofitive orders to attack the Ruffians at all events. He marched againft them in two co- lumns ; and, on the 23d of July, attacked them at Zullichau, where, after a mofl bloody and ob- ilinate engagement, he was repulfed with great lofs. General Woberfnow was killed, and General Man- tcuflel wounded ; the Pruffians pafTed the Oder, without molcflation ; and the Ruffians, in a few days, made themfelves maftcrs of Franckfort. The King of Pruffia, and Count Daun, had been for fome time employed in obftrving each other's motions ; but the attention of the former was chiefiy directed towards the Ruffians, whofe pro- grefs was now become very alarming. Receiving intimation of Wedel's defeat, he marched with ten thoufand of his bcft troops, in order to take upon him the command of Wedel's army, and to drive this formidable enemv from his dominions. OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^29 ar- The remainder of his forces were ftrongly er(- »759- camped under the direction of Prince Henry, who Europe. had joined him previous to this event Daun was not ignorant of the King*s inten- tions ; and knowing that the Ruffians were very defeftive in regular and firm cavalry, he detached paun re- a body of 12,000 horfe, together with 8000 foot, 'i^[|J|j"„' **"* under the command of General LaudohUj one of "*y- the ableft officers in the Auftrian fervice. Thefe troops, penetrating in two columns through Sile-* fia and Lufatia, with fome lofs, arrived in the Ruilian camp at a very critical conjundture By this time, the King of Pruffia had joined General Wedel at Muhlrofe, and affijmed the command of the army ; but finding it greatly inferior to the enemy, he recalled General Finck, whom he had detached fome time before with a body of 9000 in«n, to oppofe the progrefs of the Imperi- alifts in Saxony. Thus reinforced, his army a- mounted to near 50,000 ; that of the Ruffians ex- ceeded 90,000. They had chofen a ftrong camp at the village of Cunnerfdorf, the natural ilrength of which they had increafed by intrenchments, mounted with a numerous artillery. To attack them, was difficult and hazardous ; and, in any other circumftances than the prefent, the attempt would have been rafh and ridiculous. But there was now no room for hefitation. The affiiirs of his Pruffian Majefty, required a defperate effort ; and, in his prefent fituation, the moll raffi attempt could not be rejeded by the mod rigid prudence. On the 12th of Auguft, about two in the morning, his Pruffian Majefty put his troops in 230 MILITARY MEMOIRS i »759- EUROPE. Battle of Cunnerf- dotf. motion ; and, having formed them in a wood, ad- vanced towards the enemy. The aQion began about eleven, with a fevere cannonade j which hav- ing produced the effed he defired from it, he charged the left wing of the Ruffians with his beft troops difpofed in columns. Atter a moft obfti. nate conflid, the enemies entrenchments were forced with a prodigious flaughter, and 72 pieces of cannon were taken. A narrow defile was af- terwards pafled ; and feveral redoubts that covered the village of Cunnerfdorf, were taken by aflault, one after another. The Ruffians made a firm fland at the village ; but they were overborne by the impetuofity of the Pruffians, who drove them from pod to poft, quite to their laft redoubts. As the Ruffians never quit their ground, till they are hewn down in their ranks, this fuccefs was at- tended with an inconceivable flaughter. After a mod furious conteft of fix hours, fortune feemed to declare in favour of the Pruffians. The enemy had been driven from all the ground they occu- pied before the battle, and more than half of their artillery Vv-as taken. In thofe circumftances, Fre- deric difpatched the following billet to the Queen at Berlin : " Madam, we have beat the Ruffians " from their entrenchments. In two hours, expeft " to hear of a glorious viftory.'* This news arriv ed at Berlin, jufl as the poft was going out ; and the account of his Pruffian Majefty's fuccefs, was circu- lated throughout Europe. But this intimation was premature, and fubjeded him to the ridicule of his enemies. The RuiTians had been fevereiy handled, but were not defeated. Count Soltikoff rallied OF GREAT BRITAIN. 231 »759. EUROPE. his tr'^cps, and formed them under cover of a redoubt, which was erefted on an eminence called the Jews burying-ground. A fituation more ad- vantagcous could not well be conceived, and to an army already fatigued with the hard fervice of fix hours flaughter, it might juftly be deemed impregnable. The day was exceilively hot, and the ftrength of the enemy flill greatly fuperior to the Pruflians. Frederic was far from being daunt- ed at thofe circumftances. His courage was al- ways m proportion to the danger he had to en- counter, and he could not bear to be a conqueror by halves. He refolved, therefore, to drive the enemy from their advantageous ports, which was the only thmg wanting to render his vi£tory com- the madnefs of fuch an enterprife; and ufed everv ?"""^- argunicnt that could be fuggeif ed, to diiTuade hin, rom fo dangerous and difficult an attempt. This lalutary advice was rejededj and he refolved, once more, to put all to the hazard. The infantry be- gan a new attack ; which being much beyond their ; rength, they were repulfed with great flauo-hter. They were again rallied, and brought to a fecond attack; they were a fecond time repulfed, and their redoubled. The infantry being quite exhaufled, he cavalry fucceeded to the attack. Th.v made evera fpirited but unavailing attempts ; the'horfes, well as their riders, being entirely fpent. A s cntical moment, the Ruffian and Auflrian c airy, who were quite freffi, fell in among the ^' "-vivc ihcir hne at the at the firlt charge. .orccd them back upon their foot, and threw ll ^32 1759- BtROP^. Hattle of Ciinnerf- dorf. MiLltARY MEMOIRS whole into irreparable diforder. Being thus put into cont'ufion, the Pruflian army was feizcd with a panic, and in a few mhiutes totally defeated and difpcrfed. The perfonal efforts of the King, who hazarded his life in the hotteft parts of the battle, were of no avail. He led on his troops three times to the charge; two horfes were killed under him ; and his cloaths, in feveral parts, were pe- netrated with mufquet-balls. Nothing but the ap- proach of night, could have faved the Pruflian army from total deftruclion. — This was by far the mod bloody aftion, that had happened fmce the com- mencement of hoftilities ; and, perhaps, modern hiftory cannot furnilh fo defperate an engagement. The Pruflians loft upwards of 20,000 men, in kill- ed, wounded, and taken prifoners. General Put- kammer was killed on the fpot ; and the generals Seidelitz, Itzenplitz, Hulfen, Finck, and Wedel, the prince of Wurtemberg, and fivf. major-gene- rals, were wounded. Of the enemv, io,oco were killed. The Pruflians loft all their artillery and baggage. When his Pruflian Majefty found himfelf ob- liged to quit the field, he difpatched another billet to the Queen, couched in thefc terms : " Re- *' move from Berlin with the royal family. Let " the archives be carried to Potfdam. The town " may make conditions with the enemy." It is much °afier to conceive, than to defcribe, tne horror and confufion which this intimation pro- duced at Berlin ; horror the more aggravated, as it {"ArfpA them in thp midft of their reioicincfS, occa* fioned by the firft difpatch. The terror was M OF GREAT BRITAIN. more dreadfully augmented by a fubfequent indif- tinct relation, importing, that the army was to- tally routed, the King milling, and the enemy in liill inarch to Berlin.* Next day, the King retreated over the Oder, colleded the fcattered remains of his army, and faw, with joy and afbnifliment, the enemy remain iiiadive and quiet in their camp. He improved this interval, with equal fpirit and fagacity. He furniflied his camp with cannon from the arfcnal at Berlin, which likewife fupplied him with a con- •--"• We cannot difmifs the affairs of Germany, in which two fuch battles as thofe af Mindeu and Cunnerfdorf were fought, with events Co different for the common caufe, without obfcrviiig fomethi«g of the t«o generals who conduced them. 1 hey are certainly, in reputation the firft in Europe, which probably never produced two greater men • though they differ as much in their charaflers. and in the kind of talents they pofTefs, as they agree in the greatnefs of their abilities for war The Ki;,g of Pruffia. rapid, vehement, impatient, often gives dcnfive blows; but he often mife his ftroke, and wounds himfelf Pnnce Ferdinand is cool, deliberate. exaG, and guarded : he fees every poffible advantage ; he takes U at the moment ; purfues it as far 3s It will go ; but never attempts to pu(h it further. Nothing in the .an, diffurbs the commander. In him. we do not fee a perfon who iS a pat rola,cr ; ,t is the idea of a perfeft general ; it is a ,a-neral in the aMlraft. Fcrdmand fufffcrs his temper to be guided by his buf.nefs Ik never precipitates matters ; he takes them in their order, and their courfe, and leaves nothing to fortune. The Kiny, on the other hand I»ds, and ottcn forces circur.. (lances : he does not endeavour to re* •nove, but to overleap obftp.cles; he put* all to the rirtc ; and, by fuf- fcnng fortune to play her part in his deiigns, he acquires a fplendor and eclat in his anions, which mere wifdom could never give them Prince Ferdinand is famous, for never committing a fault. The King of Pruflla ,s above all the world, in repairing thofe he has committed Like ome of the great maftcrs in writing, whenever he makes, orfcems to make a miftake, it is a fignal to the obfcrver. to prepare for ibme Sieat and admirable Ihokeof fpirit and condi.a. His errors feem to te fpurs t<. his abilities. He commits an error, he repairs it ; he errs agaui, and again aftonillies us by his manner of efl-aping. We niould olccn condemn the commander, but that we arr f«r^.,i ►. ^.i„.:,^ .... «t"." Amiml Regljlfr. '.h^ t:.T F f 2 «33 »759. EUROrE. Parallel be- t-wcci! the J^lng of Pvujlia and Prince Fer- dinand, 434 MILITARY MEMOIRS '759- fidcrable number of recruits. He recalled General euroTe. Klcirt, with 5000 men, from Pomerania ; and, in a little time, refumcd his former importance. Count Soltikoff marched into Silefia, and, with part of his army, joined that of the Auftrians in Lufatia, under Daun. The army of the cm- pire having entered Saxony, where they had re- duced Hall, Wittembcrg, Leipfic, Torgau, and at lad Drefden itfelf, the King detached 6000 men under General Wunch, to check the progrefs of the imperialifts in that eleftorate. Perceiving that the Ruffians intended to beliege Great Glogau, he, with the reft of his army, took poft between them and thar city, fo as to fruftrate their defign. This movement, while it prevented the Ruffians from taking winter-quarters in his dominions, un- avoidably cut off all communication with the ar- my of Prince Henry. Finding that he could not co-operate with his brother on the fide of Silefia, Extraordi- Prince Henry direfted his march towards Saxony, nan' march of P'-ncc Henry. with the view of recovering poiTeffion ol that coun- try, and to draw the attention of Daun towards it, fo as to difable him from affiftingthe Ruflians. The country, through which this projected march lay, was in a manner overfpread by the enemy. On the 'zjd day of September, the Prince quitted his camp at liornfdorf, and, after a rapid and alinoll incredible march, arrived at Hoyerfwerda ; where he furprifed a body of 4000 men, commanded by General Vehla ; killed 600, and made twice that number prifoners, including the commander him- felf. OF GREAT BRITAIN. Soon after this atchievemttnt, the Prince Joined the troops under Finck and Wunch, which ob- liged M. Daun to leave his camp, and to make a forced march to cover Drefden ; which city, it was probable, Prince Henry had refolved to at- tempt. — Three armies were now encamped on the banks of the Oder ; the RuHians, at Franftadt ; General Laudohn, with a body of Auflrians, at Schlightingfkeim ; and the King of Pruflia, at Ko- ben—On the 29th of Oaober, the Duke d'A- remberge, with 16,000 Audrians, was encoun- tered and defeated by General Wunch, who took 1200 prifoners, fome cannon, and great part of their tents and baggage. The affairs of his Pruflian Majefty, notwith- flanding his repeated difallers, were once more in a refpe£table condition. He was at the head of a gallant army of 60,000 men, in high fpirits, ready to perform the moft defperate of his orders; and there flill remained hopes, that the campaign might be concluded to his advantage. — It was now obvious, that Daun would be obliged to retire into Bohemia, to abandon Drefden, and, in fhort, to give up all the advantages refulting from his for- mer vidories. Frederic was not fatisfied with the flow, progreflive mode, of diftrcffmg an enemy ; he was for adtions of greater moment, and more decifive. The paffes into Bohemia were exceeding. ly difficult ; and the King thought, that, by fome pofts, properly chofen, and ftrongly guarded, the retreat of the Auftrians might be prevented ; and that^Daun, after all his caution and prudence, would be compelled to hazard a battle at an evi- ^35 1759. EUaOTE. i «3^ MILITARY MEMOIRS 1759. SUILOPE. General Finck Air- roundcd. i dent difadvantage, as lie would then have no re. fource but in victory. With this view he detached General Finck, with 19 battalions, and 35 Iqua- drons, to take poircflion of the defiles of Maxen and Ottendorf, through which alone it feemed poffible for the Aultrians to penetrate into Bohe^ mia. This was done with great fuccefs. Daun re- tired to Plauen, and the King advanced to Willf. burg, imagining that he had effedually fucceeded in his defign. However plaufible this proje£t might appear, there was evidently fome miltake or overfight in itis execution. Finck had no fooner taken poft near Maxen, than Daun, after having recon- noitred his fituation, refolved to attack him with the corps de referve under the Baron de Sincere, The Baron marched his troops in four columns through the woods, and the Pruflians were en-» tirely furrounded before they had the leaft intima- of their approach. They had penetrated too far into thefe defiles, and had negleded to fecure a retreat, or any fort of communication with the main army. Their fituation was the moft defpe- rate that could well be imagined. To retreat, was impoflible ; and the only confolation arifing from refiflancc, was the felling their lives dear. They defended themfelves, for the whole day, with the greatefl refolution. But all their eftbrts were in- efleftual. Overpowered by numbers, they were driven from eminence to eminence, until, by fa- vour of the night, they made their lafl: retreat to FaiKcnliiiyri. ihe r^uitrians v/crc ciuployed the whole night, in guarding, with double ftrength and OF CHEAT BRITAIN. 237 EUROPE. vigilance, every avenue through which it was pof- fiblc for the Pruffians to efcape. The morning prefented a dreadful and dif- couraging fight to the Pruffian army. The hills on every fide of them were covered with great bodies of the enemy ; and every defile prefented a hedge of bayonets, thro' which it would have been madnefs to attempt to penetrate. In this alarming condition, fatigued with the hard fervice of the preceding day, in which they had exhauft- cd almoft all their ammunition, ftripped of the greateft part of their cannon, furro ided on all quarters, without the leaft profpeft of relief, it is not to be wondered at if the Pruffian army loft all hope, and all fpirit. General Finck was well acquainted with the rigour of his mafter ; and he felt the thoufand embarraffing circumftances that every man of honour and of fpirit muft feel at fuch a jundure. The apparent fhame of a fur- render was great ; but the abfurdity of throwing away the lives of fo many brave men on a forlorn hope, while there was a poffibility of referving them for better occafions, was, in his opinion, fufficient to counterbalance it. He therefore fent a trumpet And forc^i to Count Daun, to demand a capitulation ; which j"/""""' was granted in one fmgle article, importing, that he and eight other "Pruffian generals, with the whole body of troops they commanded, fhould be received as prifoners of war. To this he was obliged to fubmit ; and his whole army, confiding of 20,000 men bv thp Aun-*-inn onnr^,,,-.*- .y^,t - bove 12,000 by the Prufiian, 64 pieces of cannon. 438 MILITARY MEMOIRS T759' 50 pair of colours, and 25 (landards, fell into tuaopE. the hands of the Auftrian general.* ::\ This was a mod fevere flroke upon his Pruf- fian Majefly ; and it was the more mortifying, as it implied a cenfure on his condudt, for having detached fuch a numerous body of troops, to a fituation where they could not be fuftained by the reft of his army. — The Auftrians exulted in this cheaply obtained victory, which they confidered •as catching their enemy in the fnare which had been laid for themfelves j and they looked upon it ^s a full indemnification for the capture of the Saxon army, which had furrendered, very near this place, in the year 1756.! This difafter was fucceeded by another. Ge- neral Diercke had been ftationed on the banks of the Elbe, oppofite to Minden, and being recalled, was obliged to tranfport his troops in boats, the floating ice preventing the ufe of his pontoons. Rcar-giiai-d Whilft he ftruggled with thefe difficulties, his rear Lndetach- guard was attacked by a ftrong body of Auftrians, who, after an obftinate defence, took him, and his men, amounting to between 3 and 4000. By thefe two fucceffive defeats, happening in the clofe of an unfortunate campaign, his PruQian Majefty was fo weakened, that he would hardly have been able to maintain his ground at Frey- berg, had not he at this time been reinforced by Bient cut * There is ftrong finiilaiity between tliis tianiaaion and the fiirrcn- der of General Burgoyne's army at Saratoga. The particulars of the latter, however, are as yet too little kaown to trace the afLir farthcr ihan a general refemblance. f See p. 33, of tliis work. OF GREAT BRITAIN. m the body of troops under the Hereditary Prince of 1759. Brunfwic Daun, far from being elevated at the e^e. advantages he had gained, adhered ftriaiy to his ufual cautious management. Inftead of purfuing the blow, when it was more probable, thai! at any other period of the war, that one vigorous effort would have crufhed his Pruffian Majefty, and put an end to the troubles in that part of Germany, he quietly occupied the ftrong camp at Pirna, tJiat he might be at hand to fuccour Drefden, and maintain liis communication with Bohemia. • Frederic, finding it impoffible to bring the Au- ftrians to an en.fragement, was obliged at laft to defift, and to fuifer the fhattered remains of his Prudian array to repofe in winter-quarters. t^vun'tcr'* Four bloody campaigns had now been fought '^""■'"'* in Germany, without any profped of either of the parties being obliged to fubmit. Never, fmce the ages of Ignorance and barbarity, were the lives of men fquandercd away with fuch profufion, as in the courfe of this German war. As if the common method of carrying on hodilities was not fufficient- ly deftruclive, winter campaigns were introduced ; and the troops lavilhly expofed to all the rigour and diftemper of that inclement feafon, in defpite of nature, and contempt of humanity. In vain the confederate powers of Auftria, Ruflia, France, and Sweden, united their efforts to crufli the Pruffian monarch. He had been defeated ; he had been out-generaled ; but it was evident, that nothing 'm the moll delperate neccffity, nothing but being conquered in the moll abfolute fenfe, could ever :c him to fubmit. ji, S i40 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1 CHAP. XX. Expedition againji Martinico — Its failure — Guada- loupe taken — Ticonderoga and Crown Point aban* doned, and taken pojfeffion of by General Amherjl, — General Johnfon defeats the French near Nia- gara, and reduces that fort, ^^^^' i HE fuccefs of the laft American campaign, had AMERICA, excited a defire in the Britifh miniftry, of impro. ving it. Inftead of employing the whole flrength of the Britilh arms againft one obje£t, it was pro. pofed to divide the forces, and to make impref- fions on different parts, fo as to divide, diftraft, and weaken the enemy. In order to render fuc* cefs more certain, the different expeditions were planned in fuch a manner, as to co-operate with each other, and even to join occafionally. An at- Expedition tempt againft the French Caribbee iflands, confli- F^ren"ch Ca- tutcd part of this comprehcnfive plan. — In the end ribbccs. Qf ^{^g preceding year, a fquadron of nine (hips of the line, with 60 tranfports, containing fix regi- ments of foot, were fent thither. The land-forces were commanded by General Hopfon, ?n officer "whofe age and infirmities, as well as natural cau. tion, difqualified him for fuch a fervice ; and the fea-force was under the commaV\d of Commodore Moore, then in the Weft-Indies. Martinico*, the • Martinico, the principal of the French Caribbees, and the feat of jovernment, is fituatcd in the 15th degree of Nortii latitude, it is about 13 Ipagues in length, and icvcn in breadth, waved into a variety o( OF GREAT BRiTAm. i4t moft confiderable of all the French iflands, was 1759. the place of their deftinatlon. On the i6th of Ta- =^ nuary, the troops were landed near Port Royal ''''''"^* ^ithout meeting with any confiderable oppofiticn! Ihe natural ftrength of the country, however, proved a much greater obftruftion to the Britifh troops, tnan the force of the enemy. The attempt proving meffedtual after repeated efforts, the troops were re.mbarked. There appears to have been fome difference between the commanders, which might occafion the attack's being fo fuddenly a- .^ , '^"^ ^"^"^^^ b^f^'-e that place. Attempt new difHculties arofe, a council of war was held, Sr;. and the attempt agamft Martinico was finally aban! ''^'' doned.....Unwilling to return with the difgrace of having done nothing worthy of the greatnefs of the armament, and the expe^ation of their country the commanders refolved to proceed againft the ifland of Guadaloupet, an objed of as much im. portance as Martinico, though o f lefs renown. Mils and well watered with ftreams and Hvulets Th. Ih... • fide indented yvith very deep bays ■ and f h.7 ^ ^^^ r°'' " "" ^^H^ -dro.h-e.a. iite^hrl: iTtt rn f ri^r; "^' ^-r r"^-" 'nc-feaed at inconfiderabi diftanc . with deej T ""."^ '""' " the water pours down in the rainv 1 V ? ^ ''"' '^''°''«^ ^^'''^^ other .efpeV the mlnluJ f\ T ""'^ ^'"' i"'P^t"°fity. Irt cultivated; rund 1 ntr; '™'''"'' ^^" ^^^"^''- -^ -11 «^--^.-itderi;e!t^lX';;:ra :;: ''''"'^'-^- -^ ^>- trade, from whence even tb. r . government, and ftaple of »rcex^or^.,. J!" "'" "'"^S^" of Guadaloupe. and other 1.^.. Rovaran,.";r«::: "r°V"" """^"^t^- l^e two principal places are Port t Jwns confiderable in rii J'or th t "'agnitude. ftrength, and trade - — -r •>i>-iig(.ii Guadaloupe, fo called fr < part of the world. •om its refemblance to a chain of mountains S 2 242 MILITARY MEMOIRS ^59- On the 23d of January, the fleet arrived before AMERICA. ^^^ ^^^^" o* Bafle-terre, the capital of the ifland, and defended by a O.rong fortrefs, which, in the opinion of the chief engineer, could not be reduced by tlie fliippiiig. The commodore was of a diffe- rent opinion, and brought the Ihips to bear upon the town and citadel. About nine in the morn- ing, a dreadful cannonade began, which conti- nued with the utmoil fury until five in the even- ing, when the fire of the citadel, and all the other batteries, were effectually filenced. In the mean time, the bombs, which were continually fliower- ed upon the town, fet it on fire in feveral places. Nothing could exceed the horror of this fcene. The heavy and unremitted fire of fo many great fliips and batteries, and the blowing up of the powder magazines, were heighthened by a conti- nued and permanent line of flames, which extend- ed along the fliore, and formed a fuitable back- ground to this terrible pi<3:ure. Next day, the troops landed without oppofi- tion, took poffefTion of the town and citadel, and difplayed the Britifh colours on the walls. The Operations ai'ainll Guada- luupi\. of tlie fame name in Old Spuin. It is divided into two parts, by a fmall channel, which tlie inhabitants crofs in a feiry-boat. The wcftcni ciivi- iion is called BalTc-tcirc, where the capital ftands ; and the eaftern part is called Grande-terre. No pait of the Weft Indies, perhaps of the world, affords more agreeable and romantic Ichemes than Guadaloiipe, It is full of high mountains, to which the inhabitants convey their va- luable eifefls in time of danger. The valleys are extremely fertile, and produce a great quantity of iiigar, cotton, indigo, tobacco, and caflia ; befidi-s plenty of rice, potatoes, and ail kinds of pulfe and fruit peculiar %n the c^untrv. 1'h.e countrv is pori-ious and fltjuvirhipir. and t!^i^20- vernment comprehends two fmaller illands, called All Saints and Dc feada, fituatcd on the caflein (Idc of the illand. ^A til, OF GREAT BRITAIN. 24^ ifland, however, was far from being reduced. The ^759. nature of the country, which abounded with pafles ""^ and defiles, rendered it eafy to be defended ; and '"'"''"' tlie inliabitants, who had retired to the mountains feemcd determined to iland out to the lafl extre' mity. On the 27th of February, General Hopfon, who, though unfit for this fervice, was a very worthy man, and a good officer, died, and hi. command devolved on General Barrington ; a cir- cumftance which contributed not a little to the fubfequent redudion of the ifland. It is not con. fiftent with our plan to enter into a detail of the Ikirmilhing operations of the troops, which were drawn out to a confiderable length. The inhabi- tants purfued the moft fenfible plan that could be adopted in their fituation. Inftead of hazarding a general engagement with regular troops, they re- lolved to weary them out with continual alarms, and to harrafs and diftrefs them with perpetual ikirmifiies ; a plan which the unhealthinefs of the climate, and the want of provifions among the Lntilli troops, rendered but too likely to fuccecd. ihp war was protracted, in this manner, from the 24th of January to the firft of May, when the in- bb.tants thought proper to capitulate j and theTi,eina„d wiiole illand, and its dependencies, was fubjeaed ^""^'"'^^'*' to the Britifli crown. Scarcely was the capitulation ■gncd, when M. Bompart, general of the French Caribbees, landed at St. Ann's, a port belonging to Guadaloupe, with 600 rpm,l:,ro n^^^ u°^ 'J'ers, and a vaft quantity of arms and ammuni- "011. But this body, hearing of the capitulatian »44 MILITARY MEMOIRS JW being figned, immediately difappeared," tho', had AMERICA, f^^y '^"^^^ a day fooner, the fubjeaion of the ifland to the Britifh arms mufl at leaft have been doubtful. On the 25th of May, the ifland of Ma- rigalante furrendered, upon the fame terms as had been gritnted to that of Guadaloupe.* The operations of the Britifh arms on the con- tinent of America, were dircded to diflferent oh- jeds. To fall as near as poflible, at the fame lime, upon Crown Point, Niagara, and the forts to the fouth of Lake Erie, whilft a great naval armament, and a confiderable body of land-forces fliould attempt Quebec by the river St. Laurence, ag'^Ti" ^^^ ^^^ P^^" propofed. The army under General condcroga Amherft, deftined againft Ticonderoga and Crown and Crown n • ^ .1 y n • • ,^. Point. romt, was the firlt m motion. The redudion of thofe forts would naturally lay open the Lake Champlain, which has a communication with the great river St. Laurence. Having eftabliOied a fufficient naval force on this lake, the general was to proceed to Quebec, in order to form a junc- tion with General Wolfe and Admiral Saunders, who, having entered the river St. Laurence at thf oppofite quarter, would probably have commenced the fiege of Quebec, by the time of his arrival. • Mod of the inhabitants of Guadaloupe exerted themfelves gallantly m the defence of their country. A lady of mafculine courage, whofe name was Ducharmcy. particularly didinguilhed herfelf. Having arm- ed her flaves, fhe headed them in peilbn, m*de fcveral bold attempts upon an advanced polt of the Britifh army, and threw up entrench- ments upon a hill oppofite to it. At latt the works of this virago were ftormed by a regular detachment, and. after an obftinate and dange- rous conflift. the entrenclime.it-e u,pr» f«M-..,j -_J .1,- L .../•_ 1 1 . ^"i "nu tiic 11UU1C3 aiiu piBZiZS' tions burned ; but tlie lady, who commanded in p«rfon during the w tion, fortunately cfcapcd unhurt. tho', had •n of the tiave been id of Ma- ns as had » the con- erent ob- thc fame the forts eat naval id-forces, Laurence, r General id Crown ludion of the Lake with the ibliAed a neral was a junc- Saunders, ice at thf mmenced arrival. ves gallantly iiage, whofe Having arm- )ld attempt) ip entrench- i virago were ! and dange- I and pbcts' iring the »c« J CfW/fm/f /////f/y//^ Fnof General far aJv;i Lake (; and rea year, tli dilaftcr. lillaiicc, to Crow aiquifitu was kili( furt. II Lord II( fiances c bore a ft treat, tli( tied tiic general v lion of of his off retreat in -Whil ing Tico! luva! fore cd intelli^ enemy lia mediately ti'e place, rc'i of tile about 35! plain, anc were well upon the ; OF GREAT nniTArN. t4s Fkom the impalimciUH that were thrown in 1759. Crntral Amhcrlf, way, tlic (uimncr was nrittv — ' (at adviuiccd bclorc he could g, t Im force, acrol. """"*• Lake Oairgc. 1 l,ey Ir^nded o., the 1 1 (t of July md reached tlic field, where, in the precedinB year, the Urit.fh troops had lulfered fo terrible I JilalUr. The French, aiter a feehle (how of re- iilla^ce, abandoned Ticondcroga, and retreated rie.„,„^ .0 Crown R,,,,, U,e only loft attending .hi, r^- ania,fit,on, wa, that of C;„lo„el r„w„(hend, who ™ k, led m reconnoitring, by a (hot from the Tt. le fell near .he fpot where the gallant UrJ IIovv^ was k,ll,:d, to whom, in the crcum- laiKcs of b.rlh, qualifications, and character, he l"re a (Irong reli^n.blance. Previous to their re- ';,";, ""; ""f'l ''^J '" •■""'= -nealure difman. tW the fortilications j and the firft care of .he K'leral was .0 repair .he,n, as upon the polfcf. ™ of this nnporta,,, poft, not only the fuccef, of I.., offenliv- operations depended, but a lecure retreat in cafe of a reverfe of fortune. Whilk Amhera was tl,., ,™,,|„yed ;„ .^_ ^^; jconderoga, and endeavouring .0 , „,,,; ,,i, V rce upon the lake relpeflable, he rcceiv. elhgence from hi. fcouting parties, that the ■ le e^ r":1 '""^ ^™"" P"''«- H^ i- n,™* . ^pace, and fo „ after arrived there with the ■""""• ... he troops._The enemy had retired, with 1'la.n, and were ported n- ,he IHe de Ivoix Thev upon the lake was furh as juffifi. d them m hop- fe«€ iflr %4^ MILITARY MEMOIRS I '759' ing to be able to prevent the farther progrefs of *»...rA t^^^ Britifh army. Amhcrlt, rtnhble of the advan. tages attending a fuperiority on the lake, had given orders for the building of feveral vcfl'els with the utmoll expedition. Thefe being finiflied, vidualled, and manned, he embarked with the whole army, on the 1 oth of Odober, and proceeded a confi- dcrable way upon the lake. The general, in his zeal for the fervice, and anxiety to join General Wolfe, from whom he had not received the lead intelligence, feems to have forgot the advanced feafon of the year, and that it was impoflible to contend with fo fevere and tempeftuous a climate. Finding it impradicable to proceed, he prudently poftponed his operations to another year, and re- turned with the army to Crown Point. In the mean time, his little fquadron upon the lake, ex- erted itfclf with great activity. Three of the French veifels were driven into a bay, two of which were funk, and the other run aground; General Amherft, having opened communications between Ticonderoga and the governments of New Hampfliire and Mairachuffetts, difpofed his troops in winter- quarters. The forces appointed to a6t againfl Niagara*, • This is a very important port, and commands in a manner all the interior parts ot' North America, and i-. a kty as it were to that whole continent. It opens or obftrufts a communication with all the Indian nations, and awes and commands all tltofe people. It commands all the great lakes, and fccures the navigation of them. It prevents or licurcs the junction of the two I'rcnch colonics in Canada or l.ouiliana, and (lops the further progrefs of the Englifh or French (whichever are ponelTcd of it) in North America. A little above the fort, is tiie la- taraft of Niagara, which is tfleemed the moft remarkable iu the world, % tlie quantity of water, and greatncfs of the fail. General Amherft let urns to Crown foint. \ OF GREAT BRITAIN. under General Prideaux, arrived at .ha. place, .759. without meeting with any obftruaion. The for ^ ™ invefted about .he middle of July, , J Z operations were carrying on with grca, vigour ■ rten General Prideaux was unfortunately killed' ... *<^ ''^ches, by the burfting of a cohorn. Ge neral Amherft, being informed of this difalle .mincdiately fent Brigadier-General Gage to aflbme the command of that army. 1„ the mean time it d .0 Ived on Sir William Johnfon, who en"e ed .no the views, and purfued the meafures of f ate general, with the greatcft fpirit. Apprehen feci lofng a place of fuch important ,"e French refolved .0 exer. their endeavours for Z *f. Uey colleaed together all their regul roops and Provincials, with a large bodyof favages, amounting in all to about ,700 me/ h, *.ogive battle to the EnghllJand to ;aife lielicge. General Johnfon, having received in %nce of their approach, ordered the 1X1^' an.ry and piquets, fupported by fome grenadierl anJ regular foot, to poll theinfdves toTel ft on die road leading from Niagara-falls to t' H by which the French were to pafs T^^ Wians were placed on the flanks ; and not r eg..ne„t was polled, in fuch a manner a "o ■ «'e the trenches from a furprife during an en' ' Pgeincnt. "unng an en- dcnancing. The Indians ui the EnLrHfli fcr XX^'bt^'''''^'^^^--^^--'-^^" ■ '"-nanny; but it was reie^eH. n^K. „n.--.. introduced by the horrid fcrea H h fn called the 24B MILITARY MEMOIRS French de- feated. 1759- war-hoop ; which was faid to have been one of , ~~. the prhicipal caufes of General Braddock's de- feat, by the panic which it ftruck into his troops. But it had now loft its effed, and was no long^/ dreadful. The enemy began the attack with gre . refolution ; but they met with fo warm a reccp. tion, from the troops in front, and the Indians on their flanks, that, in lefs than an hour's time, their whole army was routed, and their general, with moft of his officers, taken. The purfuit was continued thro' the woods, for feveral miles, with great flaughter. This battle, fought in the fight of the fort, contributed, in a great meafure, to its fpeedy re- dudion. The general fent in a lift of the pri- foners, and exhorted the commandant to furren- der before more blood was ihed, while he had it in his power to reftrain the Indians. The capitu- lation was figned that night. The garrifon, con. fifting of 607 men, furrendered prifoners of war, and were condufted, with all their baggage, to New York. — The taking of Niagara broke oiF, effeftually, that fo much dreaded communication between Canada and Louifiana ; and one of the capital political dcfigns of the French, was defeat- ed in its dirett and immediate objedt. Niagara furrenders. CHAP. ;n one of lock's de- lis troops, no long^-j with gre' . [11 a reccp. he Indians )ur's time, ;ir general, Durfuit was niles, with ■ the fort, fpeedy re- )f the pri- to furren- I he had it rhe capitu- rifon, con- :rs of war, iggage, to broke off, munication me of the was defeat. H A P. GP GREAT BRITAIN. CHAP. XXL Expedition againji ^ebec— -Troops take poffejion of the [fie of Orlcans^-Aaion at the falls of Mont- morenci — Troops remove to Point Levi — Battle of ^ebec^General Wolfe killed^French defeated — ^ebec fur renders. 149 i759i AMERICA. However interefllng the reduaion of Crowrl Point and Ni.^gara might be, they were only in- tended to be fubfervient to the conqueft of Que- bec, the grand objeft of all our operations. The fcheme, by which the two armies, employed againft thofe forts, were to join and co-operate with the northern armament under General Wolfe, was too refined and complicated to be put in execution • and had fuccefs depended entirely on that circum- ftance, the French flag might flill have been dif- p!ayed at Quebec. Admiral Saunders commanded the fleet j and the operations by land, were intrnfted to the con- dua of Major-General James Wolfe, whofe mili^ tary genius was fo eminently difplayed at the fiegc of Louifbourg. His fubordinates in com- mand, were Brigadiers Monckton, Townfliend, and Murray. On the 26th of June, the whole armament 4 arrived at the ifle of Orleans, a few leagues from ^iverUforc Qiiebec, after a profperous navigation. By the ^'''"" affiftance of fome excellent charts, taken from the enemy, the Admiral experienced none of thofe II h 2 156 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1759- difficulties, with which the navigation of the river AMERICA. St. Laurence is faid to be attended. Next day, the troops were landed on the illand, which is a- Defcription bout twcnty uiiks in length, and feven in breadth; oiiean?''"^ highly cultivated, and abounding with people, viU lagcs, and plantations. It extends quite up to the bafon of Quebec ; and its moll wefterly point ap- proaches fo nearly to another on the continent, called Point Levi, that the harbour of Quebec ap- pears to be land-locked on all fides. The poflef- fion of thefe two points, were of the utmoft im- portance ; and the firft operation of General Wolfe, was to fecure them, which was done with little diflkulty. The city now appeared in full view, and pre- fented to the Britifli troops, at once, a tempting, and a difcouraging fight. Nature feeins to have peculiarly ftudied the defence of Quebec, no place in the world being better calculated to ftand out againfl an enemy.* The French had left nothing * Qnebec lies on the moft navigable river in the worlfl, with a harbour of f'rtfii water, capable of containing lOO men of war of tlie line, at the ilillan(.e of 120 leagues from the ocean. It conlifts of an upper and lower town ; the former built on a lofty rock, which runs, with a bold and fteep front, along the wcftern bank* of the river St. Laurence. At the termin;ition of this ridge, the river St. Charles, from the nortli-wefl, falls into tliat of St. Laurence, and renders the ground on which f^uebcc ftands, a kind of peninfula. On the fide of the river St. Laurence, is an extenfive fand-bank, which prohibits the approach of large veflcls. There is no other way, therefore, to attack Qutbec, than by furmonnting the above-mentioned precipice, or crois- i;ig the livcr St. Chaiics. The former, to all appearance, is wholly iinadvifeable, and almoft impoflible : the latter is difficult and dan- gerous in the CKtreme. All the country northward of the river ftt. Charle.5, for more than fnt-. miles, is rough, broken, and unequal, W of rivulets and gullies; rnd fo continues to the river of Montmorenci whivli fluws by llic foot of a (Itcp and woody hill. the rivef fext day, lich is a- breadth; ople, viU up to the point ap- :ontinent, aebec ap- he poffef- tmoft im- al Wolfe, vith little and pre- tempting, s to have , no place ftand out ft nothing voria, with a ' war of t!ie confifts of an , which runs, the river St. St. Charles, d renders the On the fide 1 prohibits the >re, to attad lice, or erofs" ce, is wholly ult and dan- the river St. unequal, fn" Moiitmoreiii-i OF GREAT BRITAIN. ,^, undone, which might add ,o the natural ftrength .759. of the country. Their troops, amounting to , 2 000 ^ men and commandea by M. Mo„tcaln\ an 'ab,e "'"'" and h,therto fortunate general, were encamped in a very advantageous fituation, along the ftore from the nver St. Charles, ,0 the falls of Mom To attack a place poffeffed of fo many advan- tages, w.th fuch a handful of men as the Britl arn-yconnfted of, was not only deviating from the eftabhfhed maxims of war, but wasf in a« appearance, a raft and fool-hardy attempt. Wolfe was well acquamted with the difficulties he had ,0 encounter ; and, though of a temper highly t^ guineand adventurous, he began almol I .' fpair. He was refolved, however, to leave .r. .^^ unattempted: he was not without hope of bein^ ,o,„ed by General Amherft ; and he knew, wwf tl.e Br, ift fquadron maintained its ftation n ,1 1 nv^e^ould always have it in his po:er' n ifc of n , ^■"^^Sency.--The weft point fcu*d L» '' ^"'"•'^'of Levi, being "cured, batteries were erefted upon tlie hii ^.>ds, which fired continually uA thrtol' cne uie ot Orleans, oppofite to the falls of "f the fleet. dive tedT ' ''"? "" '°™- ^'■'^h "Ot only diverted the enemy's attention fr,,m the Quarter ™ wh,ch the attack was intended, butJZ^/, 2S2 »759' AMERICA. All at- tempts to bring tlie French to an engage- mem, iu- cicdual. MILITARY MEMOIRS The fleet being thus judicioufly difpofed, Gc* neral Wolfe caufed the troops to be tranfported over the river St. Laurence, to the north-eaft of Montmorenci ; with a view, after he had croffed the latter, of moving towards the enemy's flanks, and enticing them to an enga^^jment. Every means was ufed for this purpofe, but without efFea. M. Montcalm was well apprifed of the importance of his fituation ; and, though fuperior in number to the Englifli, was refolvcd to rilk nothing, and to rely entirely on the fl:rength of the country. Mean-while, the fleet was expofed to the mod imminent danger. A violent ftorm had caufed fe- veral tranfports to run foul of each other ; many boats foundered, and fevei al large fliips loft their anchors. The enemy, taking advantage of the confufion which they imagined this difafter muft produce, fcnt down feven fire-fliips from Quebec, at mid-night, among the Britiih fleet, which lay fo thick as to cover the whole furface of the river. This fcheme, though well contrived, and fcafonably executed, was entirely defeated by the fkill and vigilance of Admiral Saunders, and the dexterity of his mariners ; who refolutciy boarded the fire-fliipc, run them fall aground, and pre- vented them from doing the fmalleft damage to t'le Britifli fquadron. Wolfe, finding that every endeavour to draw the enemy to a engagement was unfuccefsful, and fenfible that the approach of winter would foon terminate all military operations in that northern climate, formed the lefnlution of attacking them OF GREAT BRITAIN. 253 in their entrenchments, on the fide of Montmo- »759- renci.— There was a redoubt fituaced clofe to the a^^a. water's edge, and, to appearance, without gun- {hot of the entrenchment on the hill. The general forefaw, that if the enemy fhould fuffer this fort to be reduced, he could afterwards reconnoitre their fituaiion at leifure, and determine the place at which they could be mofl easily attacked : on the other hand, fhould they endeavour to fupport it, he would be enabled to bring on a general en- gagement. This plan, judicious and pradicable as it may appear, failed, from one of thofe acci- dents which can neither be forefeen nor pre- vented. On the 30th of July, in the forenoon, the Theattads troops deftined to this attack, were embarked in ZttL boats, in order to be tranfported acrofs the chan- '^^"^^ nel. To facilitate their pafTage, the Centurion iliip of war was ftationed in the channel, to check the fire of the lower battery, v hich commanded the ford ; a numerous train of artillery was placed upon the eminence, to batter the left of the ene- my's entrenchment; and two flat-bottomed armed veffels were run aground near the redoubt, to ■ favour the defcent of the forces. The confufion which thcfe manoeuvres produced among the ene- my, determined the general to ftorm the en- trenchment immediately. Orders were ilTucd for the Bngaciiers Monckton, TownOiend, and Mur- ray, ^to put ih..,-r .ioop.. in motion, at a certain ligna., whi. h V, as accordingly given at a proper taiie of the t.de. Several boats, however, were ^un aground, which caufcd a cojifiderable delay. «54 MILITARY MEMOIRS '759- AMERICA Biitilli troops re- tire with a fonfidcra- ble iois. during which the troops were expofed to a fevere , fire from the enemy. In the mean time, the gene- ral, in perfon, founded the fliore, and pointed out the place where the troops might be landed with leafl difficulty. Thirteen companies of grenadiers, and 200 of the fecond American battalion, were the firft who landed. They had orders to form upon the beach, and to wait for the corps that was to fuf. tain them, before they began the attack. Inftead of attending to this neceffary injunftion, they rulhed, with an impetuous ardour, towards the enemy's entrenchments, in the moll tumultuous diforder. This confufion was encreafed by a fe- vere and fteady fire from the entrenchments, which forced them to take fhelter under a re. doubt, which the enemy had abandoned on their approach. — In this diftreisful fituation they re. majned a confiderable time, unable to form under fo hot a fire, not with Handing every effort of their officers. Night was now drawing on ; a violent tempei'l was gathering, and the tide was beginning to make. For thel'e reafons, the general judged it not advifeable to perfevere in fo dangerous an attack, us a fecond repulfe might render tlie re- treat of \the troops hazardous and uncertain, lie therefore ordered them to retreat, and to form behind MoncK.ton's brigade, which was now drawn up on the beach, in good order. The whole re- paficd the river without moleflation ; the general expofing his pcifon, with that intrepidity, whi:h diftjnguifhed him retreat. , both during the attack, and the OF GREAT BRITAIN. ' 25^ The lofs which attended this mortifying check, 1759. was very confiderable. Above 500 men, and """^ many brave officers, were killed or wounded; but, '''''^"'''' though the army was confiderably weakened, the general was refolved to proceed with vigour, as long as there remained a poffibility of fuccefs. Admiral Holmes's fquadron, which had returned to affift in the late unfuccefsful attack, was or- dered to move up the river, attended by Brigadier Murray, with 1 200 men. Nothing of great mo- ment was effeaed by this detachment. Several magazines of the enemy were deftroyed, but they could not come near their men of war ; fo that they returned to their former ftation. By fome prilbners taken in this expedition, they learned, that the fort of Niagara was taken, Ticonderoga and Crown Point abandoned, and General Am- herft employed in making preparations to attack the corps under M. Burlemaque at the Ifle du Noix. The ill fortune which had hitherto attended all his operations, made a deep impreffion on the mind of General Wolfe. He had planned, he had attempted, he had executed, every thing that might infure fuccefs ; he had faced every danger in perfon, and braved every difficulty and fatigue; but the profpea of viaory and conqueft, was as yet fa. diftant. He well knew, that the want of fuccefs in all military expeditions, was oftener at- tributed to mifcondua, than misfortune ; and the thought of returning, without having performed My thing worthy of himfelf, and the public hope, was more terrible to him than death. He was often I i <25^ MILITARY MEMOIRS iicKdiS. 1759- feen to figh ; he was often heard to comptain; AMieRicA. and the tumult of his mnid, added to the fatigues of body he had undergone, difordered his whole conftitution, which was naturally delicate and ten- Ccn Wolfe ^'^^' ^^^ ^^^^ fcized with a violent fever, which, for fomc time, totally difabled him. In this feeble condition, he begged of the general officers, to confult together for the public utility ; and the rcfult of their deliberation was, that 4000 or 5000 men, conveyed above the town, might be able to draw the enemy from their fituation, and to bring them to a general engagement. It was at this period, that General Wolfe difpatchcd an exprefs to England, with an account of his proceedings. In this elegant and truly mill- tary letter, tho' written in the ftile of defpondency, we may difcover the fcholar, the philofopher, the warrior, and the politician. It may be exhibited as a ftandard of military eloquence ; and would have ranked the author among our bed writers, had not his military exploits placed him among our greateft commanders.* Agreeable to the plan which had been form- ed for a general affault, the general and admiral reconnoitred the town ; and concluded, from their own obfervation, enForcci' by the opinion of the • This letter is perhaps one of ti.e clearclt and molt elegant account! of a feries of military opL-rations, whicli has ever been publilhed. The concluding; pars^-aph is Insularly excellent. •' Ia- thv' lift of difabled officers (many of whom are of rank) you may perceive, Sir, •■hat the army is much weakened. By the natiuo of the river, the moll forniidable part of this armament is deprived of the power of adlng, yet we liavc almon: the whole force of Canada to oppofe. In this fituation, there is fuch a choice of difficulties, that I own myfcSf at a hll how to determine. The ailuirs af Great Biitain, OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^^^ chief engineer, that fuch an attack could not be 1759. hazarded with any profped of fuccefs. The fchcme "====" therefore, of drawing the enemy to an enc^acrement' """''"" ■ ^^^ n«^ finally adopted. The troops quitted the camp at Montniorcncl, were rcimbarked and land- ed at Point Levi ; and Admiral Holmes's divifion made movements up the river, in order to draw the actention of the enemy as much from the town as polhble. This was attended with a better effea than before; for, tho' Montcalm (till main- tamed his advantageous port, he detached M. -> ' Bougainville with 1500 men, to watch the ml uons of the Englifii admiral. Admiral Saunders, who ftill remained In Ins firft pofition, was ordered to make a foint )vith every appearance of reality, as if the troops mtendea to land below the town, and attack the Ircnch entrenchments on the Beauport fliore On the 1 2th of September, about one in the Troop, e:., morning, the general embarked the troops aboard '"'^■'• the traniports, and proceeded three leagues f^r, '' ther up the river than the intended place of land- ing- They were then put into boats, and bet^an to Jll down with the tide to the place of difeinbark- '? V T'' ^"'^''^ fi''"^^y ^^°%^ unobfcrved by tae h-ench centinels ported on the f]:ore ; but, War ir- "-id^ccxca.! onl, uL.. U... ^J. -tion t ;S T V"""" '" ''" '^^'^^''>'' ^'"^ ''^ -^-^ '^'' ''- 0. hj, Majei.y s anus In any other parts of Ameri-." I i 2 I I MILITARY MEMOIRS »759' by the rapidity of the current, and the darknefs ' of the night, they overfhot the mark, and were AMERICAi ^ . Ill c carried a little below the intended \Mce ot attack. The fliips of war followed them, and, by a well- conduded navigation, arrived juft at the time concerted to cover their landing. — When we con- fider the danger and difficulty attending this en- terprife, we cannot but admire the dexterity with which it was performed. The ftream was rapid, the fliore flielvini , the bank above lined with centinels, and the landing-place fo narrow as to Troops be eafily miiVed in the dark. — When the troops Kd'ufe were landed, the heights of Abraham appeared heights of b^^fy^e them, which rife abruptly, with a lleep Abraham. ' , '. •' . i- i afccnt, from the banks ot the river. A little path flanted up the hill from the landing-place, fo nar- row that two could not go abreafl ; and even this was entrenched, and defended by a captain's o-uard. Thefe difficulties, however difcouraging and perplexing, ferved only to animate the troops. The light infantry and the Highlanders, under Colonel Howe, afcended the precipice with ad- mirable courage and adivity. They were obliged to pull themlclves up by the Humps and boughs of trees, which covered the dec.ivity. The cap- tain's guard, which defended this pafs, was foon dir{x:rfed ; the whole army mounted without fur- ther moleftation, and were drawn up in order by the general as they arrived. Montcalm could fcarcely credit the intelli- gence he received, of the Britifh forces having gained the heiglits of Abraham, which he had confidently deemed inacceflible j but, finding it OF GREAT BRITAIN. a39 but too true, and being confcious that the Br'tiHi >7S9- flctt might dcflroy ic low town, while the liiirh "~'"^ 11.1 , -. . ° AM< MCA. I )wn was attacked by the army, he rcfolved to ha 'iird a battle -' quitting Beauport, pafled the river St. Chun^ s, and formed his troops op- pofite to ours. Gen al Wolfe, perceiving the approach Pofitionof ot the enemy, began to form his own line, which airayt" confided of fix battalions, and the Louifbourg grenaiiers. The right of this body, was com- manded by Brigaf'" r Monckton j the left, by- Brigadier Murray ; a.>d the rear was proteded by the light infantry, under Colonel He. As the enemy difcovered an intention o^ flanking the left of the Englifti, General Townfhcnd was fent thi- ther with the regiment of Amherft, which he formed en potence, that is, in a body which pre- fents two faces to the enemy. His numbers were foon increafed by two battalions ; and another battalion was drawn up as a referve, formed in eight fubdivifioiis, with large intervals. — The,n,i„fti^ right of the enemy w as compofed of half the co- ^^'="**- iony troops, fupr;ortcd by two battalions of re- gulars, and a body of Canadians and favages ; their centre confifted of a column, formed by two other regular battalions ; and the remainder of the colony troops, with one battalion, were ported on the left. The bufhes and corn-fields in their front, wtre filled with detachments of Indians, and the bed markfmen, who, previous to the engage- men:., kept up a galling, though irregular, fire upon the Britifli troops. ^ 1: IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (AAT-3) 1.0 Ifi- IIM I.I |50 •'^ i^ 1 2.2 1.8 us IS 1.25 1.4 1.6 -< 6" - ► V2 ^ /a / ^m #^ •^^p" J^ '> •# ^ ^ ^4 /^ <^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14SS0 (716) 872-4503 mm 9.60 MILITARY MEMOIRS Battle of Qucbtc. '759' About nine in the morning, the enemy ad. AMERICA, vanced to the charge, with great fpirit, and in good order ; but their fire, from its beginning too foon, was irregular and ineffc6luaL The Bri- tifli troops, on the contrary, referved their fire, until the French had approached within forty yards of thei* line, when they poured in a moft dreadful difcharge, which took place in its full extent. This fire was continued with great deli- beration and fpirit, and the enemy began to give way on all fides. At this critical time. General "Wolfe, who flood confplcuous in the front of the line, where the attack was the moft warm, re- ceived a ball in his breaft, under which he funk j and was carried behind the ranks, where he foon expired.* General Monckton, the fecond in com- mand, fell immediately after, and was likewife conveyed off the field of battle. The command now devolved on General Townfhend, who (how- cd himfcif equal to fo arduous a duty. Notwith- "■ ■■ ■ii!i..i ' .a_ii i wn. i « i .'ijjt j a f j u mi i— • The circum fiances attending the death of fo great a perfon, are deferving of a particular relation. He fiift received a (liot in the wrid; but, to avoid diicouraging his troops, he wrapt a handkerchief round his hand, and continued giving orders without the Icaft emotion. S005 after, he received another ball in his belly, which he likewife concealed, and exerted himfcif as before. But a third ball, mjre fata!, pierced his breaft; under which he fi nk, and was cairied off to a fmall diftancc in the rear. As he lay ftrui^gling with the angiiilh and weaknefs of three grievous wounds, he feemed only folicitous about the fortune of the battle. He begged one who attended him, to fupport him to view the field ; hut as he found that the approach of death had dimmed and con- fufcd his fight, he dcfired an otBcer to give him an : count of what he faw. The officer anfwertd, tliat the enemy fcemed broken. He re- peated his quedion a few minutes after, with much anxiety; when he was told, that the enemy was totally routed, and that they fled in al} parts. " Then," faid he, '« 1 am fatisficd;" and he immediately ex- pired. • OF GREAT BRITAIN. ftandl i6i _ the difcouraging circumftahce of lofinff 1759- two generals, the troops preferved their fpirit, and ===* every regiment feemed to exert itfelf with a view ^"''"*• to Its own peculiar charader. The grenadiers prelTed on with their bayonets, and foon broke the centre of the enemy ; when the Highlanders drawing their broad fwords, fell in among theni w.th irrefiftable impetuofity, and drove them with French d. great flaughter into the town. Colonel Howe '''''''• ' with his light infantry, mahitained his Ration on the left during the whole aftion, aud entirely pre- vented the attempts of the Indians and Canadians upon that quarter. , l'^^n°r ^^'^ ^'^'""'y ^"^^^^^d In favour of tlie Bntifli forces, when a new enemy appeared, which threatened to put all again to the hazard. M. Bougainville, who had been detached up the nver had turned back, on being informed that the Britifh troops had gained the heights of A- braham, and now appeared in the rear with a body of 2000 men. Fortunately, he arrived too ate to have any fhare in the battle. The main body of the French army, was broken 'and dif- perfed ; and General Townfliend eflablifhed his rear fo effeaually, that Bougainville, after a feeble attempt, thought proper to retire among woods ana^ fwamps where the Britifli commander wifely dechned following him. Montcalm was mortally wounded in the en- gagement, and conveyed into Quebec. His fe- cond,n command likewife received a wound, of vh.ch he afterwards died on board an Englifl, IJ^'P. About ,000 of the enemy, including a m ■H WH ■PMi a6s MILITARY MEMOIRS I ■ '759* great number of officers, were taken prlfonerg j and about 500 were flain on the field of bittle.*-- ' If we except the death of General Wolfe, and refleft on the importance of the viftory, the lofs of the Britifli troops was quite inconfiderable. It did not amount to above 500 men. Charafter The death of this great general, was a national «en.woife. misfortune ; and, perhaps, our lofs that day was greater, than the conqueft of Canada was advan- tageous. Never was honour more firmly efta- blilhed upor the principles of virtue, than in him. He feemed formed by nature for mihtary great- nefs. His memory was retentive, his judgment deep, his comprehenlion quick and clear, and his capacity extenfive. His paffion for glory, prompt- ed him to acquire every fpecies of military kndw« ledge, that fludy could comprehend, or adual fervice illuftrate or confirm. With the true fire of a foldier, he polTefTed the milder qualifications of the man. He w?- generous, gentle, com- placent, and humane. Contemning every little art for the acquifition of wealth, he fcorned to prolong a burthenfome war, to enrich liimfelf with the fpoils of his country. His rank in the army, was owing to no parliamentary intereft, nor family-conneftions : merit alone raifed him ; and that great man, whofe comprehenfive genius direfted the operations of the war, had long dif- ccvered his abilities, and marked him for his own. If we view his fate with the eye of a foldier, it was, of all others, the moft to be envied, by thofe who have a true relilli for military glory. He had happily efFeaed the enterprife in which «HHi prlfoners j bittle— olfe, and , the lofs rable. It a naticnal It day was vas advan- rmly efta- m in him. ary great- judgment ir, and his ', prompt- :ary know* or afiual s true fire lalificat'ons ntle, coDi- every little fcorned to ich himfelf ink in the ry intereft, aifed him; five genius d long dif- or his own. foldier, it envied, by itary glory. in which ifi/iiu-^ M/iwm I G-MWJS MA.I, -WOIiJpjB^ mm ^fmm i foon. GP GREAT BRITAIN. aS3 k w?s engaged, fully anfwered the cxpeaations 1759- ef his country, and, expiring in the arms of vie- ""^ tory, left, to future times, an heroic example ^f''''""^* military (kill, difcipline, and fortitude. But, the* he thus expired with every circumftance of glory that could grace the death of a foldier, it is ftiU to be regretted, that he did not furvive to enjoy thofe honours, which his great merit claimed, and • which his country would have delighted to bellow on him. Immediately after the adion. Admiral Saun. dcrs, who had all along fpiritedly co-operated with the land-forces for the advantage of the fer- vice, failed up with an intention to attack the lower town, while General Townfliend was pre- paring to aiTault the upper par!. This double attack was anticipated by a propofal of capitula- tionfrom the town; which, after mature deli- Qi'^bec fur- beration, was accepted, and figned on the 1 8th ""'^"'" of September. The terms were honourable to the garrifon, and advantageous to the inhabitants. who were allowcrd the free exercife of their re- ligion, and the poffeflion of their civil rights, un- til a general peace (hould decide their future' con- dition.--^The fortifications were in tolerable or- der; but the houfes were entirely demoliflied. General Murray, with a garrifon of 5000 men, 'vas left to defend the place ; and the remainder returned to England with the fleet, which failed oon, left it fhould be locked up by the froft in t'le river St. Laurence.— Brigadier Monckton was conveyed to New-York, where he happily reco- ^ertd of his wound. K k I 264 MILITARY MEMOinS I ; 1759' Thus was the conqucft of Quebec happily AMERICA, completed ; an enterpiife which ilrongly proves, that intrepidity and perfeverance will get the bet- ter of obftacles apparently infurmountablc. When we confiiler the ftrength of the country, the num- bers of the befieged, and the advanced feafon at which the attack was commenced ; the fuccefs which attended it, is matter of the greateft afi:o- nifliment. Every manoeuvre difplayed the judge- ment and genius of the general, and the bravery of the troops. It is but juftice to the navy, to obferve, that they co-operated with an unanimity, ardour, and perfeverance, never enough to be commended. ^ The news of this important conqueft, arrived in England but a few days after the exprefs which General Wolfe had fent oiF after the affair of Montmorenci. The defpondency occafioned by the latter, was great. The conqueft of Canada was a meafure ardently wifhed for by the people, and, from their high opinion of WoU'e, they were almoft allured of fuccefs ; but, when be began to doubt, they thought they had juft reafon to de- fpair. It is difficult to defcribe the various and mixed emotions, with which every one was effected, when intelligence was brought, of Quebec's being taken, and General Wolfe killed. The fudden tranfition from fuch a deje£tion to the highell joy, mixed with grief and pity at the fate of the gene- ral, was lingular and affcfting. The rapture and riot which the news excited among the populace, were blended with the praife of the gallant Wolfe; and the fort of mourning triumph which every OF GREAT BRITAIN. 465 AMERICA. ar- where manifeftcd itfelf, while it did honour to the memory of the general, difplayed the generous and humane feelings of the people.* The French army, loon after the furrender of French _. Quebec, retired to Montreal and Trois Rivieres "'^ "''"*• the only places of any confequence they had left in Canada. The country along the river, was laid wafte for a confiderable extent, to deprive the French troops of fubfiftence, and fo render any attempt for recovering Quebec in the winter abor- tive; a meafure, which, however repugnant to humanity, was judged to be abfolutely neceflary. • " A little drtumftancc was talked of at that time, and it dcfcrves to be recorded, as it fhows a fin-ncfs of fentiment, and a juftncfs of thinking in the lower kind of people, that is rarely met with even among perfons of education. The mother of General Wolfe was an objeft mark-d out for pity, by great and peculiar diftrefs ; the public wound pierced her mind with a particular affliftion. who had expe- rienced the dutiful fon, the amiable domeftic charafter, whilft the world admired the accom^Iifted officer Within a few months (he had loft her hufband ; flie now loft this fon, her only child. The po- palace of th. village where rtie lived, unanimously agreed to admit no illuminations or firings, or any other llgn of rejoicing whatever near her houfe, left they (hould feem,.by an ill-timed triumph, to infuit over her grief. There was a juftncfs in this ; and whoever knows the people, knows that they made no fmall facrifice on this occal-on " K k CHAP. I ^66 MILITARY MEMOIRS ASIA. CHAP. XXII. General Lally bcfieges Madmfs — Obliged to raife t/j( Jiege — Major Brercton repiiifcd — Lally comhktely routed by Colonel Cootc — Third engagement be- tween Pocock and d' Ache^^Trcacbery of the Dutch chajiifcd, 1 HE French force in the EaftJndies, wa§ highly refpeftable; and there was juft reafon for them to hope, that the lofles they fudained in other parts of the world, would be balanced by their fucceffes ky"fi!i"t'o '^ this.^We left General Lally making prepara- MadrafR tjons to befiege Madrafs.* On the 14th of De- cember 1758, he advanced with his whole force to attack the place ; while the Britifh detachments retreated into the garrifon. The inhabitants were thrown into the utmoft conftcrnation j and it re- • This town was built about an hundred years ago, by one William l.anghorne, in the country of Arcot, and by the fea-fide. It is placed in the midft of a fandy traft, altogether dry ; and there is no water fit for drinking, but what is fetched from the diftance of more than a mile. It has incicafed fo much fince its eftablilhment, that it has been divided into three dirtrifts. The llrfl of thefc, known in Europe by the name of Fort St. George, and in India by that of the White Town, is occu- pied by about 500 Englilh. It is defended only by a flight wall, ind four ill-conftruaed baftions. To the north, lies the Black Town, which is larger, and flill worfe fortified ; and is the quarter where the Jews, Armenians, Moors, and the richeft Indians, refide. Beyond this, arc the fuburbs, which are entirely dcfcncelefs, and full of inhal)itants. The three divifions, and the whole territory, which is not more than Ij miles in circumference, contain a50,CX3o inhitbitants, almoft all of them natives of India. The bufinefs carried on here, by the company, andtlie private merchants, has rendered Madrafs one of the nioft opulent and important places in India, OF GREAT BRITAIN. 167 »759- asiaj quired fome immediate addrefs, to keep up the fpirits of the garrifon, and prevent a general de- fpondency. For that purpofe, a faliy was made, under the command of Colonel Draper ; and, had the fpirit and bravery of the commander been fe- condcd by the troops of Madrafs, the town would, m all probability, have been relieved from the hor- rors of a ficge. After a warm and bloody dif. pute, Colonel Draper was obliged to retire into the fort; and nothing further was attempted with- out the works, as the garrifon was not very nu- merous. ' In the mean time, the enemies batteries played vigoroufly againft the town, but the artillery of the garrifon was much better managed. The hench aaed with a timidity, aad want of judge- French ment on this occafion, by no means fuitable to ^"* ''"•" their national charafter. It was in vain that Lally " *' attempted to lead on his men to a breach that had been pradicable for feveral days ; it conti- ^ nued open for a fortnight, and not one dared to venture the aflkult. To add to his embarraffments, he was very ill fupplied with provifions, and he 'ound that the garrifon had received a reinforce- mtnt. Defpairing, therefore, of fucc.fs, he raifed and .ire tl e hege that very night, abandoning forty pieces "" '""^'• ot cannon, and retreated to the territory of Ar- cot..~lhe failure of the French, in this attempt, ^as greatly owing to the (kill and bravery of the ^ritilh commanders. Governor Pigot, Colonels Murence ^md Draper, and Major Brereton, par. ticuhirly diilinguilhed themfelves. I i69 MILITARY MEMOIRS AIU. ■I »759' The tranfadVions of the war in this part of the world, confiilcd chiefly of detached expeditions, which are of too little moment to require a par- ticular relation.— -The troops under Lally, behaved in the mod daltardly manner. The remonltranccs he fent home on this occafion, will paint the hor. ror and uneafincfs of his mind, at the cowardice, corruption, and degeneracy of thofe he command- ed \ while the Englilh not only triumphed over him, but reduced the opulent city of Surat, on the wefltrn peninfula of India. '"^n the 1 6th of itifiifh ar- April, the Britilh army took the field under "efieUi* Major Brereton, and polfcflfed ihemfclves of the important town and fort of Conjeveram, while Major Ford ftormed and took the city of Mafuli- maktsfomepatan. Thus a fea-coaft, of 800 miles in extent, III . itiifuionjr ^long a trading and manufaduring country, fell into the hands of the Englifh ; while the trade of the French was confined to Pondicherry, and a few inconfiderable places in the neighbourhood. The coall thus acquired by the Engliih, adjoined to the province of Bengal, out of which the French were entirely driven by Colonel Clive. Those fucceffes, however, were, in fome mea- bui meet furc, balanced by a repulfe which Major Brereton Thuk! ^^^* w'^'^' ^" attempting to diflodge Lally and his confederates from a (Irong poft he held under the ^annon of a fort. This check, which happened in September, coft the Britifli between 3 and 400 killed and wounded Encouraged by this advan- tage, Lally was preparing to befiege Trichenopoly; but Colonel Coote, on the 30th of November, took Wandewafli, one of the moft important torts i^g S9' ASIA. OP CHEAT BRITAIN. •n that coaft, in three days time, and made the garnfon pcifoners of war. Ten days after, he took Carangoly, which he obliged the garrifon to eva- cuate. Laily, alarmed at this great iuccefs, de- termined to nik a general engagement, or to re- • take Wandewalh, which he belieged with 2200 Europeans, and between 9 and 10,000 Blacks. He pufhed forward the ficgc, with the utmoft vi- gour; but Colonel Coote came up with hh army confifting of about 1700 Europeans, and about 3000 Blacks, juft at the time wucn Lally was a- bout to (brm the breach he had made. A long F.ncha. and obltmate engagement enfued, in which the r'Huull!'"'' French fuffered an entire defeat, with the lofs of""'' 1000 men, their cannon, and all the implements of the liege. Many prifoncrs of rank wcie taken, and Lally, defpairing of farther fuccefs, retired with his broken troops to Pondicherry. The lofs of the Englifh in this engagement, amounted to 200 m killed and wounded; and, amongft the for- mer, was the brave Major Brereton. This battle reflected great honour on the Britifh troops, be- caufe It was obtained over Europeans, headed by a general of no fmall reputation for his condud and courage. The Englifh loft no time in pur- suing their viaory ; for they marched diredly a- gainft Chitiput, which they took ; and tlien laid I'ege to Arcot, the capital of that vaft province, on the 5th of February .;6o, and it furrendered the loth, by which 300 Europeans were made priloners of war. The fea operations in the Eaft-Indies, were profecuted with equal fpirit and fuccef^. The 1759. ASIA. MILITARY MEMOIRS French had drained every nerve to render tlie'ir naval force fuperior to that of the Englifli ; and had augmented their fleet to eleven fail of the line, belides frigates and florc-fhips, an armament hitherto unknown ni the Indian feas. Admiral Pocock, though infinitely inferior in number of men, guns, and fize of (hips, determined to pur- fue, and give them battle.- — Early in the morning on the id of September, the French fleet were defcried from the maft-hcad, and the fignal was given for a general chace. The wind, however^ abated ; and the utmoft endeavours of the Britifli admiral, to bring the French to an engagement, proved unfuccefsful for feveral days. At length, they totally difappeared, and flood for Pondi- cherry, where they were foon followed by the Britifh admiral. On the loth, r^l^out two in the tinejienci gfterj^QQ^^ ^ fevere rnd bloody engagement took place between the two fleets, which was continued with great fury for two hours ; when the French admiral, finding his fleet in a very fliattered con- dition, flieered off, and took flicker under the fort of Pondicherry. In this engagemenr, eight Englifli fliips fl;ood the fire of the whole French fleet, which confift:cd of fixteen fall. The lofs of the Englifli was not inconfiderable ; 569 of our men being killed and wounded, and the fliips greatly fliattered. The French did not lofe Itfs than loco men; and their fliips v^ere R dis- abled, as to render it diflicuU to keep thera above water. Soon after this engagement. Admiral Cornifli arrived from Fiifrland with four fliins of the line : and confirmed the dominion of tlie Bri- Defeat of " Sc. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 27 if 1759- ASIA. tifli over the Indian feas — It is remarkable, "that thefe tv.'o fquadrons fought three pitched battles, in eighteen months, under the fame commanders, without the lofs of a fliip on either fide. While the Britifh arms were thus fuccefsful Pgainft the French, a rupture feemed to be in preparation, from a quarter where it was leaft ex- pecled. Under a pretence of reinforcing their Troa-hcy garrifons m Bengal, the Dutch equipped an ar- "^^^"1 mament of feven Ihips, which was ordered to fail '''' up the Ganges ; and rendered their fort at Chin- cura fo formidable, as to exclude all other nations from the ftilt-petre trade, which was carried on there, and fo to monopolize that beneficial com- modity. Colonel Chve, who then refided at Gal- cutta, thought proper to oppofe their defign. He fent a letter to the Dutch commodore, informing ' him, that he could not permit his landing and marching his forces to the fort intended, as he forefaw that it would be detrimental to the com- merce of Europe. The Dutch commodore re- plied, that he had no fuch defigns of a monopoly as were nnputed to him ; and only requefled the liberty of landing, to refrefh his troops. A re- quefl, fo fecmingly reafonable, was eafily granted. Ihe Dutchman, however, continued fubiuiilive no longer, than he fuppofed himfclf unable to a^ with vigour i for, as i'oon as he knew that the ihips which were to fecOnd his operations were come up the river, he boldly began his march to Chincura, and took fevcral fmall vefl'cls be- ot retaliation tor the affront he pretended to h L [ Live received. The 27* 1759- ASIA. \ i Rutch chadiftd. MILITARY MEMOIRS Calcutta Indiaman, in purfuing her voyage down the river, was liitewife flopped by the Dutch fommander, and obliged to return to Calcutta, with the complaints of this treatment to Colonel Clive. That gallant officer was not flow in vin- dicating the honour of his country. He ordered three India fhips, which happened to be at that time in the harbour, to proceed down the river, and attack the Dutoih fleet. This command was obeyed with great alacrity; and, after a few broad- fides on either fide, the Dutch commodore ftruck, and the reft of the fleet followed his example. The vidory thus obtained without any great da- mage, Captain Wilfon, who commanded in the expedition, took pofTefTion of the fleet of the enemy, and fent their men prifoners to the Eng. lifh fort ; while, about the fame time, their land- forces were defeated by Colonel Ford, fent by Colonel Clive upon that duty ^This contefl had like to have produced a new rupture in that part of the world ; but a negotiation foon after enfuing, the Dutch wifely gave way to a power they were not able to withfland, and were content to fit down with the lofs. f CHAP, OF GREAT BRITAIN. m I iavadon. CHAP. XXIIIi Plan of the triple French invafton — M de la Clue defeated by Bofcawen — Admiral Hawke defeats Conflans — Detached naval tranfadions in 1 759, Though the French were equally unfuccefsful IZS in Afia, Africa, and America, they were now, Europe. meditating a blow, which, had it fucceeded, would have amply revenged all their loffes. A mafterly and powerful invafion of Great Britain was pro- jefted, and their ports were filled with preparations for carrying it into execution. Three embarkations Plan of the for that purpofe were mentioned. M. Thurot, an ''"" " intelligent enterprifing adventurer, humane in his manners, and fortunate in his undertakings, was appointed to command a fquadron of men of war, deftined againft Scotland. From being captain of a merchant veffel, he had fucceffively become a commander of a privateer, and was now a com- modore in the French fervice. His birth was obfcure ; but his notions, at a time when a total degeneracy of the French prevailed, rendered, in France, thofe abilities illuftrious, which, in Eng- land, could not have entitled him to a lieutenancy on board a Ihip of war. The fecond embarka- tion was to have been performed at Havre de Grace, and the other fea-ports of Normandy, and was^defigned immediately againft England. The third embarkaiioii, deftined againft Ireland, was to be made at Vannes, in Lower Britanny. The L 1 3 *74 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1759. EUROPE. land-forces were commanded by the I>uc d'Afruil* Ion, while a powerful fquadron under M. Conflans was to cover and fecure their landing Thefe appearances were alarming ; but they were greatly diminiflied, by the excellent meafures taken by the Britilh government. The Breft fleet, under Con- flans, was blocked up by Hawke, who at the fame time detached fome fliips to keep an eye upon Vannes ; while Commodore Boys was fl:ationed before Dunkirk, and Admiral Rodney bombarded Havre. In the mean tiriie. Admiral Bofcawen, who had fucceeded Admiral Ofborne in the Mediterra- rean, elledually maintained the honour of the Britifli flag. The French had aflfembled a con- fiderable armament at Toulon, under the com- mand of M. de la Clue, which fome imagined to be deflined for America, while others conjedured that it was defigned to reinforce the Breft fleet, and to co-operate with it in the intended defcent on the Englilh coaft. BoscAWEN having in vain attempted to draw the enemy to an engagement, ordered three Ihips of the line to advance, and burn the French vef- feis lying clofe to the mouth of the harbour. In executing this order, the fliips met with a warm reception from fome batteries, which had not been before perceived ; and, a calm enfuing, they fuf- tained fuch coniiderablc damage, as rendered it neceflTary for the Knglifli admiral to return to Tov.ior fleet Gibraltar, in order to refit. M. de la Clue feized this opportunity of failing, and procef'ded with great diligence to the Straights. Bofcawen had puts to lea. OF GREAT BRITAIN. '/:> 173-9. EUROPE* Soticc of his approach, before he reached Gib- raltar ; and though his (hips were not perfcaiy ready to fail, he ufed fuch expedition, that, in two hours, the fleet was out at fea. At day-light, he defcried feven large (hips of de la Clue's fqua- dron; the other five, and three frigates, having been feparated in the night. The Englifli fliips being newly refitted, proved better failers, and foon came up with the enemy, near Cape Lagos in Portugal. After a brifk engagement, in which Defeated the coolnefs and nitrepidity of the Britifii admiral "^^ were equally remarkable, the French fleet was ^°^'''''"* totally defeated. The Ocean and Redoutable, two of the beft fliips in the French navy, were' run afhore, and burnt: the Centaure and the Modefte, two other of their capital fliips, were taken ; and' the others, with great difficulty, got into the harbour of Cadiz. This blow, however fevere and difcouraging, d.d not deter the French from their intended in- vafion of Great Britain. They feemed to derive courage from defpair, and refted their hopes in the expeaation, that the winter-ftorms would com- pel the Er.glifh fleets to take refuge in their own harbours, and give them an opportunity of flip. ping to fea, and putting their defign in execution. In this expeaation, they were not difappointed. A mofl violent ftorm drove the Knglifli fquadrons off the French coaft. Thurot, availing himfelf of Th„rof. this circumftance, immediately put to fea and '"te"''°"» was as immediately ,vrfued by Commodore Boys. '"""'''' '^t had the good fortune, however, to elcape to Gottenburg in Sweden, where he was laid up till iyf> MILITARY MEMOIRS '759' after Chriftnias, by the feverity of the weather, and BURoi-E. "want of neceflarics. No fooner was the ftorm fubfided, than the ^Juts'^to^iba ^'"'^^^^''^ admiral, perceiving no enemy upon the coalt, immediately put to fea. Admiral Hawke, who had taken Ihelter in Torbay harbour, failed on the very fame day, being the 14th of Novem- ber. He directed his courfe for Quiberon bay, where he expefted the French fleet would rendez- vous ; and, after meeting with various difappoint- ments, through contrary winds, on the 20th, he ciifcovered the headmafc Ihips of the enemy, bear- ing to the northward, between the main land of France and the ifland of Belleifle.— -The fleets on both fides, were *he moft powerful of any employ- ed in the courfe of the war. The Britifli confiftcd of 23 fail of the line, and the French of 21 ; but, in number of men, and weight of metal, they were nearly equal. The ardent wiflies of the Britifh admiral, were now completed. The French fleet was within his reach, and a general engagement inevitable. He overlooked the difficulties he had to encounter, tho' fufiicient to have checked the bravefl: com- Diffifuities mander. The coaft, beyond any almofl: in the ' - known world, was full of flioals, fands, fiiallowsj and rocks, as unknown to the Englifli, as they were familiar to the French pilots. The wind blew little lefs than a florm, and the waves ran mountains high; to which may be added, the dan- gers of a fhort cay, dark night, and lee-fhore. jTviiiiuaicQ Willi ille lOvC OI iila v,Ouniij;, ati mafter of his own fhip to pafs all the fhips of the enemy, and to lay him along.fide of the French admiral. The mafter remonftrated on the violence of the ftorm, and the danger of the coaft. " You 1^' have done your duty," fays Hawke, « in point- " ing out the danger ; you are now to obey my "orders, and lay me along-fide the Soleil Royal." His wifli was gratified ; and the Royal George ranged up with the French admiral. Juft as Hawke \vas about to difcharge his referved broadfide, the Thefee, a French 70 gun fhip, nobly interpofed, received the whole fire, and was funk to the bot- tom. The Superbe fliared the fame fate, and the i" which Formidable ftruck her colours. In Ihort, had aiJLS. not the French been favoured by the night, their whole fleet muft have been deftroyed or taken. ■p:: ui uicir mips, alter throwing overbroad all their guns, efcaped into the river Villaine, and about as many more made for other ports. 478 MILITARY MEMOIRS »7W- BUROPE. A (lotm iuccecds, which proves fatal to their fcattcied remains. Lofs of the Englilh nollly oc- caiiuncd by i:. The night which fuccecded this aftion, vnt dreadful. It blew a violent hurricane ; and no- thing was to be heard, but fignals of diltrefs on all hands, friends and enemies being blended in one common danger. Humanity would have pre- vailed on the Englilh, to have affifted even an enemy amidft fuch difcriminate diftrels ; but they perceived, that all efforts of that kind were im- pradicable, and could only terminate in their own ruin, without affording the fmalleft relief to the French. They therefore waited for the return of day J and then they found, that the French admiral had run his own, and another capital fhip, the Heros, on ihore. His own Ihip was burnt by himfclf, and the Heros by the Englifli. , Thus ended this memorable and decifive en- gagement, on the iffue of which the fate of the two kingdoms feemed to depend. The Englifli fuftained little lofs, but what was occafioned by the weather. The Effex and Refolution unfortu- nately ran on a fand-bank called Lefour, where they were irrecoverably loft, notwithftanding every affiftance that could be given ; but moll of their men, and fome part of their ftores, were faved. In the whole fleet, no more than one lieutenant and 39 feamen and marines were killed, and 202 wounded. The lofs of the French, in men, mull have been great. Four of the beft (hips in their navy wer': deflroyed, one taken, and the reft cf their fleet difabled, fhattered, and difperfed. — It was remarkable in this engagement, that no cap- tain was accuieu, nor even in any ucgrcs iUipSv-' cd, of mifbehaviour or cowardice. OF GREAT BRITAI]^. A crcumftancc occurred at this period, which «759. certainly deferves to be commemorated, as it cha- .^^Tb raaer.Ies the fp.rit of the Britifh navy. Admiral Saunders happened to arrive from the expedition againft Quebec, a httle after Hawke had failed A long voyage, and the fevere duty which he had fo long undergone, could not deter him from im- mediately fetting fail, to partake in the glory and danger of the enfuing engagement. His good for- tune was not equal to the generofity of his inten- tions. He arrived loo late to give afliftan^e ; but h.s refolut.on was equally deferving of praife, as It he had fhared in the viftory. It was thought, that this aftion would have been decifive of all future marine operations be- tween the EngliO, and French. The public re- founded with exultations on that account : and nothing but fongs of triumph was to be read in our news-papers.*-The French miniftry, how. r„„ch ever, thought proper to palliate their laft misfor- p°"'=^- tune. They publiflied an account, in which thev exaggerate d the ftrength of th e Englifh j repre- to b nk ? Tn ^r"-"""^"* authentically acknowledged itfelf '"ou S oA? ' T ""'''''• ^' '' ''''' '^^'^ -^ ^""^ with hL ^T^" '^' """'• ^'' "^"^ Chriftian Majefty began nt e?;^" T:' '" "'""^^ ''" '-^''^^ furniture/and p fte! %^ . nor were even the church plate and ornaments fpared. It is -- u^e.aa^;; ^^^^^^^^ m, in the brcaft of its fubjefts. who now confidcred nothing but M m ■ H a8c5 MILITARY MEMOIRS »759- l)etacbc(l Riival trunf- actions ■I fcntcti their own lofs a8 quite Inconfidcrablc ; and concluded with afl'erting, that tl/is trivial misfor- tune would foon be repaired. This partial mif- reprcfe.itation was abfolutely necelliiry, to fupport the fpirit of the people, which was quite funk by their fucceflive defeats. BesidI'S the adtions of great fleets, riany gal- lant exploits were performed by the captains of fingle (hips. The Veilal, Captain Wood, engaged the Bellona, a French frigate, grcuay fuperior in men, and weight of metal; and, after an obftinate conteft, which lafted above two hours, took her, and brouglic her fafely into port. — The South, ampton and Melampe, two Englifli frigates, com- manded by the captains Gilchrift and llotham, gave chace to the Danae, a French Ihip of 40 guns, and 330 men. The Melampe came up with her before the Southampton, and, with admirable gallantry, maintained a combat againft a ihip of double her own force. As they fought in the dark, Captain Gilchrift was obliged to he by, until he could diftinguifli the one from the other. At day- break, he bore down on the Danae ; and, after ^miiiwi ' m m i the untlefcrved diftrefs to which their Sovereign was reduced. Citicii corporations, and conip;iiiie5, pourrd in their voluntary contributions, for rcpuiiiiig theirniarine; and their armies in d:rrr\:iny, ucre rccriiitcd with grcattr^iicility, • ' i '^ xt^ .ee, than cvei ; fo that their forcf, at the opening of next campaign, was far more formidable than was ex- peaeil. — But this was not all. The Britilh, and their allies, were im- pofcd upon, and thrown off their uoard, by this pretended (hew of po- verty. The operations of the war languifhed, on a prtfumptinn that the French could not continue it, and that they jnu ) of foiirfe agree to fuch terms as Great Britain fhould impofe. In tht(e prefumptions, however, we were deceived ; for the French, at the very time whc» they declared themfclves bankrupt, had eieven railiioni ftctiins lu liiS' trea:ury. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 4 brl(k enja.trement, in which (he had 40 men killed, and^ uiany wounded, compelled her to fur- render. This vidory, however, proved fata! to the gallant Gilchrift. He received a wound in the (houldcr, which, though it did not deprive him of life, rendered him incapable of future fer. vice— On the 14th of April, the Achilhs of 60 guns, commanded by Captain Harrington, en- countered, to the wcflward of Cape Finifterre, a French fliip of equal force, called the Count de St. Florentine, under the command of the Sieur de Montay. Aiter an engagement of two hours, m which the French captain was flain, and 116 of his mgn killed or wounded, the Count de St. FJorentine flruck her colours. She was fo much damaged, that it was very difficult to brin^ her into Falmouth. The Achilles had only 25'' men killed or wpunded On the 27th of March, Capt. Faulkner of the Windfor, of 60 guns, difcovered four large fhips off the rock of Lifbon, to which lie gave chace. On his approach, they formed the line of batde a-head, at the diftance of a cable's length afunder. He engaged the ftern- mod for upwards of an hour, which, after hav- ing given a fignal to the other three vefTels to edge off, (truck her colours. She proved to be the Duke de Chartres, pierced for 60 guns, tho' carrying only 24 ; and belonged, as well as the other three that efcaped, to the Eafl-India Com- pany — Many other gallant adions were perform- ed by the Englifh cruifers, in different parts of ^hc globe, in which the French were for the mod part unfuccefsful. t8^ Euaurc Mm? «^ MILITARY MEMOIRS |yROP£. CHAP. XXIV. Sloivnefs of the allies and French-— Battle ofCorbach -^General Glaubitz furprifed and defeated — Bat- tle ofWarboitrg — Hereditary Prince furprifes a body of French at Zierenberg — Marburg taken bf Gen. Bulow, who is defeated by Monf. Stainville— Expedition of the Hereditary Prince to the Rhine — Wefel befteged — Battle of Campen-— -Siege of Wefel raifed- — Death and charader of George 11. W E have already remarked the implacability of the contending powers in Germany : their accu- mulated diflrefles, and difappointments, feemed pnly to increafe their mutual rancour. Whatever might be the real fentiments of the people of Great Britain, refpedting the German war, they were unwilling to diftrefs their venerable monarch, in the evening of his days, by abandoning his elcdoral dominions, which were always jpper. mofl in his heart. The fuccefles of Prince Fer- dinand, though rather fplendid than folld, had likewife imprefled the public with a high opinion of his martial abilities j and they flattered tliem- fel''?s, that every campaign would prove decifive in his favour. The miniftry continued to enforce and improve the fame way of reafoning ; but it could not, however, be difgui^'-^d, that the weight pf the war in Europe, lay upon Britain, though llie ha:^ immediately very little intereft in the cyent. This confideration, too glaring to be coa- OF GREAT BRITAIN. a8j cealed, induced the Britilh ministry to offer to 17 Jo, open a negotiation ; but, however fincere they ,^^ might be, It ,s certain that his Pruflian Majefty was by no means fo when he complied with it The two Empre.^es, and France, not to mention Sweden and Poland, tliough they could not flatly rejea fo plaufible ^ propofition, were very little aifpofed to accept of it, and threw fuch a damp upon all the expedients propofed by the neutral powers, particularly King Stanilaus and the Dutch that the propofal came to nothing. ' The winter of the year 1759, was remarkably fevere; and Germany fuffered greatly from cold, and fcarcity of provifions,* a circumftance which forced the poorer fort of the inhabitants into the armies of their feveral mafters ; fo that thofe of the Emprefs Queen, were now more numerous than ever. The Britifli army in Germany, having fuifered greatly in the preceding campaign, fix regiments of foot, commanded by Major-General Griffin were fent to reinforce it, and were fol- lowed by Elliot's light-horfe ; fo that, in' the be- g'nning of the campaign, the Britifh troops in Germany amounted to 25,000 men ; a greater army of Britons, than had ever ferved before in ■^"^ place, and at one time, und er King William, m cL r ""'P' '" ""''''"'"'y ^'^ A"'- i^--. 'hat can be mtch. ,„ no othe.. con,Ury. So.c private .entic.en' forced the™! L i:^^':::::r:::::!/^'T ^: t^e^widows and cpi... caps, 6000 half. ii-itions of they fcnt nhroad 6000 flannel vvaiftcoats. 6000 woollea ,d 5000 pair of woollen gloves ; and the do- ■garters government were equally liberal II 1^4 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1760. the great Duke of Marlborough, or indeed under ivmvF.. any Britifli general, for two centuries before. The French were equally alert, in their endea- vours to make the campaign decifive. M. Broglio continued t command, and his army was rein- forced to the amount of 100,000 men, the fined troops in France ; while Count de St. Germaine, Avith whom he was but upon indifferent terms, was at the head of a feparate body of 30,000 on the Hhine, that no ill confequences might arife from any mifunderllanding between the two generals. The death of the Landgrave of Heffe Caffd, which happened in the beginning of the year, excited feme apprehenfions with regard to the future conduct of his fon and fucceffor. Thefe fears were foon dlffipated. That prince, notwith. {landing the flrong prepoffeffions that lay againft him, exceeded even his father in his zeal for the Proteftant caufe, by adding confiderably to his troops that were in the fervice of Great Britain. 1'he operations of the tw^o armies, were by no means anfwerable to the great preparations, and reinforcements, which both fides had made and received. The campaign did not open, with any efieft, till late in the feafon. Indeed, at the be, ginning, the chief bufmefs of both armies, was to procure provilions, rather than to tight ; and all the motions of their dtetached parties, were to- wards getting a meal, rather than a viftory. A fevere winter, an exhaulled country, and a late fpring, were calamities equally dillreffing to both; and each haa a kind of fellow- feeling for the otl icr, I OP CHEAT BRITAIN, XViiEN the rigour of the feafon abated, the fupcrlor providence of the French over the alhes appeared. The former, while they lay in their cantonments, were fupplied with provifions from the Rhine, the Maine, and the Mofelle ; while the latter were totally difabled, by indigence, to un- dertake any enterprife of confequence. The only adion worth mentioning, was performed by the Hereditary Prince, who laid Fulda under contri- bution, and expelled the French from it at the head of fome Britifli troops. The whole of this campaign, indeed, between the French and the allies, confided almoft entirely of little detached expeditions, planned and executed by this gallant young hero. Thefe anions, however unimpor- tant in their confequences, demand a particular relation, as flriking of intrepidity and military knowledge. — The mifunderftanding between the two French generals, Broglio and St. Germaine, was produaive of confequences highly advan- tageous to the allies. Inftead of the one advan- cing by Munfter, and the other by the landgra- vlatc of Hefle, and leaving flrong polls to the eaftward of the Wcfer, operations that might have proved fatal to the allies, the whole of their grand army united into one body. This meafure, lo difcordant with the original plan of their ope- rations, difgufted St. Germaine, an officer of true military genius, who retired from the fervice. Notwithftanding this, the French took Marburg- and Dillenburg, and made the garrifonsi of both pnioners of war. 1760. EUROX'E. a8amc „, h,s command ; another body, which was ■ t T. """''. ''^^""'' ""''- Broglio him Hf,to Kalle; and the third, under Prince Xav"r of axony took the route of Gaffel. From thofe "t,ons, ,t was plain the French generals medi- . d feme important blow , and Prirtce Ferdinand. Mali vents, thought it his beft courfe to pafs the Dyrael, and fight de Muy. ^ ' On the 31ft of July, the allies, having paffed henver, and formed upon the heghts of Cor. i>Jcli, came in fiirht of thp l?r.„ ■ u nofcrl ,„ ', I'rencii, who were Z,-° ?r:'' ="'™'«-''S<= « Warbourg. The ear w,th h,s ufual brilknefs; but the French were cU rernorced, that he could do nothing effe ',"'l- In the meanwhile. Prince FeM;„?nd - br'di'""' f'"*-"""^ to attack the'^Frend; lg« over the Dymel to the right, and he hi,n. I N n 2 1760. EUROPE. Battle of ^Varljourg. MILITARY MEMOIRS felf advanced to charge the enemy in front. It muft be acknowledged, that thefe difpofitions, had they been properly fupported, muft have been decifive in favour of the allies ; but the flower of their army, which confifted of the Britifli, were five miles behind : fo that, though the French, by the eiforts of the Hereditary Prince, began to give way on that fide, yet their main body was at liberty to retire, without putting it into the power of the infantry of the allies to engage them ; nor indeed did their commander in chief feem to have been very forward 10 rilk his German troops. By his own account, fent to his late Majefty, it is cer- tain, that his attack upon the enemy's front was very feeble, and, as he himfelf acknowledges, was iinfupported by the infantry : fo that the heat of the day fell upon the Britiih, whofe cavalry came all the five miles upon a full trot, under the Mar. quis of Granby and General Moftyn ; and while General Waldegrave did all he could to haften the march of the infantry, Captain Philips brought up the Britifli artillery on a gaiiop. But though our national troops were thus beyond all precedent expeditious, yet they could not prevent the enemy from making their retreat good over the Dymel, The charge that was made upon them by the Britifh cavalry, was fo gallant, as to evince their ardour for retrieving that glory which they had been deprived of at Minden ; though their foot, many of whom dropt down in the morafles, thro' which their long fatiguing march lay, could not fecond them. The French, in their account, pre- tend, that the brigade of Bourbon checked tk OF GREAT BRITAIN. I 391 1760. Brltifh cavalry; that the allies were greatly fuperlor in number ; that the Hereditary Prince, in turning their left, was favoured by a fog ; and that the """"'"' battle continued, without advantage to cither fide R=>ttieof four hours. But it is evident, even from their ^"'""'" own narrative, that they employed moft of that time m making preparations for a retreat, which with great difficulty, they eifeaed over the Dy' mel ; and that, upon the whole, they thought themfelves vidorious, becaufe they were not com- pletely defeated. In this battle, the great lofs fell upon the Englifh, of whom about 600 were killed, wounded, and mifling. But the total lofs of the allied army was not publifhed, probably becaufe it would have difcovered the great difpro- portion between the fufferings of the Englifh and thofe of the Germans. The French, in their ac- count, pretended, that the lofs of the allies were fupenor to theirs. But that could not be the fad Befides great numbers of French that were drown- ed in paffing the Dymel, 1500 were left dead on the field of battle, and as many were taken, to- gether with ten pieces of cannon. The battle of Warbourg was more glorious, than It was advantageous to the allies. The Che- valier dv Muy commanded but one of the three French armies ; but the other two, without re- hltance, became maflers of JVIunden, Caflfel, Got- t'ngen, Eimbach, and Ziegenhagen, where they made a great number of pvifoners, and got confi- derable magazines. Thus, though the allies frain- -d a battle, they loft a province, the whole land, graviate of Heflb being now in the French poiTef, 292 1760. tURUPE. MILITARY MEMOIRS fion ; nor was it clear, that, before the end of the campaign, they might not become mailers of Ha- nover itfelt : while all that Prince Ferdinand gain- ed, was to fecure his ports upon the Dymel, and preferv^' his communication with WeftphaUa ; the lofs of which murt have been of the worft confc- quence to him, confidering the fituation of the two armies. The French, however, had many rcafons for declining to penetrate farther into Hanover. The country was fo miferably exhaufted, as to be inca- pable of maintaining an army ; and fuch an at- tempt, if fuccefsful, was inconfiftent with their real plan. The two armies were, for a confider- able time, inactive in their encampments, on each fide of the Dymel. This inaftion was difagree- able to the genius of the Hereditary Prince, who appears to have made war in earncft, without any lucrative views of continuing bis appointments, or the mean ones of fparing his Germans. It is true, the great opinion he experimentally enter- tained of the Britiih valour, coft our countrymen dear, and was favourable to the Germans ; but he always ventured his own perfon equally with that of the meaneft Englifh foldier, and they followed bim with pride and alacrity. While the armies lay in this ftate of inaftion, he underltood that 2000 French occupied the town of Zlercnberg ; and he refolved to furprize them. He accord- ingly ported a body of troops between that place and Dierenberg, to cut oif all communication be- tween the two camps of the enemy. He next made the proper difpofitions for fecuring his re* OF GREAT BRITAIN. £i;ro^&. treaf, in cafex>f a rcpulfe ; and, at the head of hii «ma,nmg toot, mod of which were Uritilh, on the 5th September, they fet out in three divllions . for W arbourg, and by two next n.ornin.., .hey «re before Z.erenberg. liue, notwithlfandin. ail tlie precautions that had been taken fbr the nienc= ot their march, they were difcovered by a party of dragoons, who fired upon them, and fprcad an alarm On this occafion, the intrepidity and good difcpime of the Britiih foot did then greit honour. Contrary ,0 the ufual character of their ^ . . nation, of bemg too ready .0 fire, they made ufe Su^' ot their bayonets only. With them they drove '"""'"'" the enemy's picquets, who were on their guard, efore them: fome entered the town, at the fame time with the fugitives ; fome were employed i,' putting the guard to the fword, and others i, orcmg open the gates ; till, at laft, they all entered Replace, and without firing, proceeded in firm order to the church-yard, which the main body f the enemy poffeffcd. The noife they made ' was fo htde, and the night fo dark, that he French took them to be their own pic<,uets, and Mered them to draw np near them ; then they we attacked, and tc'ally difperfcd by the Englift! ».tl, dieir bayonets on tlreir mufquets. In vain the French attempted to ily from the gate. They were 2er "k "'"''''' '"""'' «»■• - -ke,: h h > ^""J,^'''"" «f 'he town was filled I. blood, confufion, and tumult; but theBri- 'illi were viftorious throuir|, ■ *"lled, nor took prifoner who had not weapons in t .11 TU___ -.1 -s- ii<- y iiciiiicr any of the inhabitants rhandsj and, far from «94 SUftOPE. MILITARY MEMOIRS being intent on plunder, they even rcfufcd to ac- ccpt of the gratuities, which the townfmen offered them, to I'pare their perfous and properties. The vhole adion of this noble and well-condu£ted ex. pedition, lalled but about an hour j at the end of which, the prince found hinilelf in complete pof. ffllion of the place, having taken two pieces of cannon, and made 36 officers, and near 500 pri. vate men, prifoners. He then confidered the dan- ger of remaining, with fo fmall a force, fo near the enemy's main body ; and regained his former camp, without lofs or moleftation. We cannot help obferving, that the intrepidity which the Britifh uniformly difplayed, and the fuccefs which attended all their operations during the courfe of this war, compared with the little ef* feft produced by fuch p^nazing exertions of cou- rage, fuificiently prove, that there was fomewhat amifs, and too dilatory in the original plan of every campaign, which no valour or partial fuc- cefs could remedy. The advantage gained at Zierenberg was glorious and cheap, for it coft them no more than 1 o men ; and yet, if we ex. cept the reputation the Britlih gained by it, it was dear when we confider its confequences. The gallant prince found, as he might eafily have fore- feen, that he could not keep the place ; and, by quitting it, he loft all he had obtained, except-' mg a few prifoners, who were burdenfome to maintain. At laft, however. Prince Ferdinand put his army in motion, in order to attempt to interrapi the communication between the French and the OF GREAT BRITAIN* «9S 1760. EUROPB. Rhine, and the Maine, cfpecially with Franck- fort. As to Hanover, it lay quite negleded by both parties. The French had their reafons, as wc have already fcen, for not penetrating further into it, than Gottingen j and the allies pretended, that they could not, without hazarding the en- tire iofs of their army, attempt to difpoifcfs them, either of that city, or of Caflel. BuLow, a Hanoverian General, was difpatched with a ftrong detachment, to make inroads into Watteravia, and the fouthern parts of Hcfle; which he did with fo great fuccefs, that he pufhed on to- wards Marburg ; which town he furprized, and Marhurg deftroycd in it, the French ovens, with confidera- and S ble magazines of provifions, befides carrying off "" their cloathing and military ftores. He at laft proceeded towards Frankenau. The French, all this while, beheld his progrefs with an air of fecu- rity, as thinking it was always in their power to dieck him. The matter became now to be feri* ous, as they began to feel fome inconveniences in their communication with Franckfort. Stainville, den. BuIow one oi their beft generals, on the T3th of Sep- Jf gj^f^'^^ tember, attacked the rear of Bulow's detachment, ^""le.'""" as it was paffing the river Orck; and not only de- feated it, but, in all probability, would have cut off the whole body, had not the active Hereditary Prince, hearing of his danger, made a forced march of five German miles, and arrived to his relief. This obliged Stainville to retire to a ftrong camp, where he could not be attacked with any probability of fuccefs. o o igS MILITARY MEMOIRS ^7*^0' In the mean while, a feeble effort was made luROPE. under General Wangenhehn, anotiier of the allied generals, to force the enemy to abandon Gottin- gen ; but at laft, on the 1 9th of September, after he had paffed the Wefer, he was obliged to repafs it with very confiderablc lofs, and not quite to the advantage of his military character. It muft be acknowledged, that, in all thofe friirmiihes and ex- peditions, the French lliewed a vigilance, and an attention to their plan of operations, far fuperior to thofe of the allies ; who either had concerted none that were regular, or were entirely direfted by the motions of their enemy. The latter, on the 20th of September, in confequence of their defenfive fcheme, retired towards Caffel, where they fortified themfelves ; while Prince Ferdinand ventured to do nothing, but to advance fo near them as tu obferve their operations. More a£tive, and indeed unexpeded fcenes of war prefented themfelves upon the Rhine, and al- moft on the frontiers of the dominions of the foThf ^'°" States General, where the Hereditary Prince ap- RfiJnc. peared, to the furprize of all Europe, who thought he had been in the further part of Heffe. It would exceed our propofcd bounds, (hould we defcribe the particulars, by which this emergency, as we may call it, was cffeded. It is fufficient to fay, that he had under him 20 battalions and 10 fqua- drcns, which he divided into two bodies. One of thefe palled the Rhine at Roeroot, on the other lide Dufieldorp. The other divifion. which march- ed by the way of Munfter, pafled a great way be- low at Recsj which lies almoft half-way between OF GREAT BRITAI.T. ^^^ Clevis and Wefel. Thefe two detachments, not- 1760. vyithftandmg the diftance of the places, paffed the .= Khinc about the fame time; and their manoeuvres wore conduced fo, as, in a manner, to clofe up the French. Every thing fucceeded, as had been projcfted. As they advanced to their intended Motions of junftion, all the French polls along the Rhine '^""'"'^' with all their boats, fell into the prince's hands:' by which he was enabled to carry over his artil- Icry and the whole of his troops: fo that, meeting with no oppofition, his detachment again fepa- rated; and, on the 3d of Odober, one divifion took poffeffion of Cleves, and, three days after, of Its caftle with 500 men ; while another laid fiege to Wefel, and attacked it with great fury. The rapid fuccefs of this expedition, * did not prevent its giving rife to many conjectures, and fome cenfures, with regard to its utility to Great ten Mod people thought, that it had been ...... tormt-d to favour, in conjunclion with a ftrone- ""'^°"*°'^ armament which was fitted out at Portfmouth a 'i-"''^''' powerful diverfion on the fide of the Auftrian Netherlands, which might have obliged the French to defift from forming an army on the Lower Khnie by which Broglio mult have become ma- Iter ot Hanover. But this fuppofition was chime- nca . Hanover had, at this time, in faft, nothing to ear ; for, as we have often hinted, Broglio might have become mailer of it when he pleafed. We are therefore to look elfewhere, for the mo- tives ot this famous expedition. iT is certain, that it was not difficult to forefec t-^ere would be great clafliings in the court of 00a MILITARY MEMOIRS '76O' Great Britain, concerning the vaft expence cf tuRopE. blood and treafure in which (lie was involved by the German war. Of all the lofles his Pruflian Majefly had met with, that of his countries on the Lower Rhine gave him the greateft concern, on feveral accounts. He had many reafons to fuf. p.^d, that a ftrong party in the Britilh miniftry were for a feparate peace with France ; and that the lad convention, concluded between him and his ^Britannic Majefty on the 9th of November 1759, began to be greatly condemned, chiefly on account of its fourth article, by which his Britan- nic Majefty tiec^ himfelf up from concluding any kind of peace, without the full confent of his Pruffian ally. He was fenfible, as afterwards proved to be the cafe, that if a feparate peace between Great Britain and France was let on foot, it would not be in the power of the former, to put him, by any treaty, in pofleffion of thofe countries, which w^ere held by the French, only in truft for the Emprefs Queen. At the fame time, we are to obferve, that the fubjects of the States General had not behaved towards Great Britain, with fuch gratitude and attention, as enti. tied them to extraordinary confideration from our crown. Upon the whole, therefore, it is moit rational to think, that the irruption of the Here- ditary Prince (as was before mentioned) into the territories of Cleves and Gueldres, was fecretly concerted between his Pruflian Majefty and the Britifli court ; and happy had it been for this nation, if it had been as lucceisful, as it was bold, fpirited, and well conducled. As to the OF GREAT BRITAIN. 1760. EU&OFE. preparations made at Portfmouth, they were dif- avowed to be intended againft the Auftrian Ne- therlands ; and their real deftination has never been publicly owned. But it is certain, that had ^ they proceeded to the recovery of Neuport and Oftend, and even to overawe fome of our allies, a more popular fervice, at that. time, could not have been undertaken by a Britiih miniftry. Unforeseen accidents difappointed the full effecl: of the prince's irruption. One part of his troops was employed in the fiege of Wefel, on the right of the Rhine ; while another covered it on the left. The fiege was carried on with great Wefd refolution ; and fanguine expeftations were form- ^^^''^'^' ed of its fuccefs, by the ftrong reinforcements that were expcfted. The vad rains that fell, fwell, ed the rivers, and not only put a flop to their progrefs, but rendered the prince's communica- tion with the befiegers over the Rhine, extremely' difficult. They alfo gave time to the Marquis dc Caftries, to draw together, from Heffe and the Low Countries, an army of 30 battalions and 38 fquadrons; with which he advanced to Rhin- herg, which lay in the very heart of the prince's ' iate acquifitions, and drove the allies, with fome lols on both fides, from their pofls there. He then turned to the left, to\^^ards the convent of Cainpen, where he formed hlmfclf very advan^ tageouily. The prince had now apparentlv only two oh- jecls to purfue : he mud either fight this fuperior ^my m a pitched battle, or abandon the fiege of V^'cfcl. His genius fuggeltcd to him a medium^ «99 300 1760. XUROfii. ■Panle of Campeii. MILITARY MEMOIRS Relying on the known valour of the Britifh troops, which, as ufuai, formed the flower of his army, he refolvcd upon afurprizej and, for that purpofe, on the 16th ui Oolober, at ten at night, he began his march. Fifcher's famous body of irregulars, lay between him and the French camp. Some lliots were exchanged; the French were alarmed, and inftantly drew up in a wood. By this time it was five in the morning ; but the fight of the advantageous pofition of the French, far from daunting the Britilh troops, fecmed to infpire them with frefli valour. The action, with incef- fant firings, and repeated attacks on the wood, continued from five in the morning to nine at night. This perfeverance may be called obfti- nacy by fome, and madnefs by others. The prince animated the troops, by his own example; Tiie prince but he was difablcd, by his horfe being fliot under him, and he himfelf receiving a wound ; fo that he was obliged to order a retreat, which perhaps he might have done long before, without any imputaiion either upon his courage or conduct. The Britifli troops were the chief, if not the fole fulierers in this defperate adion ; but the death of none of them was more lamented, both in Germany and England, than that of the Lord Downe. lie fcemed to be born for focial and gay life ; but the war no fooner broke out, than he applied himfelf, with a moll furprifing pro- grefs, to the nioft laborious duties of a military life, rie formed, in the country, where he had intcrcil, a handful of his friends and dependents, d example, to the exercifes ciders a tttrcut. by pains OF GREAT BIUTAIN. JV31 of war, m which they were as complete as the ;r.^ ocft regulars .n Europe, and he had the Rlorv to =™ ,e as a voluntier at their head. The loff of the """"- tnglifli, m killed and wounded, wcr- i ,00 ->„ 1 about 500 were made prifoners.' aL l^Z^-^X^ ter of fo many brave men, in a battle which ou^ht to have been fought by others, it is but a poor comfort for a Britifl. reader, to be told, that the lofsoftheFrenchwasmuch greater; though it . feme to reflea, that the Bri.ilh valour had im- prelTed the enemy with fuch ideas, that they durft .ot follow thetr viaory,_for fuch, indeed, it was ihcy had obtained. Th£ nege of Wefel became now impraaicable to be earned on ; ,nd the hourly increafe of thefe .n«ndafons had the prince delayed repaffin. the R une, muft have rendered his retreat fo likewife. He feized the firft opportunitv ■ and hw ^^„ - fo well concer^^d, tha^t',,:" 1^:":; ^ «en>pt even to difturb his rear, notwithftandbg """ fc vail fupenonty they had over him, in all re! IfSs, but that of courage. Before we leave the°operations of the allied ™y th.s year, we mull follow them' into their "ter.q„arters, which proved more fatal to them *a he campaign itfelf, fevere as their hard- ' tare cf ferv.ce was, which they had undergone Upon the return of the Hereditary Prince to he s , f'^-darmy, the blockade of Go.Ligen w s a---" bert .; 7"^"^"^^ ^rom the 22d of Novem- ^u-^ur' ^^^tothe ,2th of December followino-. The ^Perat^on. that preceded this fiege, were a^Ianguid II 5©* EuaorE. Armies re- tire into ■wintcr- qoaiicr^. l5eath of vicorge 11. MILITARY MEMOIRS as they were undecifive. A Hanoverian General attempted to take Heydemunden ; but failed of fucccfs, in a moil unaccountable, if not a fliamcful manner ; and the French defended Gottingen fo bravf-lv, that the blockade was raifed. Soon after, b nics rather flipped, than marched, into ■win ■ quarters. Prince Ferdinand made his as comfortable as he could, by having behind him a country not quite exhaufled, and by giving large premiums to the country people for fupplying his camp with provifions. The winter-quarters of the Britilli troops, were in the city and biiliopric of Paderborn, the mod exhaufted place of the moft exhaufted country in Europe ; for fuch Germany then was. Their miferable condition was in- creafed by the extortions and villanies of their Jewifh and other contractors, and the whole was crowned by the difficulties of the roads thro' the late rains. The confequences were, that diftreffes and difeafes of all kinds broke in upon them, and carried off a prodigious number, both men and horfes ; v/hile their miferies were embittered, by feeing the French in a moil advantageous pofi- tion, where they received, by the Rhine and the Maine, all the comforts of hfe. While our army abroad remained in this un- comfortable fituation, the unexpected event of the death of George II. happened on the 25th of Odober, between the hours of fcven and eight in the morning. It was occafioned by a rupture of tlie fubllance of the right ventricle of his heart, which was uncommonly dilated, and which, by flopping the circulation, put an immediate end to OF GREAT BRITAIN. $^X 1760. EUROPE* bis life, without the fmalleft apparent pain. The caufc of a monarch's death, is generally enquired into with minutenefs; and it was faid by the facul- ty, that the cafe was of a mofl extraordinary na- ture. But, confidering his natural conftitution, wiiich was but a weak one, his extreme age \^ much more to be wondered at, than his fudden death. He died in the 77th year of his age, and the 34th of his reign. George II. though fcarcely of middling fta- ture, was ered and well made. His complexion was fair, his nofe high, and his eyes large. In his drefs, he is faid to have affeaed too much of the hero; but there was a natural dignity, even in his negligences, which befpoke him to be a king. In his temper, he was peevilh and paflionate, but charaflet by no means ill-natured ; and little things affeded ''^^''' "" him, much more than matters of importance. His underftanding was quick and clear, but not cx- tenfive; and his flock of acquired knowledge, was but fmall. He was extremely fober and tempe- rate, and his oeconomy was greater, perhaps, than became a king ; but though he feldom deviated into generofity, he never funk into meannefs. He had few favourites, and fewer friends ; and, tho* he was fond of the fex, he rather niuntcrrd away, than enjoyed his time with them. He was polite and well-bred, but in a ftiff and formal manner. His condua as a King, was highly praife- worthy. Though fcrupulous of blood, his ten- dernefs never led him. to break tbmucrh the ^rcat lines of public or private juftice. The capitid er- ror of his reign, was too ftrong an attachment to II 504 1760. SUROPJb. MILITARY MEMOIRS tke affairs of Germany ; and he feems to have re. fpedled the title of Eledor of Hanover, more than that of King of Great Britain. But it is but juftice to obferve, that his cle£loral dominions, far from being benefited, were irreparably injured hy the acceflion of his family to the Britilh throne. The enemies of his government, during the firft twelve or thirteen years of his reign, accufcd it of Icandalous corruption at home, and inglorious inaftivity abroad. Though we cannot exculpate his then minifter (Sir Robert Walpole) from the firft charge, we muft at fame time repeat his defence. He declared, that when he came into power, fuch was the degeneracy of the Englifli, that he was obliged to bribe them, even to their duty. The charge of inglorious inadlivity abroai^, is far from being clear j but it is certain, that, during that inadlivify, the commerce of Great Bri- tain was filently rooting itfelf through all quarters of the globe, and produced thofe glorious fruits which we reaped when activity became neceflary, In a mihtary hiftory, it is neceflary to mention, that, in this reign, a ftanding army was ingrafted on the Britifh conftitution. His Majefty encou- raged a ftrift, but not a fevere, far lefy a cruel obfervance of military dilcipline ; and he diicover. cd a liking to thofe generals, whofe years ap- proached nearcft to his own : but it cannot be faid, till he employed thofe that were much younger, that his armies were in any excellent condition. He was an enemy to no religion ; and his mildncls and toleration in that refpedl:, will endear his memory to the many feds which di. to have re. more than t it is but dominions, bly injured :Hh throne. ig the firft accufed it i inglorious : exculpate ) from the repeat his came into he Englifl], en to their ity abroa(|, •tain, that, Great Bri- ill quarters rious fruits ; neceflary, ) mention, s ingrafted fty encou- ek a cruel e difcover. years ap- cannot be ere much '■ excellent gion ; and ipedt, will which dir »■!>. :^'- Mifanf MmtMrX \ GJSOMGS III<. OP GREAT BRITAIN. vide and comppfe the people of Great Britain. The pohte mC flourilhcd during his reign, the' they we:c httle indebted to his encouragement. Having faid thus much, we may venture to pronounce, tliat he died in the height of his hap- pincfs, as well as of his glory. Had he furvived a lew months, his fatisladion would have been embittered, by the growing difcontents of his fub- jefts, at the futferings of their brave countrymen m Germany, as well as the prodigious expences and fubfidies paid to maintain that war. His grandfon, George III. afcended the throne in the 23d year of his age, under the happielfc aufpices. His firll fpeech exhibited the dignity of a king, with the true fire of a patriot. Sequc- ftered from all fliare in the meafures of govern- ment while Prince of Wales, his talents for ruling were little known; but the amiable qualities which diflmguifhed him in private life, gave hap- py prelages of his conduft as a king. The deve- lopement of his charafter, however, and the enu- meration of his. virtues, are not the province of a contemporary writer, and therefore mud be left to future hiltorians. 1760. EURors« 3o5 MILITARY MEM0IR3 CHAP. XXV. Situation of the Aujlrian and VruJJian armies — Bat- tie of Landjhul — GlatT. taken by the Aujlriam-^ King of Frujpa marches towards Silefta^ and deceives Daun — Returns to Saxony ^ and laysfiege to Drcfdcn — Seige raifcd by Daun — Laudohh be- ficges BrcJJau — Siege raifcd by Prince Henry — • RuJJiam enter Si/c/ia — Battle near Lignitz--' General Hulfcn defeats the Jmperialifls'-'Kufftans enter Berlin — Battle of Torgau — Conclufion of the campaign. 1760. A , . == XVT the opening of the lafl: campaign, the affairs luROPE. Qf ^i^£ Pruffiaii monarch wore a bad aipeft; \\\ this they Teemed altogether dcfperate. Indepen- dent of his capital enemies, (the Auflrians and Ruffians) the Swedes began to be exceedingly troublefome to him. They had fufFered but little upon the whole j and the people, being in general bent on recovering the countries that had been difniembered from the crown of Sweden, ferved with chearfulnefs, though under the difadvantage of being very ill commanded. The King of Po- land, Ele£tor of Saxony, would willingly have appeared to decline any fliare in the war ; but he was obliged, by the Queen of Hungary, and his own family, as well as by the Emprefs of Ruffia, to fufFer a body of Saxons to ferve in their armies. The Duke of Meckicnburgli Schwcrln, though a proteftant prince, entered into all the fcherats of Ot GREAT BRITAIN. France and Auftrla j for which he was fcverclv chaftifcd by his Prulllan Majefty. Frederic had, in the beginning of the war, boafted, and with great juflicc, that he had fevcn generals under him, who were not to be paral idled in all Europe : but, in a few years, all of them were cut off, without a poOibility of their being replaced ; for, though one genius may fuc ceed another, yet nothing but pradice can fupply expencnce. He, however, flill kept up a creditable appearance, and from time to time publiihed fuch accounts of his refources and troops, as gave the world very high ideas of his power. His fucceffes were not anfwerable to thofe reports. The Swedes the French the Ruffians, and the Auflrians, were fill in the field, m the beginning of the year ,760: and though, fmgly, they were no majch for his troops yet, upon the whole, he fuftained great loffes by the continued repetition of their attacks. The Swedes mvadcd the open country of Pome- rania; the Ruffians had an eye upon Colber^, be. caufe It gave them a port in the Baltic, and the polTelhon of ,t would have faved them the march of many hundred miles. He had all the extenfive countr.es of Saxony and Silefia, which border upon the almofl inacceffible mountains of Bohemia to cover, while the eaftern part of his dominions was next to defencelefs. Silefia is a flrong and crt^e country; but the manners and maxims of 1^'sPruffian Majefty, were far from being of a conciliatmg nature, to a nennU „.u^ cZ ..^^ ri'vt,..;^ 1 1 , ' r— r-^5 ""'-', iwi many ntur.es, had been taught to look upon the houfe 0^ Austria as tlieir lawful fovercigns : fo that it 367 1760. lURori. ;8 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1760. EUROPE. may be faid, with great truth, that nothing but force could keep them in awe. Such was the fituation of that prince, in the beginning of the year 1760 ; and a more uncom. fortablc one can fcarcely be conceived. He had nothing but empty fame, and the applaufe of news-writers, to counterbalance millions of dan- gers and dilappointments he was every hour ex- pofcd to, excepting the immenfe fubfidy he had from England. It would' not, perhaps, be too bold to fay, that this fubfidy, every thing confidered, brought upon him all the misfortunes he after- wards met with •, becaufe he depended too much upon it, for the continuance of a war, to which liis power was by no means equal. He himfdf fecmed to be fomewhat fenfible of this ; for he formed a plan of operations, that were entirely deienfive. His brother, Prince Henry, commanded an army about Franckfort on the Oder, in order to protedl: Silcfia, the New Marche of Branden- burgh, and Berlin, which, confidering its impor- tance, is one of the mofl defencelefs places in Europe. He himfelf, in the mean time, lay in a camp, mofl judicioufly chofen, between the Elbe and the Mulda, in an ahnoll impregnable fitua- tion, with 250 pieces of cannon in his front. The conveniency of this pofition was the greater, as he was, by it, enabled, both to receive and fend fuccours to his brother. His Pruffian Majefty, however, was deceived in all his defin-ns. The Auflrians were funerior to him in force, and almoil equal in dlfcipline and courage. Laudohn, a general who had hi- OF GREAT BRITAIN. therto made but an indifferent figure, was, by the !. C-oul n ^°""5 V'-"». fct up as the rival t.ount Daun, whom the Emprels CJucen eon- tdcred as a great general, but too in^live too cautious and too unenterprifing. The charafler otLaudohn was the reverfe. H,s Pruffian Ma- A had placed one of his generals. Fouquet, in *m he had great confidence, near Glatz fo asto ferve as an intermediate afliftance, either to li'mfelt, or to his brother Prince Henry, accord! ■ng as arcumllances Ihould prefent themfclves. Laudohn s .nanoeuvres impofed upon his Pruffian Majcfty and all his generals ; and were fo myfte- r.ous, ..hat Fouquet, believing his intention was to b ficge Schwe,dnitz, left Glatz uncovered : upon winch Laudohn made himfclf mailer of La^dlhut Fouquet, mimediately abandoning the proteaioti Schwe,dn,tz, marched towards Landlhut, from «lrace he drove the Auftrians. Tms was what Laudohn had forefeen, and ex- f!l rr r' '" "''' "''" •'""=• '"= '■'•■""ly made W. d,rpofit,ons, that Fouquet was in effeft fi,r! rounded, without a poffibili.y of being relieved ;'e he was obliged to detach .000 m'en, oulof «" '5.000 he commanded, to preferve his com- ~n with Schweidnitz/ It happened « me that the Auftrians were animated with more than ordmary refentn.ent aqainil the Pruf- «; nor could all the precautions which Fouquet W taken to fortify his camp, withftand it. Ihe mienl h.T" i ""''^ ciupoiitions their r had made, and that they niuft depend ^Pon their own courage for fucceft. Their be. 309 1760. EUROPE. 3IO EUROPE. Battle of JLandlhut. MILITARY MEMOIRS haviour was equal to their high expettatlons ; and it is hard to fay, whether the attack, or the refift. ance, was the moil glorious ; but the Auftiians were fuperior, not only in their numbers, but in their condition. The Pruilians had lain long on the defenfive, and. had been but poorly fupplied with provifions, and confequently low in fpirits. The Auftrians, on the other hand, had lived in free quarters, and were in want of nothing that could give them either ftrength or courage. Not. withftanding all thofe difadvantages, the Pruflians behaved with admirable refolution, end maintain- ed, to the laft, every poll they polTeffed, till thfy were driven by main force from one entrench- ment to another; and at laft, 4000 of them being killed, the remainder, who amounted to almoi't 8000, were obliged to furrender prifoners of war, with 58 pieces of artillery, befidcs colours, tho' it was faid the Auftrians loft 12,000 men. It is remarkable, in this war, that his Pruf- fian Majcity, who, we have fome reafon 10 be- lieve, fupervilcd the accounts of all his campaigns, found means to exaggerate the loiTes of his ene- mies, and, in a furpriftng degree, to extenuate hl'i own ; fo that, candidly fpeaking, the true ftate of his affairs were knovi'n only by the confequerices. But the defeat of Fouquet could neither be con- cealed nor palliated, and its effeas appeared in every department pf the war. Laudohn took one part of Glatz by ftorm, and the other by capitula- tion ; thnncrh it was defended bv 2000 men, and above 100 brafs cannon. This, perhaps, was not the greatcft lofs. The important fituation of tk OF GREAT BRITAIN. ,? II place, and the prodigious magazines it contained, t76o. were irretrievable 5 and Silefia was now open to eS'e. the Auftrians. Ij^us the city of Glatz, was, to the Auftrians, ciatztaken the firlt fruits of this complete viaorv. Mis Pnif- !'/.^'"^ ^"" fian Majflty knew nothmg of the prodigious lofs he had fuffered, till he had heard that Laudohn was preparing to befiege Breflau, the capital of Silefia, and by far too capacious, either for its fortifications, or garrifon. But his genius, ah^ne, could enter the lifts with his ill fortune. He de- termined to purfue a plan fnnilar to that of Lau- dohn, but ftill more myfterious, which was fug- gefted by his own genius, ever fertile in expe- dients. All Europe gave him up as loft j and the difcontented m England began, notwithftanding the public prepofiTeffions in his favour, to com- plain, that we had gone too far in fupporting him, as his fyftein, either of offence or defence,- was equally impradicable , and that our perfeve- rance in his caufe, would hurt us, without being of any benefit to him. They were foon undeceived. As It xvas natural K.ofP.ufna to exptd that he would endeavour to retrieve wardsSu* his artairs m Silefia, the defence of which was his ^''''• mahi point, he made preparations for that pur- pole. Daun, who commanded not only his own army, but in faft that of the empire, had not the lead doubt of his intentions; andJeavinv Gc..cral ^ann foi. i'iicy m Saxony, followed his Prulfian Majefty ^'^'''''"'• through Lufatia. In this march, the great fore- %ht and penetration of the Pruffian'' monarch, eminently appeared* Daun's c^reat obied w; to ^q 3i» 1760. MILITARY MEMOIRS ccivtd. outmarch him. lie had taken the fouth road} EUKc^i-j-. and the King, after palling the Elbe, and march- hig througli a woody country, was on the north* ward ; fo that lie had the diladvantage of Daun in what wc may call their race to Silefia. Daun knew this, and availed liimfelf of his fuccefs, by accelerating his motions ; fo that he gained two lull days march of his PruiTian Majefty, reached Gorlitz, and proceeded with great rapidity to Lauban. This was what his PruHian Majefty expedcd and wanted j and he had the admirable addrefs, to appropriate to himfelf, the advantage of Daun's two days march ; for he inftantly fell into the route by which Daun had advanced, and, paffing the Spree at Bautzen, he appeared before the gates of Drefden j fo that the war now afluni- cd another afpe£l. Frederic, though he could not cope with t)aun's, the Imperial, and Lacy's army, yet was iuperior to the two latter; fo that the firft was ob- liged to retreat, and the other to change its fitua- K.ofPruma tiou : and the King of Pruffia, beine joined, ac- lavs fioge to . ° , Drtfden. cordmg to previous, but eventual orders, by his Generals Hulfen and Ziethen, left Prince Henry, who was at Glogau, at liberty to ad as occafion ihould require, while he himfelf formed the fiege of Drefden. We are here to obferve, that every plan con- certed by the court of Vienna, is, like the laws of the Medes and Perfians, unalterable ; and the d latlng from it, if not attended with fuccefs, often proved be the motives ever fo rational, hi The Emprefs Queen, t& fatal to their ffcnerals. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 3,3 pleafe her Hfter of RufTia, and out of mere de- 17^0. cency, had inftruded Daun, in the campairm to r^ -kc the prcfcrvation of Drefden his cl^UaUb! "^^• ject. He was then in Silefia, where he durfl not for the realons given, purfue his advantages; and' afton.flied as he was, at his Pruffian Majefly's mafterly condud, he found himfclf, again(t his better judgment, obliged to return to Saxony, that d.,„.. he might preferve Drefden ; and his return left sr^ Prince Henry at liberty to move towards Silefia. '^^"'^ All the motions of this campaign had hitherto ^^^''"• ken fo fkiHul, that the reader, who underdands the game at chefs, can fear cely fail to find out the fnmlarity. The King of Pruffia made the mofl furprifiug, and the fineft moves ; but Daun Ihewed himfclf to be as fure a player. His re- turn from Silefia, was much more quick than was expefted, from his phlegm and regularity ; for, on the 19th of July, he and his army appeared within a few miles of Drefden. His Pruflian Majefty, however, did not fail to avail hunfclf, to the utmoft, of the rtart he had gained. He befieged Drefden, which was de- tended by General Maguire, an officer of courage and experience. The operations of the fiege unlefs we were to recount particulars, can convey no new inltruaion to a reader, who can form an Idea of the moft determined attack on the one We, and the moft intrepid defence on the other- and the ruin of the fined buildings that any city 'n ^1- world contained, by the inceffant fire froai atteries of cannon, an thre each mortars ; whilt party equally praftifed every art and Q^q 2 mil- 3H MILITARY MEMOIRS raiicd. I *■ ^7^°- noeuvre ufual in fuch cafes. The approach of EUROPE. Count Daun, ferved to redouble the fury of the Pruflians, but at the fame time it confirmed and increafed the refolute intrepidity of the befieged ; efpecially when Daun found means to throw into the place, no fewer than 1 6 battalions, during the night of the 21ft. After fuch a reinforcement, and while three armies were in the neighbour. The fieje hood, (for the army of the empire, and that un- der Lacy, had returned by this time), it would have been worfe than madnefs, for his Pruffian Majefty, to continue the fiege ; and therefore he raifed it, but without molellation from his ene. mics. Thus ended this mighty trial of (kill between great genius and great fagacity, and each fup- povted by a proportionable degree of courage and experience. The condu.d of the Pruflians was the mod brilliant, atid that of the Auftrians the moll folid ; but, in the main, if any advan- tage was gained, it lay on the King's fide, tho' in fact the great game that was played between them, remained dill precarious. Laudohn, who was all this while in Silefia, trufted to his being joined by the Ruffians ; but, thro' their unwieldintfs and irregularity, they did not arrive foon enough to make the campaign de- cifive on that fide. Being dill, however, in hopes of their junclion, on the id of Augud, he had his cannon and mortars in condition to play irom their batteries, upon Breilau. Count Tauenzein commanded for his Pruffian Majedy in that city, and a kind of military ceremonial at fird pafled be. befieircs Ercilavi. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 3,^ twcen the two generals. Laudohn, partly in civi- 1760. hty, partly mcompaffion, took pity upon Tauen- .^^ zein s weakncfs, and that of the place; and em- ployed various arguments, which had more the air oi a French, than that of a German general, to per- uade hnn to accept of an honourable capituhuion. lauenzem was too obltinate, and too unpolite to believe one word he faid; and thus, after they' had fought through all the weapons of foldier-like courttfy, they drew the fword ; and nothing was wanting, that could do honour to the bdieged or the befiegers. Laudohn, from hofUlities, returned to compliments ; and was anfwered only by re preaches^ for doing the fame thing againft Brdlau," that his Pruflian Majelly was doing againft Drefden turt IS, ruming the town, without damagin;r the the fortifi^cations. Mean while, their was no ac count of the approach of the Ruffians ; but, on the 5th of Auguft, an account came, that Prince ^-'^"of Henry was within a few leagues of the Auftrian S^ST camp ; which induced Laudohn, in a kind of regular hurry, to break up the fieo-c Thi. moft bufy part of the camp'aign approach. cd. Iho Prmce Henry had obliged Laudohn to retire from Brcflau, tliat general, with a power- ^nl army blocked up Neifs and Schweidnitz, and waited to form a junaion with the Ruffian ■•"ny; a jundion which his Pruffian Majefty had -g dreaded The Swedes, amounting to ..!ooo, had begun their operations j and Uaun, his prin cipal opponent, v"- ' • • • ^ lying in wait to finiffi all hia '-^'V-i, Ti;6o. MILITARY MEMOIRS EUROPE. In this dlftrafted and difcouraging fituation, Frederic had recourfc to expedients, which neccf- fity alone can fuggcfl, and iuccefs juflify. Find- ing he could effed nothing in Saxony, he, on the 30th of July, decamped, and took the route of Motions of Meillen. Without tracing his various motions, in his Pnidian ^ , , , , , ., Mnjeity. five days time, he marched near 200 miles, at the head of an army, encumbered with a nume- rous artillery, and 2000 waggons. He paiTed the Elbe, the Spree, the Neifs, the Queifs, and the Boher, with one Auftrian army on one fide of him, under General Reid, near Bautzen; another behind him, under General Lacy j and a third in front, under General Beck ; and all this with. out oppofition. After this altonifliing rapidity, it may, perhaps, be unneceflary to add, that dur- ing his progrefs, he obtained many, not inconfi- derable advantages, over the Auftrian generals. Count Daun, as we have mentioned, was ftill at Bautzen, with an intention to penetrate into Silefia, and to join Laudohn ; in which cafe, the often-attempted junction of the Auftrians with the Ruffians, muft have been effe^ied. Laudohn, •whofe army, every day, was receiving ftrong rein- forcements, had been, for fome time, vvith diffi- culty, kept in play by Prince Henry ; but the delay of a few days muft have rendered the match unequal, as the Ruflians were every hour advan- cing. Daun was aftoniflied at the efcape, for fo we may call it, of the King of PrulTia ; but pre- pared to follow him. His Majefty encamped at found himfelf in danser, alter aii, Lignitz ; but t)f miffing his great aim, which was that of en. OF cniEAT BRITAIN. 3>7 eaging Laudohn, before the armies under Daim .760. and Laey eould arrive to his affiltance, vvhid. ,^, they d,d before h,s Majedy could fmd that on- ' portunity. But ftill Daun and Laudohn occu r /,• , pied diiTerent camps, tlte one on his fiont, and--""" . e other on his rear. They had taken noffeffion «"» »™i- of an extent of a very (Irong country, no lefe tlian p Lnglilh miles, along the Katlbich, from Parch. w.t2 to Coflindau, and had filled it with lines and redoubts , fo that the whole appeared as one contmued fort.fieation. Frederic, with all his (kill. could find no way of attacking one army, withou being expofed to be ruined by the other. He was >S.™ m one of thofe fituations, that had fo often Allteffed h.m. It is yet unknown, whether he owed h,s deliverance, on this oceafion, to his own wonderful fagacity, which fuggefted what he ym would do, had he the fame advantages ' or, whether he was not fitvoured by private intel. I^nee. Both might be true. Daun was tempt- e by the oecaf.on which prefcnted itfelf, and re- M to become the aggreffor. He concerted pan w,th La.dohn and Lacy, for attacking his flian Majefty; while the Ruihans, to the fum! er of 24,000 men, having thrown bridges over he Oder, were to pali it thn^ very day under C Czern,chevv. His Pruffian Majefty faw 'lMenem.es could not furround him without «r ™k,„g one of thofe movements he had fo '!"( r,ans had propofed their ^rear k.Vc h- -rf *y f- -"t of under. T '"'. ""'' '"'''• ' '"^^- ""= '^'^""- °' ^ "^-"'« t<. .hi'"' . ' Tr "■""• "'^" '"'"=' ^'"^ ""'^ -'^^"^'''-" «f -n ^^ppy. begn^s u. d.fcrt me. You are not lufficiently acquainted id "'"r^rT "' ''■""' '" '^^'^''■' ^ ''-■■ ''J" -f ail the danger ' ^'-aten the Oate. , know, but conceal them : , keep all my ;-" to my/df ; and only communicate to the Public, mv hon' or 7, -^''= EOod news that I ^..„ o :_. .l .."...' '. ,--,»-'...,. eood news that I can acquaint them with". If the blow 'that I dilate fucceeds, ti en, my dear Marquis, it will be R r 2 me- timc cnoiigh to ex- 3*2 1760. EUROPE. MILITARY MEMOIRS Thus his Pruflian Majefly's capital, the proud, the envied feat of arms and arts, adorned with all the improvements and beauties thut a long feries of wife princes could give it, the populous refi- dence of the popilh, as well as the reformed re- ligion, was in a maimer abandoned to the power of inveterate enemies, and barbarous conquerors, who were pleafed with the near profped they had, of plundering one of the fineft cities in the world. The inhabitants were manufafturers, fhop- keepers, merchants, ^nd artifts ; but they knew nothing of arms, and gave thcmfelves up to total The garri- defpondeucy. The garrifon was weak, and be- foil tamely •' " ,• 1 1 r 11 iiincndcis. came priioners or war ; io tnat the former had now nothing to depend upon, to fave them from prcfs our joy : but, till tiicn, let us not flatter ourfelves, for fear fonie expcdkd bad news Ihould dejcft us too much. " 1 lead, here, the life of a military monk. I have much to think of about my afTaiis; and the reft of my time I devote to literature, which is my conlblation, as it was of tlie coniiil, the father ok" hii country, and of eloquence. I know not if 1 tliall lurvive the war ; but I am de- termined, in cafe it ihould happen, to pals the rtft of my days in re- tirement, in the bo(om of piiilolbpliy and fricndlhip. " When our corrclpondencc ihall l)c moie open, you'll uhW^Q me i)y writing more frequently. 1 Know not where we Ihall have cui winter- quarters. Rly houi'es at Brefluu were dcilroytd by the bombaidmtnt. Our enemies envy us cveiy thing; even day-liglit, and the air that hc breathe. 'J liey nuill, however, leave us ibnie place; and if it is late, it will be a retreat to receive you there. ♦' Well, my dear Marquisj what is becooie of the peace with I'lance ? Vour nation, you {<:c, is more blind than you imagine it : thole luois loft Canada and Pondiclurry, to pleale the Qiiccn and the Czaiina. Heaven prant that Princr Ferdinand may well reward tiiem for thcii' 7fal ! 'I'he officers, innoc>.iit ot their evils, and tiie Ibldiers, will be made the victims ; and the illuftiious ollindcrs will liifttr nothing. " Thefe are t'-.e fubjcOs which oflir tiicnilllvcs to me : 1 was in 3 writing vein; but I ice that 1 nuift conclude, left 1 fliould tire you, and ncgka my own bulinc's. Adieu, n".y dcaitft Marqui:. — I ci!:Li;ivi 1011, Ac." OF GREAT BRITAIN. s, for fear fonie 3«3 1760. EUROPE, con- the worft of fatos, but the mediation of the fo- reign minifters redding at Berlin. This proved far more effeaual, than was expeded. A IVee exercife of religion, was granted to the inhabitants : they were to be protefted in their perfons and effeds ; and it was agreed, that the Rullian irregulars Ihould not enter the city. Notwithltanding thofe favourable terms, great excelfes were committed. The regulars, who marched in, dcftroyed the magazines, the lounderies, and all the ware- houfcs of military Itores, of which they feizcd iinmenfe quantities, befides artillery and arms. The contributions that were Jemanded, amounted Rciin laid to a regular kind of plundering the city. Eight {le'.vT '' hundred thoufand guilders were ordered to be im- ^'^'^"t'"" mediately paid down, and a l\irther contribution oi 1,900,000 German crowns was impoied ; and it was with the utmolt difficulty, that the officers were able to prefcrve a tolerable degree of difci- pline amongft the barbarians. Considering the exafperated ftate of the Auflrians, it was furprifing that the inhabitants of Berlin fuffered fo little as they did. This may be partly accounted for, by the great indulgences and freedom they enjoyed in that city, which made it the refidence of ftrangers of all religions, and irom all parts of Germany; fo that it is eafy to be fuppofed, that the Auftrians (officers as well as foldiers) who entered it, had many friends and relations there. This account is the more probable, as both Auftrians and Ruffians were n-uihv nT th>r. ,,,.^f|• ,,.,„...„„„_,„, ^1 , r.^---j -• -=v m-,it Uiij^ctierous and unmanly ilepredat ions upon the royal palace. Like true 2H 1760. zu&or£. Btrlin eva- cuated, af- ter being greatly plundered. It MILITARY MEMOIRS defcendents of the Goths and Vandals, they plun- dercd the royal palace of Charlottenburg, deftroy. ed the furniture they could not carry oif, defaced the paintings, and broke in pieces the noble col- ledion of antique and other ftatues that h?.d be- longed to the Brandenburg family, and particu. larly that made by the famous Cardinal Polignac. The Queen's callle of Schonhaufen, and that of the Margrave Charles of Fredericksfield, experien- ced the like treatment. Amidst the numerous hoft of barbarians, one general was found who deferves a better epithet. This was Prince Efterhafi, who took pofleflion of the palace of Potfdam, his Pruffian Majefty's fa- mous Sans Souci. All the ravage there commit- ted, was, that the Prince, in viewing the apart- ments, took into his cuftody, the pifture which he was told bore the gieatefl; refemblance to his Pruflian Majefty, and two German flutes which he ufually played on ; and even that, not without afliing the leave of the keepers of the palace. On the 13th of Odober, Berlin was evacuated, after groaning, for four days, under the fcourge of the iVuftrians and Ruffians, who left Branden- burg little better than a dcfart ; having deftroyed the country, and carried of all the horfes and cat- tle they could fmd. I'he confequence of this blow upon his Pruflian Majefty, was,. that having no army in Saxony, his enemies, after leaving Berlin, recovered all that eledoratc ; while Stain- ville, at the head of a detachment of Broglio's ar- mv, laid Hulberffadt under contribution 1 and tlie Ruifians laid ficge to the important fea-port cf OF GREAT BRITAIN. 3^5 1760. EUROPE. Colberg. The Swedes, all this while, were ad- ..ncmg m the weftern Pomerania, and in Sileha. Laudohn invefted the fortrefs of Cofel Upok the whole, his PruOian Majefty's affairs famed to be now more defperate than ever. When h,s enemies took the cities of Wittemberg, o,rp=™e Meiffen, Le,pf,e, and Torgan, he loft all his im f^^^' ™ e magazmes of ftores ; and he himfelf was «V..t"" clofeiy watched by a far fuperior army, under the 1 7;»« general of his age. Count Daun ..thout h,s knowmg where to take his winter quarters; fo completely had his enemies ravaged IS dommjons. He had made fome movement owards the relief of his capital; and, upon" bemg evaeuced, he paffed the Elbe the 25th of Oaober, as Daun did the fame day. Soon after h»Majefty was joined by his generals, Hulfln and Pnnce Eugene of Wirtemberg, b^t found hmfdf under crcumftances in which he could get relief only from defpair. His was not of the Imd, fur,ous kind ; his difpofitions were as wii; Js Ins condua was intrepid. P«, had fallen back upon the latter- and h;^ *nMajefty raw him encamped at't,::li 0,000 men feeured on the one f.de by the , on the other by moraffes, hills, and woods mil ,00 pieces of cannon in his front, where 'lone he could be attacked. His Pruffian M 1 «nilaunted bv thit dre-.Hf„l „K- a /"'yt'ty, .„.,. ■ ' . areadtul objeft, acquainted his -P^ in perlon, on the 3d of Novem " « would, that day, fet the quer or di that m an example to cou- 326 1760. MILITARY MEMOIRS EUROPE. Battle of Torgau. General Hulsen had the command of the right whig, with orders to take pofl in a wood to the left of the Auftrians, and there to wait till the battle fnould begin. General Ziethen, with the left wing, was to attack the right of the ene- my, while the King was to make the grand charge in the front. Thefe difpofitions dire61:ed Daim in his, and he made them in a maflerly manner. Ziethen began the attack, upon which his Ma- jefty haftened his march. The fituation of both armies was fuch, according to the accounts pa- bliflied at Magdeburg, that either the Pruffian riglu or lelt mud take the enemy in their rear, and fo prevent their affording any afliftance to that part of their army, where the main attack was to be made. It is impoffible to defcribe a battle fo exten- five and complicated as this was, in which even they who were prefent difagree as* to their feveral relations. It is allowed, on all hands, that his TheAuavi- Prulhan Majefty, rapid and intrepid as his charge d"kaS^ was, was three times repulfed with great flaughterj but General Ziethen, having beat the right wing ' - of the Auftrians, made himfclf mailer of fomc advantageous eminences, and, galloping up with a ftiong body of horfe to fuftain the infantry, the latter, notwithftanding their prodigious lofl'es and fatigues, returned once more to th^ charge, and proved viclorious. The enemy was every where routed, with vail flaughter, after a continued en- gagement from two in the afternoon to nine at night, when the Auftrians were obliged to re- pafs the Elbe, which tliey did in excellent order. OP GREAT BRITAIN. P7 1760. EUROFB, I This battle was the moft important of any his Pruflian Majefty had gained, and eoft him the deareft ; but it was attended with the moft won- derful, though favourable, circumftances for him. He had loft, in killed and wounded, about 10,000 ofthebeft of his men, befides 3000 who were made prifoners. The lofs of the Auftrians, in men, was not greater* The Pruffians, however, made a^ bout 8000 prifoners, amongft whom were four generals, and 216 other officers; ^nd were in pof- feflion of the greateft number of warlike trophies taken from the enemy. Both fides feem to agree, Auftrians that the Pruffians vidory was owing, next to their tumcT own valour, and that of their King, to a wound ^°'' which Count Daun received in the thigh, and which obliged him to retire from the field of bat- tle, and to leave the Command to Gen. O'Donnel, who ordered the retreat. The pitchy darknefs of the night, was equally favourable to both armies^ fatigued and exhaufted as they werci The court of Vienna was furprifed, aftoniflied^ and afhamed, at this fudden reverfe of fortune. In vain did the miniftcrs of the Queen, in publica- tions of evdry kind, endeavour to extenuate their lofs, and to magnify that of their eiiemy. All they could do, was to keep up the defponding l^jirits of tlieir allies. They could not diffemble, that, be- fides all the other difadvantages the Pruffians lay imder in the attack, the Auftrians wer^ 30,000 fuperior to them in the field ; fo that the palm of generallhip and difcipline, was, by the public voice, adjudged to his Pruffian Majefty, who received a comulion in the breaft, and, during the hotteft of s s 318 1760. EUROPE. Conrlufioit of the cani- paign. 1:1! MILITARY MEMOIRS the action, expofed his perfon, as if he had known himfeU* to be immortal. The confequences, indeed, decided, beyond all difpute, the vidlory to be in his favour ; for he recovered all Saxony, but its capital ; and he was in no condition to befiege that, becaufe Count Daun had polled all his army, which was ftill more numerous than that of the Prulfians, in that city, or in cantonments round it. In the mean time, the PruHian general, Wer- ner, had, after the evacuation of Berlin, been fcnt with a body of troops into Pomerania, where he obliged the Uuflians to abandon the long conti- nued fiege of Colbcrg ; and, after defeating the Swedes in the weftern parts of that province, he forced them to fall back upon Stralfund, and to abandon the whole of Pruflian Pomerania. On the fide of Silefia, Laudohn Was obliged to raife the fiege of Cofel, to abandon Landlhut, and to retire into the Aultrian Silefia j while the Ruffians had entirely evacuated the other parts of his Prullian Majefty's dominions, and the army of the empire about the fame time retired into Franconia. His Pruflian Majefty lofl: no advantage, that could pollibly be drawn from his victory at Torgau. Pretending to have received great provocation, he taxed the circle of Leipfic alone, not only in its ordinary revenue, and in vaft magazines of pro- vifions, but in two millions of crowns for the en- fuing year ; a contribution, which London itfeif, the richeft city in the world, would have found it difficult to ralfe. All the oiher parts of Mifnia were taxed in the fame proportion j and, eflimating OF GREAT BRITAIN. the Saxons as beafls of burden, he made the raifing 20,000 of tliem, for recruiting his army, a part of their contributions. But no country lullered more from his Pruffian Majefty's fuc- ccffes, than tlie dominions of the Dukes of Meck- Icnburgh, which were fo unfortunately fituated witli regard to tliofe of Prullia, that they were deprived ot relief from their allies. The treatment which thofe Princes met with, and the hardfliips iiifliaed on their fubjecls, were, perhaps, more than fcvere; and are faid to have drawn from the pen of a young Princcfs, who now fills the mofl: auguft throne in the world, a pathetic reprefent- ation of her family and coumry's fufferings, which touched even his Pruflian Majefty, but made much deeper impreffions in the bread of another and a greater royal perfonage, to whom the letter was communicated. Such was the fituation of affairs on the conti- nent of Europe, at the clofe of the year 1760. That of the Pruflians was indeed become better, but that of the Britifh troops was very undefire- able ; while the Auftrians and the French, by preferving their communications, the former with the Elbe, and the latter with the Rhine, enjoyed comfortable winter-quarters, 1760. EUROPE, 6 S 2 C II A P. 33^ MILITARY MEMOIRS CHAP. XXVI. Defigns of the French general, Levi— Battle of Sil lery-^Gcneral Murray defeated — ^lebec btfeged •—-Britijh fieet arrives'-^Siege raifed — Montreal taken— -Cherokee war* 1760. Frpnch ar- anny takes the field, with a de- fign to re- take Qvie- bec. Situation of "the Bri- tijh army. Notwithstanding the boafted fkiiiof the French, in defending fortifications, and their ftill more b. afted bravery, the lofs of Quebec had brought an indeliblp ftigma, botli on their condud and courage. The retaking of it was therefore a favourite obje<^ with their generals commanding in Canada, as nothing Icfs would ferve to wipe off the reproach occafioned by their pufiUanimous furrender of that place. — Monf. de Levi, therefore, early in the fpring, having muftered an array of about 12,000 men, find beiiig well provided with every necefTary, took the field, with the refolur tion of befieging that town. He began his march qri the 1 7th of April, and, in ten days after, ap- peared on the heights of Abrahj^m, within three miles of Quebec. B?liqadier-General Murray, who had been left to command the garrifon, had put the place in the bcft poflure pf defence, it was capable of receiving. He had originally only 6000 men uii- (ier his command, and no other provifions during the winter, but what could be fpared from the fleet before their departure. Owing to the feve- jrity of the weather, and living on ii\lt provifionsj OF GREAT BRITAIN. 33, (thcfe even being fcarce) the army had fuffered '760. greatly. Upwards of a thoufand men had died ^^ of the fcurvy, and an equal number were fick ''*'""*• and mcapable of doing duty. The French had fix frigates upon the river St. Laurence, from 44 to z6 guns, without one Britifli lliip to oppofe them, liiere was no likelihood, therefore, of any fpeedy relief commg to the place. In thefc diftrefsful circumftances, General Mur. ray formed the r^ folution of marching out, and giving the enemy battle, rather than waiting for them m an extenfive fortification, where famine and difeafe were devouring his little army. By doing fo, he iiad a chance of fuccefs ;^and if he failed, he had ftill the town to retreat into, which m that cafe, he was determined to defend as Ion? ^as It was tenible. Accordingly, on the 28th of «„ m April, he marched out, at the head of .000 -"--". men, which were all that could be fpared fron 2.1^.:" the town, againft an enemy four times their num- f^JJ' her : but his troops were eager and confident, and he could depend upon their bravery ; circum, lances which he' confidered as putting them near. ly on an equality with the enemy. When General Murray came in fight of the enemy, he found their van advantageoufly pofted on an eminence covered with trees, and their mam body extended in one column, in the valley below. He immediately ordered the van to be attacked; which was done with fo much fury, that |t was mftantly broke, and drove, in the greateft PllOrder. imnn f!i*-ir n-''^^" u-.i- 1 • . , ] r n ' "* L»wuy, wnicn nevcrthe- m Itood firm, and received the Britifli with fo 33^ MILITARY MEMOIRS AMERICA. ray obliged tu retreat clofe and well-dirc£led a fire, as threw tlicm, in their turn, into fome contiifion. The French en- deavoured to take advantage of this circumftanct', and extended themlelvcs Icmicirrularly, in order to furround them, and cut off their retreat. This, however, by the good conduct of the oflicers, and the fpirit and intrepidity of the troops, was happily prevented. — At lafl, after an obftinate ftruggle, in which the Britifh loft about looo Oen. Mur- men, it was thought advifeable to order a retreat, which was done accordingly, and effeded in good order, without being purfued by the enemy, they having fuffered very fcverely in killed and wound* ed. This misfortune, in place of damping the fpirit of the Britilh troops, feemed rather to in- fpire them with fr'efh courage. They were no fooner whhin the walls of the town, than they be- gan to labour at the fortifications with redoubled ardour. Although the French opened trenches before the place, the very evening of fhe battle, they were fo very flow in their operations, that it was the i itii of May b( fore they could bring a battery to bear. This gave the garrifon time to make the beft preparation they could for a defence. Accordingly 132 pieces of cannon were mounted upon the ramparts, altho' a great part of them muft have been ufelefs, owing to the want of hands to manage them ; and General Murray, notwithftanding liis bravery, and that of tiie troops under his command, muft have been at laft obliged to fubmit, had not a moft unexpect- ed reinforcement arrived to their relief. Quebec beficged. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 333 harbour of quebcc, with the agreeable news that = Lord Colv,l and Co.nmodore Swanton, TtL he ""'"• Fdrons under their co,n,nand. had entered the «H.>n, „„. rverSt. Laurenee; and, on the 15th, a fliin ol "'""• .e Ime. and another frigate, likewif 'arrived Tl^e nvo ngates were immediately fent againll .he ranch iquadron, which was anchored !bove the .«™ and, n> a few hours, took, fu„k, or dit aW the whole of them._Mo„l-. de Levi no ,„■ . , ooncr received intelligenc ■ of this difafter h" P'^' e magmed there was a ftrong fleet at hand " .^1'° fcpport there frigates, and, on the 1 8th, Tn ,he "''- ™g, he ralfed the nege, and fled with the « G.N.aAi. MuaRAV, who had intended to ' ■luke a vigorous fally next day, and had the ear « nTt ""^ '; '"^ "'""""S for that ^^ »h:x:::ra;^tfr::o:r' M n of the,r canrp, which hey had left ftandh.g. t, ^"^' ''"="""y "f ''''R -'S^> "ores, &c. *= Montreal was now the only place of con -^;;^.ov.no^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ d ei„ther the rematns of the French army re- "'M- General Amherft had nroieftpH ,h„ ;'ft of this place, which .aJZ^t^nX £- i "7 orders to carry h.s plan into execution. As ""'• 334 MILITAUY MEMOIRS >7<5o. he knew the whole French force was affcmbled at ■"*' Montreal, his defign was, by making the Britilh *** ^ ' army take diftcrent routes, fo to hem the enemy in, as would cut them off from any chance of cfcaping, to make a (land in any other part of Britnh ar- the country. In the profecution of this defign, "y P"^i" he ordered Colonel Haviland, with the troops im- motion for * *- ,<•/-. ii ■ that pur- jcr his Command, to march trom Crown roint, ^^'' and take pofleflion of a fmall ifland in the lake Champlain, and from thence to take the ihorteft way to the banks of the river St. Laurence. Ge. neral Murray, at the head of what troops coiild be fpaved from the garrifon of Quebec, was or- dered to advance by water to Montreal ; while General Amherft himfelf was to proceed diredly thither, from New York, with the main body of the army, confifting of about 10,000 men, by the Mohauk river, to the lake of Ontario, and thence down the river St. Laurence. After a mod difficult and dangerous paffagc down this river, in which feveral boats and men were lofl, the Britilh army arrived at Montreal, and landed on the 6th of September, having, in their way thither, taken the fort of L'Ifle Royale, after a (light refiftance, and without any lofs. The fpirit of the French, feemed, at this crifis, entirely to have forfaken them. The Britilh forces were fufFered to land without oppofition -, and, the day following, being the 7th of September, Ge- neral Amherft received a letter from the Marquis KfSance.' de Vandrcuil, with propofals for a capitulation. '" eneral Amherft, lud fur : French wei Montreal belicgcd. French make but a faint re ce eded to his utmofl wifli j and OF GREAT BRITAIN. i35 entirely cut oft from a retreat. General Murray, 1760. according to his orJcrs, had landed on the illand : "=== and Colonel Ilaviland Jiad juft arrived on the '"'""''* fouth fide of the river, oppofitc to Montreal. Not- withllanding the French were thus cut oft' from every hope of efcaping, and the Britifti genr-ial might have didated his own terms, yet, as the furrender of this place fmiftied the war in Canada, which was now emirely under the fubjeftion of Montreal Great Britain, and to prevent the eftufion of hu- '"'''"• man blood, more favourable terms were granted the enemy, than, in their prefem fituation, they had a right to exped. They were refufed the ho- nours of war, but not made prifoners ; and were to be tranfported to France in Britifli vcfllls, un- der the condition of not ferving againft Britain during the continuance of the war. A fmall fleet, confifting ,of one frigate, two large flore-ftips, and nineteen fmaller velfels, hav- ing on board troops and military ftores, had been bt from France, for the relief of Montreal; but, when they arrived at the mouth of the river St. Laurence, underftanding that the Britifli fquadroii had got the ftart of then^.-tliey put into the bay ^ p,,. ^ 0^ Chalfurr, on the coa/l of Acadia, for fiielter ^'^"^'^'""' iney v^rc, liowever, di/bovered; and intelligence E'S,';:^ Ic^nt to a.ouifl3ourg, where were feveral Britifli SdCd! men ot war ; one of whom, commanded by the Honourable Captain (now Lord) Byron, imme- tely fct fail in queft of them, and the whole Jteet was either taken or deftroyed. Captain Bv- *on l.Kewife demoliflied two batteries, which had 152CU raifed for their protedion. T t I Witr. 336 MILITARY MEMOIRS i7^0' T H F. French were cquaally unfuccefsful in ~ ~ every otlier part of America. Having, by means AMERICA. ■' ' in oi their miiiionarics, a much grcpter uMlucncc than the EntTlill:, over the minds o,' the l'av:*ges, they had debauched the Ciierokee Indians into thcL" intereftj and there was rcafon for believing, Cherokee that the ('rccks, another very powerful nation, would follow their example. Philofophers, and philoibphical hiftorians, have indulged themfelves in exhibiting flattering pidures of human nature m its moil lavage ilatc : but there is the greateft reafon to believe, from repeated experience, that the American Indians, in general, have no fenti- ments, but thofe of cruelty, revenge, and rapine, which they never fail to gratify j and that they are to be awed only by force. Mr. L I t -^ l e t o n, the then governor of Carolina, knev. this ; and, in Oftober 1759, he marched, witi about 11 00 regulars and provin- cials, 300 iriies into their country, lying between Keeowee and Charleftown. The barbarians, fee- ing their perions and pofltflions thus expofed to immediate deilruclion, humbled themfelves be- fore the governor, and agreed to all the terms he impofed. They even jjut into his hands, fuch of their countrymen as had been guilty ot the greatcd barbarities and murders upon the Eng- lilh, and gave him 22 hoftages for their perform- ance. Mr. Littleton, having, as he had reafon to think, been fuccefsful in his expedition, returned to his government : but, no fooncr was his back turned, than the very fame ilwagcs blocked up OF GREAT BRITAIN. 337 Fort Loudon, and attempted to take Fort Ed- »7^^- ward. General Amhcrit, hearing of this, fent '^''^ Colonel Montgomery (now Earl of Eglinton) to '''"''''''^' relieve thofe two Britifli forts, and to chaftife the barbarians, with a regiment of Highlanders, a battalion of Royal Americans, fome grenadiers, and the provincial troops. Upon his entering the country of the favages, he burnt one of their capital towns, confiding of about zoo houfes; and, making war after their own manner, he fpread terror and defolation wherever he came. He marched on to the middle Cherokeesj and, in his progrefs, fell into an ambufli, where he had 20 men killed, and 80 wounded. Tho' the enemy, in this ikirmifl), loft 80 men, befidcs a confider! able town, yet the Colonel, perceiving that he mufl every day meet with fuch encounters as he ad- vanced, found it neceflary to retreat to Fort George, from whence he went to New York, to rejoin the grand army ; leaving behind him, 400 men, for the protedVion of the province. —By this time, the garrifon of Fort Loudon, having con- fumed all their provifions, was obliged to come to a capitulation, on the 7'h of Augufl, with the favages, who moft infamoully broke it, by but- chering all tlie ofllcers but one, and by carrying fuch of th foldiers as they did not kill, int, thq moft miferable of all captivities. T t 2 C II A P. i 338 MILITARY MEMOIRS CHAP. XXVII. Britifl} layfiege to Pondicbcrry — Fleet difperfcd by a Jlorm — "The garrifon furrcnders — Internal revclu* tion ill India — Tranfaclions of Comic d'E/iaim. ^7^'°- boON after the conquefl of Arcot, moft of the ASIA, inferior fettlements belonging to the French fub- mitted. 'ilic important fettlemcnt of Carical, was reduced by the land and fca-forces under Major Monfon and Rear- Admiral Cornilh ; and the French power on that coaft was confined to Pondicherry,* and a few inconfiderable places. When the fiege of Pondicherry was refolved on, the garrifon confifted of about 1500 Euro- peans ; and, as the center of all the French riches in India, it was well provided with artillery and military ftores. The approaching rainy fcafons, and 1-ally's known chara6;er for refolution, rcn- dered a regular fiege unadvifeable ; atid a bloc- kade by fea and land, for obvious re^fons, was determined on. The operations by land wc-e conduced by Colonel Coote, and thofe at fea by Pondichcr- »y bdlcgeil * Pondicherry is fituated al-oiit 60 miks iouth of Fort 8t. Gcorje. It is in a low fitiiation, and tlic (liii.s .imlior a niile and a iialf from it; nur can the boats or canoes comt nearer it tli«n a nnilket lliot, on ac- crnint of thi; breakers, fo that the blacks come in flat-bnttonitd boats to cai-v the n-^en and nicrcl'.andifts to the fleet. 'I'hc fcrt is jco pares froin tlic r..a, and very itrefuiiar. 1 he country about is barren, and confequently ncil of their provifions arc brought from other places. Their trade confiils of cottou-tloths, fl'ks, pepper, liiil-petie, and uthcr ir.erchnndllcs that are biwusht from Jicngiil, OF GREAT BRITAIN. .139 Admiral Stevens. Thi. blockade was fupported .760^ and affifted by proper batteries, which continually ^ arrafTed the garrifon, and were daily, tho' inl """ fenlibly, drawing near to the place. Those kind of operations continued for fcven months, during which the batteries we.e often rmned, and as often repaired, by the indefatigable perfeveranceoftheBritilhjinwhich, itmuftbe acknowledged they were equalled by the French. Ik former, however, had the comfort to .cfleft that, am,d(l all their hardftips and labours, the purpofes ot the blockade were (till goin^ on • and - .l.e French within the place, wL r'edrcid'o l|»e on dogs, cats, elephants, and camels ; ., ,; . at even this lo.hfome kind of food „,ull, !f I e blockade continued, fail the-. ,- a few days. he French, however, are a , o,'.- little addici dto defpatr. They comforte. tliemfelves with the thoughts of bcng relieved by their fleet • but » event happened on the ,ft of January ,76, wl'ieh gave them a much better ground of af- Birance of delivery. „r'?/''f ' ^° P''"''''^"' " '^'" <^°"ntrv, had «afcd for fome days ; the weather was tem'perate „ ■ .„ md the (kv remai-l,-QW„ v.,- 1 . . ^"'l"-^Mit, „„,in, j^ i^y remarkably bright ; when, on a fud- ■>i''p«rt"rfi.r ta, a moft terrible tempeft arofe. There were " """■ ' M of br,tiil, (hips at that time in the road. *, and fired the fignal for the other (hips ,0 V her e..ample. The fignal guns were not d, and the(h,ps, in obedience to the difei- ! „ " '-V^' ''°'-^' ™''' *<=!■• <^*'" parted, »*" tb^y, w.tU much difliculty, got fcjorc the ASIA' 340 MILITARY MEFOIRS 176T. -wind ; none able to fet more than a fingle fall, ""^^ and none without fplitting feveral. About twelve, the wind fliilted from the N. W. and blew with equal impetuofity from the S. E. By the delay of not getting early under fail, whilll the dorm vas from the north, nod of the (hips loft the op- portunity of gaining fufficient fca-room, before it came from the oppofite quarter. Four fliips, by prudently cutting away all their marts, rode out the ftorm ; three came afliore, to the fouth of Pondicherry; and three foundered, by unfortu- nately preferving their malts. Eleven hundred Europeans perilhed in thefe lliips. Though the difference of the element pre- vented the deftrudion from being equal at land, the ravage in proportion was not lefs. The tents were blown to pieces j the ammunition ruined and nothing remained undamaged, that was m under the Ihelter of maibnry. The foldiers, un- able to carry off their mulkets, and refill the ftorm, had left them on the ground ; and were driven to feek flicker for their own perfons, wherever it was to be found. The fea had every where broken over the beach ; and all the batteries and redoubti, raifed by the army, were entirely ruined. Thcic, however, might be repaired : but the lois ot the fleet, was an irretrievable misfortune ; and giCut anxiety w<5 expreffed, for the Ihips of tl)£ lq«^> dron, whofe fate was not yet known. The inhabitants of Pondicherry, beheld .lis ftorm, and its effects, as a deliverance from hn- ven. The fun rofe clear, and fliewed the havoc. Lofs on land occa- fioncd by the ftorm fpread aro-ind. Happily for the Engliih, the ei- OIF* GREAT BRTTAm. 34, itcls of the florm prevented the garrifon from »7<5r. making a fally ; for no artillery could move thro' """^^ the inundation, nor could the ammunition be kept dry, otherwile 300 men, properly armed, would not, for three hours after day-light, have met with a hundred together in a condition to oppofe them. Laliy, confident of the annihilation of the Biitifli fleet, immediately difpatched letters to the French agents at the different ports in India, or- dering tliem to fend provifions with indant expe- dition, at every rilk, on any kind of embarka- tion. * The hopes of the French were fliort-lived* Next day, about fun-fet, the Norfolk, with Ad- miral Stevens' flag, was difcovered in the offing. This fliip was prepared at all points, before the fouth-eafl: fl:orm arofe ; and had ftudded before it with a ftay.fail, without being obliged to anchor till the wind fell, wh-n, in the morning, they dif- covered Madrafs. The apprehenfion of more bad • The following intercepted Ittta, is no !.u,l ikeich of the writer's iharaaer, which feems to have a ftrong ti.utiue of oddity and cxtra- Tagance. ' Mr Raymond, Pomlkhrry, Jan. %. ij6r. • The fJritilh fqu:.dron is no more, Sir. Out of the twelve fliips they hd m our road, /tven .,re lolt, crew and all ; the four others dif- niafted ; and it appears, there is no more tl,;,n one friratc that hath elcaped : therefore, don't iole an inltant to lend us chelin.-oes upon ciiclmgoes, loaded with rice : the Dutch have nothini,' to fear now ; be- fides (according to the rights of the nations) they are onlv to fend us n» r. ■(^vI^lons //K',v;/e/7'M, and we are no more hlockc papi i/.A 548 T760. iOtE. Three En- glifh fri- gates ient >n qucA of him. He is Bt- Ucked, deffatcd, jfld fla".!, MILITARY MEMOIRS Thurot's defcent, difpatched an cxnrefs to Kin. fale, for three Englifli frigates, which lay there, to fail in quefl: of that adventurer. Thefe frigates were, the ^olus of 36 guns, commanded by Captain Elliot j ani the Pallas and Brilliant of 32 guns each, under the command of the captains Clements and Logic. The difpatch they ufed was fo great, that they came up with Thurot, in fight of the ifle of Man. This engagement afforded another inftance of the fuperiority of the Britifh, over the French maritime genius. Thurot's fliips were of fuperior force, and his men more nume- rous. On the 28 th, at nine in the morning, the ^olus engaged the Belleifle, commanded by Thu- rot •, while the Pallas and Brilliant attacked the other two (hips. The battle was maintained with great fpirit, on both fides, for m hour and a half, when the French (truck their colours, and were carried into llamfay bay in the ide of Man. Up- wards of 300 of the enemy were killed or wound- ed, while our lofs did not exceed 40. The gal- lant Thurot felkin the adion"; lamented, perhaps, lefs by his own countrymen, than his enemies, who had often experienced his humanity, as well as his courage. Even while he commanded a privateer, he fought, more for honour, than for plunder ; and the rank he acquired, was entirely owing to his undaunted courage.- — Such was the termination of the remains of that formidable ar- mada, which had fo long been the hope of France, and the terror of Britain ; and thus the only in- fult that his Britannic Majedy's European coi." bad ('.iflcred during the war, was amply revcn^ea. OF dilEAT BRITAIN. Jvin' '^f ^"'^'"' ^'''""»' H°'™^«. having .,60. t ccved mtclLgence that a fleet of French mer^ ^ chantmen were about ,0 fail from Hifpaniola to """* Europe under eonvoy of five frigates, he de- f '"^ *''" ^'^''y °f ". in order ,0 intercent 1 Tuh the"f "f" °' °^°''^^' '"= BoreLS o.„.,™. rXo ;:"* '°'"""°'"^ "^ 3^ guns, and.^'^-- Ihe Lively compelled another frigate of .o guns eotre\r '' 'o Hamplhire gave chacf t h other three. One of them, being a fwift &.lcr dcaped. The other two were run aCe and deftroyed The naval officers concernedTn « gallant aftion, were the captains Norbury Uvedale, and Maitland. "^oary. The fquadron ftationed off the Leeward iflands commanded by Sir lamp. n„„ i '""'■•nas, fecefsful. Th- Tei an^r^ffi' ™'' "'''""^ h,, r, ■ ^u . P ^ Griffin, commanded by Captains Obr.en and Taylor, being on a joint "u.fe, nienced the batteries defending a harC ■n one of .he Grenades, and took out four nri' vateers. They next entered another harb-nr ^d took out three more fl,ips. Jn their retuTn' Anfgua they fell i„ with thirteen vifluallers bound to Martmico ; all which they took. The *r nps of the fquadron, in Jr uifmg rou,^ Guadaloupe, took nine privateers. b,fh"e f°? °^ »y •■nportanee was performed «ao„. by*c fquadrons m the Britifh feas. Admiral Roney «,„■,„,,,„,, ,, „^,^„ off thetafto "«re de Grace, while the Admirals Bofcawea wmm ip MILITARY MEMOIRS MUROPE. t76o. and Hawke alternately commanded tlie grand fleet, wiVieh Hill remained in Quiberon bay, to watch and detain the French veflcls, which had run into the mouth of the river Villainc, after the defeat of Conflans.* In the mean time, a numerous body of forces were alTembled at Portfmouth. Tranfports were colleaed, and the troops aftually embarked, with an excellent train of artillery. Generals were ap- pointed to the command of the enterprife ; and the attention of the whole nation was engroffed by this armament, which had been prepared at a vaft expence, and of which the deftination re- mained a profound fecret. The whole fummer, however, was permitted to glide away in idle parade and inadivity, and the death of the king put an entire flop to the projeaed expedition, if any was ever intended. Nothing excites fo great a clamour in the Britifli nation, as when r^ighty preparations are followed by idlenefs and inaQion. Such was th- cafe at prefent ; and, in a country where every fubjea is at liberty to decide on the meafures cf government, it may well be conceived what bit- . The fquadrons on the French eoaft were not totally inaflive. On the ah of July. Admiral Rodney deftmyed five flut-bottomeU boats ie on^ns ti .he ene.y. Thcfc veiFcis .e.e .co feet in length and eac of th an Cpahle of containing 400 men. There were npwa, s of co :f them in readinefs at Caen in Nor..andy ; but the d.lader .l.ch bappe..ed to thele five, p: evented the farther "''-f ^he ^0^^ ^^^ J.d Hawke. fenfible of the inconvenieucies to which the fl.et w pofed, for want of freOi water, detached Lord Howe to r- duce the 1 tie ittand of Duitiet, which abounded in that neceObry of hte. m tL made little or no refinance ; and the poflefllon of . wa. a ' fiUerable faving to the nation, as the water had huheito been fent w tranfports from Britain, at a ^\en expence. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 3St EUP.OPX. ter inveaives were thrown out. What might have been atchieved, was oppofcd to what was aftually done, which was indeed very little. The Britifl cruifers, however, ftill maintained their wonted fuperiurity. On the 2d of April, Detached the Biddeford, Captain Skinner, and the Flam- ^^^""^ borough, Captain Kennedy, both frigates, fet fail from Lifbon, and fell in with two large French frigates, which, notwithftanding their fuperior force, they determined to engage. The battle be- gan about half an hour after fix in the evening, and was continued with the greateft fury till eleven. The frigate engaged with the Flambo- j rough, bore away with all the fail fhe - uld carry, and efcaped, with a confiderable lofs, into Lifbon. The Biddeford, after a mod fevere conflift, com- pelled her antagonift to flieer off; but was fo dif- ablcd in her rigging, as to be incapable of purfu- ing. The gallant Captain Skinner, equally re- markable for his humanity and courage, was un- fortunately killed. The Honourable Lieutenant Knollis, who afTumed the command, and main- tained the fight with great fpirit, fell likcwife. The crew, tho' deprived of their ofTicers, difcovcred no fymptoms of fear, or of difinclination to con- tinue the engagement. The maflcr took upon liim the command; and the fire was kept up with fuch alacrity, that the enemy's guns were at lad entirely filenced : but when it was imagined they were jufl going to flrike, they crowded all their !ail, and efcaped, from the inability of the Bidde- ford to follow. XX' «*• 35» 1760. lURO^i. MILITARY MEMOIRS Tho' the Britifli navy fuflered little from the! French, it fuftained great damage from the wea- ther. The mod confiderable of thefc loffes, was that of the Ramilies, a 90 gun (hip, belonging to the fquadron ftationed on the French coall. A feries of ftormy weather had obliged the fleet to return from Quiberon bay to Plymouth. The Ramilies, having overfhot the entrance to the Sound, was embayed near a point called the Bolt- head ; and, her cables and anchors giving way, fhe was dafl^ed to pieces among the rocks. Her whole crew (one midlhipman and 25 feamencx«| cepted) amounting to 700 mcPj perilhed. CHAP. Of* GREAT BRITAIN. m CHAP. XXIX. Situation of the French and allied armies — Frilzlar taken— 'Cajfd befteged by the allies— Battle of Kircb-Denkern — ^olfenbuttle taken by the French ^Embden and Ofnabourg laid under contribution — Conclufton of the campaign. 1 HE laft campaign had proved by no means favourable to the alUes. The French armies were I difpofed in fuch a manner, that it required only a final! advance, to furround the army commanded by Prince Ferdinand; and they were become ma- tters of the whole territory of Heflfe. la that coun- I try, are many pofts, capable of being vigoroufly defended. Some of thefe the French had ftreng- thened witli additional works, and bad erefted magazines in fuch places as were mofl convenient for that purpofe. The allies were driven from I the Lower Rhine, which lay on the left of the French army, who had become mailers of Got- tiiigen on their right, and in it they had placed a ftrong garrifon. Thus the French armies were difpofed in the form of an immenfe crcfcent, the two points of which were at Gottingen and Wefel, while the My extended into Hefle.— Within ihis circle lay !he allied army. The fituation was dangerous, and tlieplan of operations difficult; but no aftion what- j ever could be attended with worfe confequences, il^aninadivity. Prince Ferdinand, therefore, deter- X X' 2 1761. EUROPE* wmmmmm J 54 1761. EUROPE. MILITARY MEMOIRS mined to aft with the greateft vigour. He aflem*! bled his army on the Qtli of February. His deligni was, to break the comnumication ot" the French! army with that of the empire; to open one for the alUes witli the King of Pruilia ; and to cut off all iiitercourfe between the French and their garrifon at Gottingcn. The allied army was divided into three parts. Prince Ferdinand himfelf command- ed the centre ; the Hereditary Prince, and the Marquis of Granby, commanded on the right j and General Sporken on the left. As the plan of operations was very extenfive,! thefe three bodies were neceflarily feparated to a confiderable diftance from each other. The firftj penetrated into Hefle, and, marching by Zieren- berg and Nurenberg, advanced towards Caflel. The fecond left the country of Hefle to the eaftward, and penetrated direSly into the heart of the French \ quarters. The third entered Thuringia, by Du- derftadt and Heligenftadt. The French were now thrown into the utmofl confternation. They fled , before the allies, in every quarter. Had they been in an open country, their army would probably have been dcftroyed ; but they had taken care to fecure their retreat. They had thrown into Caf- fel, a very confiderable body of troops, by way of garrifon ; and in Gottingen, alfo, they had 7 or 8000 men: and thcfe were places which the allied army w^ere obliged to pafs by. Beyond thefe alfo they had fortified Fritzlar, Ziegenhagcn, and Mar- burg, towns of confiderable ftrength, befides fomc other inferior ports. OF GREAT BRITAIN* ^^^ The firft attempt on any of the French ports* 1761. was made by the Hereditary Prince. His partv ''^^ was the moft advanced, and he hoped to furpTife "^"^^ Fntzlar For this purpofe, he took with him only a few battalions and cannon ; but the oarri- fon having received intelligence of the defign his attempt mifcarried. Marburg was attempted with the like bad fuccefs ; and General Breidenback an Hanoverian officer of great bravery and ex^ penence, who commanded there, loft his life.— Iheietworepulfes determined the allies to pro- ceed with more caution. Cannon and mortars rn..,,. were brought before Fritzlar ; and the place was ''''"^"• furrendered, upon honourable terms, on the i cth of February. At the fame time, the Marquis of Gianby reduced feveral ftrong caftles in the neigh- bourhood. The French army were now almoft driven back to the Maine. They had fet fire to their magazines, as they palTed along ; but the allies advanced with fuch celerity, that they faved five qf them from the flames, befides a large one which they had found in Fritzlar. The reduaion of Caffel, however, was the mam objed the allies had in view. It was de fended by 17 battalions, under the Count de Brogho, brother tc the marflial. This ftrong gar nfon was the great hope the enemy had, of bein^ able to hold out againft the allies. The fortifica- tions were not calculated to refift a fiege, carried on m the modern manner. The walls were hirh. which was formerly an advantage ; but, fince the invention of artillery, a very great difadvantage, as thereby they are more ready to be thrown 35^ 1761. MILITARY MEMOIRS KUHQVE. t<%td. down by the continual battering of the cannon. With their height, Vowever, the walls were ex- tremely ftrong ; and, with the addition of foinc works done in the modern manner, the place, even with an ordinary garrifon, was capable of making a confiderable defence. The liege of Caflel was therefore inftantly re- folved on. Prince Ferdinand having driven Mar- flud Broglio quite cut of Heflc, ceafed to purfuc him any further. Two bodies were ordered to the blockade of Marburg and Ziegenhagen, which {till held out obrtinately. The army commanded by himfelf, was then formed into a Chain of canton- ments, extending towards the river Lahne, and cafw be- fro;n thence to the Fulda. The ficge of Caflel was carried on by the Count of Lippe Scaum- burg, a fovereign prince of the empire, and re- puted one of the bell engineers in Europe. Tren- ches were opened on the firft of March, and great things were expefted ; but a fudden revolution of fortune obliged the allies to abandon the blockades of Marburg and Ziegenhagen, raife the fiege of Caflel, and retire behind the Dymel, almoft in the fame fituation they were at the beginning of the campaign. The reafon of this bad fuccefs, was the great fuperiority of numbers in the army of the enemy ; fo that the allies, in their divided ftate, were not able long to cope with them. M. Sporken, who^ as we have already obferved, commanded the left divifion, met at firft with great fuccefs. Be- ing joined by a body of Prufl'ians, the united for- ces foon drove fome detachments of French and OF GREAT BRITAIN. 3^^ Saxons from the important pofts they had on the .76. r vers Wcrra and Unlirut. In doinR of tliis a "^ i^^arp aaion enfued The allies proved viaorious! ''^^'^ Ihe Pruffians took prifoners, three whole batta- lions J and M. Sporken, two. The enemy's lofs was computed at 5000 men, befides that of a number of cannon, and a large magazine. Af- .r th.s v.aory, the combined army feparated in- to bodies, before which the French army fell back on the nght and that of the empire on the left, totally abandonmg a large trad of country. i H E allies continued to advance, it would Teem with more courage than condud. Their number was too fmall to admit of leaving fuffi. cent detachments, to guard thofe coumries thro' whjch they had paffed. The numerous garrifoa of Gottmgen, was left behind. The commanding officer took advantage of the temerity of the al- lies. With a ftrong dctachmem, he attacked and routed an Hanoverian convoy, took the town of Th 1 c' ^f ^'""'^^ '''^''' confiderable places. Ihus M. Sporken's retreat was cut off, and he was prevented from afting feparate from the main army M Bro£lio alfo recalled a detachmem he liad been obliged laft year to fend againft the He- reditary Prince, in order to relieve Caffel. A, the allied army, therefore, was neceffarily in a divided itate K was plain, that the whole French power could not be refifled by a part of it. Prince Ferdinand, therefore, havin? three n] i:' 366 MILITARY MEMOIRS X7fii. The Ruffians under Tottkbcn, in tlic mcart """^ time, advanced without oppofition into Pomerania. iv^ovu ^^^^^^^ gt-ncral, however, being fufpcQed, and, as it was (aid, conviaed of carrying on a fccret cor- rcfpondcnce with the King of Pruflia, was re- moved, and Romanzow appointed in his room. The Ruflians now proved much more formidable enemies to the Pruffian monarch, than before. Coiberg in- Romauzow fomicd the fiege of Colberg by land, l^'^tul while a'iketof40 fail blocked it up by fea. On ^='"*- the other hand, this city was now in a better ftatc of defence, than it had ever been fmce the begin, ning of the war. The former unfucceisful at- tempts of the Ruffians, had {hewn where any weak- nefs lay ; and the Pruflians, fenfible of its impor- tance, had not failed to take advantage of their jnttruaions, by adding to the ftrength of its for- tifications. As the Prince of Wurtemburg alfo was entrenched under its walls with a body of fix or feven thoufand men, the place feemed capable of eluding all attempts of the enemy, or at leaft of making a very vigorous defence. The ficge of Colberg was an event of a very alarming nature to the King of Pruffia. This city was the key of his dominions to the north ; and fo much employment was found for himfclf by Buttcrlin and Laudohn, that it was impoffible for him to come to its rehef.— Notwithftanding this, however, he refolved to fend a confiderable de- tachment, under general Platen, to the rehef of this important place. He ordered this general to ivuirch throu^^^h Poland in his way to Colberg, m order to deftroy the magazines belonging to the / or GREAT BRITAm. euRopg* nuffians, ly ng on the frontiers of that kingdom, .7« fubf.acd. I'latcn fucceeded in the en.erprife • he turned three capital magazines , attacked a large convoy of waggons ; deftroyed 500, and burnfd or rendered ulclefs the provif.ons they comained i WIed, or took pr.foners, 4000 men who efcorted them ; and then purfued his march into Pome- ranra, wuh the utmoft expedition. he rum of Colberg. The Ruffians under Butter- K who had joined Laudohn on the ,jth of Auguft, found themfelves now unable to fubfift , and therefore^ feparating from the Auftrians, they repaired the Oder, and retired into Poland, t^ fave te remainder of the magazines. Here, however, I bl (hed h.s convoys ; after which, he immedi- acy fet out for Pomerania, to join Romanzo* before Colberg j and, on his march, fent out de- otr"' '^"^ ""'"^ ""'^"^ ="' ">^ '"'i='«nt untry Ihusanarmyof Ruffians was alTem- ed m Pomerania, fo powerful, that the King ' Pruffia could by no means oppofe them in th? M. He fent another detachment under General » h ', '" ■!"'" ^'''™ -' ='"''■ "'°"gh h= could hope that their united force would be able to ™fe the f,ege of Colberg, he thought, that, by I •; """ceptmg, or at lead diftreffing, the Ruf. » convoys, the town might be able to hold .till .he fevere fe.ting in of wmtcr Ihould ren- iHE garrifon, in the mean time, made a glori. ' •"s defence ; but at laft they began to be greati, z z 1URO)>E< ?chwfid- fiitz taken \>y iurprife. MILITARY MEMOIRS of Oftobcr, at three o'clock in the morning. An attack was made at once on all the four out* works ; to which the Auftrians advanced fo cau. tioufly, that the garrifon did not obferve them. They fcaled all the four at the fame time, and with fuch expedition, that the garrifon had fcarcc time to fire a few cannon lliot. The Auftrians advanced in perfect filcnce, without difcharging 3, fiiiglc gun. A powder magazine, however, happen* cd to blow up, which deftroyed about 300 Auftri- ans, and as many Pruflians. At day-break, the enemy found themfelves mafters of the place; and the garrifon, confifting of five battalions, (about 3000 men), were made prifoners. A great num» ber of cannon, and a large magazine of meal, alfo fell into their hands ; while their lofs, by their own account, amounted to no more than 600 men, The lofs of Schweidnitz was a terrible blow to the Pruflians, as, by the poflcflion of it, the Au- ftrians were enabled to take up their winter-quar, te;s in Silcha ; nor was it in the king's power, while they remained mafters of Schweidnitz, to piake a fingle motion for the relief of any other part of his dominions, without endangering the certain and irrecoverable conqueft of the whole of Upper Silefia. The Pruflian monarch was at firft dilpofed to attribule this ariair t(. the tren- chtry of General Zaftrovv, who coinniai.ded in the the place ; but as that officer had hitherto fervcd him with fidelity, he foon recovered his temper, and faid, with a fmile, " It is a fatal blow ; but we muft endeavour to remedy it," He wrote to lieneral Zaftrow : " We may now fay, what ♦* Francis I. of France wrote tp his mother after OF GREAT BRITAIN. bable, however rha* „ii u ^. . P'^'^ \*'^ ^^'s ^:n^ltmf7JS'''r''- ^ ker fufBcicm to retrieve h »1 r "°' '''"= ■Trible blom as the of'o sf , '"'"'"'"'^"' , • ■'$ i as it wa« imlffib e Lr 'h *' '" ""'' ^°'- -^e\re r.rLi:2i7"t tT "" relieved by an accidpn/ i / "' ^'^ ^^ *i.happ^,;:oor:ffTKeti:tVeZC''' Wrences o/.hTe":^ ^/i,:"-'' '» CioSris^r ' 'k™^' ^s''""* -w ™r, had the good fo u„e f /; Tt""' '^°"- "-"^ 'e Warkotrli , r '''="''-^- -"'^ Baron ■«*»/- U had cttrte "1 Z t^f'^ '^^\''' ' h hm to the Auftrian camn "™''"'' ''"'' "»- »'s domcftir, h„i ■'"/'^'"P; One of the ba- kafte to L ? r fS^'' *'"' => '«'" fro™ i«4drr:;tr;h;r;"''^^'"^'''' PMliis means th, rt "'''^" monarch. el dL •^"'"''" "^^ ='1''° fo«"nate enough r«e pun.inment by flight. It i« „„, ^' penanced by the court of Vienna. 37* MILITARY MEMOIRS Ukcn. CHAP. XXXT. Jmerkan qfairs-^Dominiciue taken^Siegc and con. queji of Bellci/le, ^7^^- The French having loft all footing on the con- A„T.i7cA. tinent of America, the operations there were con- fined to an expedition againft the Cherokee Indi- ans, under the diredion of Colonel Grant. By carrying on the war entirely in their own manner, that is, ravaging the country with fire and Iword,| thofe barbarians were at laft compelled to fue for peace, and a new treaty was concluded with them. In the Weft Indies, the iiland of Dominique! r.on,5niquc was attacked, and reduced, by a fmall body o? *■■"" troops commanded by Lord Rollo, conveyed ttiK ther from Guadaloupe by Sir James Douglas, witW four fliips of the line, and fome frigates. The in habitants made but a poor defence. They deliverj cd up their arms, and took the oaths of allegianc^ to his Britannic Majcfty, on the 7th of June. On the coaft of Africa, the town of Gcrej was confumed by fire ; and an attempt was mad on James fort, in the mouth of the river Gambia^ by two Vrench fnows, which proved unfucceistiil In the mean time, negotiations for peace werl carrying on between the belligerent powers, wind* however, did not retard the operations of the \va Both parties proceeded with vigour ; and thcl demands ro^c, or funk, in proportion to their r^ ciprocal fuccelVes. Before we enter mto inc tricacies of that negotiation, we llrall particulari; the events which took place during its progrds. AFRICA. OF GRKAT BRITAIN* 37i 1761. EUKU?E. An expedition againft the ifland o^ Bellclfle, had, for fome time, been a favourite fcheme of the minifter. Some objcdions, however, arofe againft this expedition. It was thought to be of very little confequence, as the ifland was in itfelf by no means an object of importance. It is, in- deed, the largeft of all the European iflands be- longing to France, being between 12 and 13 leagues in circumference ; but contains only one little city called Le Palais, three county towns, Exprditioa 103 villages, and about 5000 inhabitants. It has Slmc. three nominal harbours, ev^ry one of which has fome capital defeft, either in being expoled, {hal- low, or dangerous at the entrance ; and the only kind of trade carried on in the ifland, is the curing of pilchards. For thefe reafons, Belleifle was, by many, thought to be no defirable conqueft, efpecially as it would probably make an obltinate defence. The town of Palais, which has its name from a caftle belonging to the Duke de Belleifle, in its neigh- - bourhood, was conve-ted into a ftrong and regu- lar fortification, fronting the fea. It was compoied principally of horn-work, and was provided with two dry ditches ; the one next the countcrfcarp, the other contrived in fuch a manner as to fecure the interior fortifications. The citadel was divided from the largeft part of the town, by an inlet of the fea, over which there was a bridge of com- munication. From the other part of the town, and which was the moft inhabited, it was only divided by its own fortifications, and a glacis. Notwithstanding, however, thcfe unfavour- able appearances, it was refoived to attempt the 1761, aVKOFB. MILITARY MEMOIRS conqueft of Bdleifle. It was urged, that though the harbours were bad, ytt I'lnall privateer^, might iliue from thence, which would greatly molell the French trade ; and that the fleet might ride be- tween it and the continent, in a well proteded road. They imagined, that the lofs of this ifland though not of very efiential detriment to France would neverthelefs be a grievous wound to her pride ; and that the fame reafons which had in- duced that court to expend a good deal of mo- ney on the fortifications of this place, would alfo caufe a proportional value to be fet upon it in the treaty. The fleet deflined for this expedition, there- fore, fet fail from Spithead on the 29th of March, under the command of Commodc*^e Keppel ; the land-forces being commanded by General Hodg. fon. They arrived before Belleifle on the 7th of April ; and, the following day, it was agreed, t(J attempt a ianding on the fouth-eaft part of the ifland, in a fandy bay near the point called Loch- xnaria. The landing, here, was attended with extreme danger. The enemy were in pofleflion of :l fmall fort ; they had cntrench^^d themfelves on an exceflively itecp hill, the foot of which was fcarped away. The Britifli forces, however, made the attempt with great refolution 1 a few grena- dicrs got on Ihore, and formed themfelves ; but as they were not fupported, mod of them were made prifoners. I'he reft of the army, after feveral great efforts of valour, being unable, ei- ther to force the enemy's lini-s, or make good their own landing, were obl'ged to retire with lofs J and, to add to this misfortune, fcveral of OF GREAT BRITAIN. 37, the flat-boHomed veffcis were deftroyed or da- .76- maged by a hard gale, which followed on the re- ~= neat of the troops. on tne re- .^h. In this firft attempt, the lofs on the Britifli fide amounted to near 500 men, killed, wounded, and pr,foners. The troops, however, were nol d'lpinted ; and the commanders determined to perfevere with the utmolt (leadinefs, 'till thev found fome other place where a landing misht be more eafily effe&d. Thi., indeed, L not ve^ ry hkely to be found. Almoft the whole ifland was naturally a fortification ; and the deficiencies of nature, m this refped, had been amply fup_ pW by art. The commanders, therefore, at laft refolved to make an attempt to land ; not where the coaft was leaft ftrong, but wh^re it was evidently mod r„, and where the enemy were eonfequently leaft attentive. This was at a bold rocky lliore near the point of Lochmaria. » ready mentioned. Befides the attack on this place two feints were made, at the fame time, d,(lraa the enemy. The men of war direfted he,r fire on the hills, with great judgment and f '/r"f '!"" '''•'g='*"-General Lambert, with nn handful of men, got an opportunity of climb- 2.Z ' "'7 f ''P '°''^' ^'"'°"' moleftation. r™,. Havmg gamed the top of the hill, they imme- '"""'• diately formed themfelves in good order. Three hundred French inftantly attacked them ; but the Bntifl, troops defended themlHves, till the whole corps belonging to General Lambert, who had in '--t manner climbed up, came to their afliltance, «d repulfcd the enemy. 37^ BUKOPE. »iege pro- fen 1! eel with vi- fiuur. Citsdel ca- pitulaLcs. MILITARY MEMOIRS This happened on the 26th of April ; and foon after, all the troops made good their landing with very little lofs. The enemy made fome faint re- fiftance, but were always repuU'cd with lofs. The only difficulty the Dritifli had now to encounter, was in bringing forward the cannon. Thefe were tirft to be dragged up the rocks, and afterwards, for two leagues, along a very rugged and broken road, which necefli\rily took up fome time. The ficge was then carried on with vigour ; and the garrifon, under the command of the Chevalier de St. Croix, a brave and experienced officer, made an obftinate defence, fometimes fallying out with confiderable effeft. In one of thefe billies. Major General Crawford was taken prifoner ; but our troops were rather animated, than difcouraged by fuch checks. The enemy's hues, by which the town was covered, were next attacked, and car- ried without much lofs ; chiefly by the intrepi- dity of a corps of marines, v/hich had been but newly raifcd. But, though the town was now totally abandoned, and the defence confined en- tirely to the citadel ; and though the Britilh fleet, by cutting off all communication with the conti- nent, deprived the befieged of every hope of fuc- cour, the Chevalier de St. Croix determined to hold out to the laft extremity. He, therefore, did not offer to capitulate, till the 7th of June, when, there being not the llighteft profpecl of fuccour, and the place no longer tenihle, it was yielded to the Englilli, and the garrifon marched out with tlie honours of war, — The conqueft of BcUeifle coft Britain 1 8co men killed and wounded. A- OF GREAT BRITAIN. m mong the former. Sir W. Peere Williams was i7^Jr. moft regretted. He was a young gentleman of e'S. great talents and expeftations, who had made a diflinguifhed figure in parliament. He had but newly ei . cd into the fervice j and was (hot in the night, by approaching too near one of the enemy's centinels. Many were of opinion, notwithftanding all the reafons urged in favour of this expedition, that the Britifh forces might have been much more advantageoufly employed. The conqueft of a bar- ren rock, without produce, harbour, convenience, or confequence, was thought to be but a poor compenfation for the lofs of near 2000 choice troops, and an immenfe fum of money. % A % CHAP, 378 MILITARY MEMOIRS CHAP. XXXTI. jDetachcd naval tranfadiom in the year 1761. 1761. EUROPE. 1 HE naval operations compofe the mofl briU liant portion of the war on the part of Britain j but, from their famenefs, and the profcflional terms in which thty arc ncceflarily involved, they alFord little plcafure in the relation. The confi- derate reader will eafily conceive the difficulty of varying the dcfcription, and excufe the hniilarity ip vifible in the accounts of fca engagements. The Richmond frigate, commanded by Cap«. tain Elphinfton, of 32 guns, and 220 men, fta- tioned on the coaft of Flanders, fell in with the Felicite, a French frigate of the fame force, on the 23d of January. Next day, about ten in the morning, a fevere engagement began near Grave- fande, about eight miles diltant from the Ha^'ue. The young Prince of Orange, the BritiHi and SldScke ^'^^'^ch ambafladors, and a great number of pto- ple, affembled to view the combat, in the iflue of which the honour of the two nations was ma- terially interefted. After an engagement of two hours, botli (hips ran afliore ; and, in that fitua- tion, the battle was continued for a conlidcrable time, till the French deferted their quarters, and abandoned the (hip, which was greatly damaged, having loft their captain, and about 100 men. The Richmond got oif without fuftaining any con- fiderable damage, no more than three men be- Enga^e- iiient be- tween the OF GnEAT BKITAIN, Z f'"f ' T"* ' ' ™"" "'"''• "The French am- balTador loudly exclaimed againft this attack as i ™lat.on of the Dutch ncturality, and den Id fansfaajontortheinfult; but, though ti.e States General remonlbated to the court of London.Th .flan- gave way to matters of greater importance. C.PrA.N Wood of the Minerva frigate, cruif ."g m Che chops of ,hc channel, on ;i,e .3 of January defcr.ed a large two-decked veffel, fteer .ngtotheweltward. She proved to be the Wa «k, an Enghlh nxty-gun «,p, taken by ul echmthecourfeofthewar. Shenow/oun J iS guns, and her crew amounted to about 00 men, mcluding a detachment of foldlers in «>ded to reinforce the garrifon of PondicherrvTn e -aft Ind,es. Captain Wood, notwithftanig . upenonty of his antagonift, attacked hef wthout hefitation, and met with a warm recen r;ach'::he'''''ri '""" "'^'''-■•''^^""-' b red by their broken malls and (hattered rigging ^.e waves at length feparated them, and h' fev..k fe to leeward. Captain Wood, how e'er, foon cleared Ins ihip, and renewed the en- pgement, which lafted about an hour; at the ex Fauon oi which, the Warwick (tru'ck, hav-mg W aoout ,4 men killed, and 35 wound J. Thf Minerva loft nearly the fame number, and all he; «% went by the board ;no.withftandingwli I '-pr,.e was conveyed in triumph to ,Vhead On tne . ,rh .f March. Captain Nightingale, encountered, near the A "lion be. tween the Mintrva and War- wick. I ,, ,'-' •■•M'"^» cpicuunrcrea, m i-^iid s-cnd, a l^rcach ihip called the Entrep, Tenant, 3^0 MILITARY MEMOIRS XUKOPE. pierced for 4.4, but mounted only with 16 gun^, having 2QO men on board, and a rich cargo, bound to St. Domir.go. The adion was iupported on both Tides with uncommon fury, until, the Vtngtance being fet on fire by the enemy's wad- ding*! the French took the advantage ot the con- fuliou produced by this accident, and attempted to board h.-r. In this attempt, however, they mif. carried, througli the courage and aftivity of the Aft:„n I.C- Englilh captain, who cleared his veird, and aood t«cen ti.c I ^ ^- j ^3j.j^-t. ^q ^-epair his rigging. No fooner ,n.iEniic. ^vas tluit in fome degree eftetted, than me en- ^""'^'' gagement was renewed, and lailed a full hour, when the Entreprenant bore away. The Vcnge- ance, again diiablcd in her rigging, was fpcedily repaired^ and began a third attack, more turious than any of the preceding, which latted an hour and a half, when the enemy called for quarter. The Entreprenant loft 15 men killed, and 24 wounded* The Englifli loft about half that number. In the Mediterranean, the cruifers belonging to the fquadron commanded by Admiral Saun- ders, were equally fucceLful. In the beginning of April, the Ifis of 50 guns, commanded by Captain Wheeler, defcried the Oriflamme, a French {IVip of 40 guns, olf Cape Tres Foreas. The Eng- lilh captain gave chace, and came up with her a- bout fix in the evening ; and a running fight was maintained till half an hou. after ten. In the be- ginning of the engagement, Captain Wheeler was unfortunately killed ; and the command devolved on Lieutenant Cunningham, who, perceiving that ^ the enemy's defign was to reach the Spanifli Ihore, OF GREAT BRITAIN. ^f 1761. EUROri. boarded her Immediately; and her commander fub- mitting, fhe was brought into the bay of GibraU tar. Forty-five ot her men were kilied or woynd- cJ; the lofs of the Ifis did not exceed four killed, and nine wounded. — Captain Proby, in the Thun- derer, together with the Modefte, Tiietis, and Favourite floop, belonging to the fame fquadron, were ordered to cruife upon the Spanifh coaft, with a view to intercept the Achilles and BouHbn' two French fhips of war, which lay in the harbour of Cadiz. On the 1 6th of July, they were def- cried by the Britiih cruifers. About midnight, thcsnrrcAor Thunderer came up with the Achilles, and, after c'"irb« S a bloody engagement of half an hour, obliged *''' ^''^*- her to flrike. In this Ihort engagement, ^j^^ ""'^"^ Thunderer had 40 men killed, and ico wound- ed ; among the latter, was the captain. About feven next morning, the Thetis engaged the Bouf- fon, and the fire was maintained on both fides with great vivacity for half an hour, when, the Modelle ranging up, and firing a few guns, the French captain fubmitted. The prizes were car- ried into the bay of Gibraltar, much damaged in their rigging, and dirninilhed in their crews. The importance of the following engagement. Villi juftify the minute relation which is given of it* —On the 10th of Auguft, the Bcllona, a ihip of the line, commanded by Captain Faulkner ; and the Brilliant, of 30 guns, commanded by Captain Logie ; failed from the river Tagus in Portugal, I for England. On the 14th, being off Vigo, tliey jdifcovcred three fail of ihips, one of the line of ■mk, and two frigates, Handing in for the land- 3S2 MILITARY MEMOIRS »76». Tlicfe veflcls no fooncr perceived the Britifli fliips, WROPE. than they bore down upon them, till within the diltance ot icvcn miles. A hazy atmofphcre made the Englilh vtllels appear much larger than they really were ; and the three French Ihips (as they proved to be) dr' \ding the iflue of an encounter, iuddenly wore round, filled all their fails, and crowded away. The Englilh captains innnediatdy ^ gave chace, until fun-fet, when, one ot the French frigates hauling out in the ofiing, Captain Faulk- in?age- ner difplayed a fignal to the Brilliant to purfue in Tyvvcu^thc that dirtdion. The chace was continued all night, Si^ux'^ and, at five in the morning, they approached lb near as to difcern the flrength and fize of the French fliips. They proved to be the Courageux of 74 guns, and the Malicieufe and Hermione of 36 guns each. The French commodore was at fuch a dillance, that he might dill have avoided an engagement ; but he no longer declined it. The mill was now difpcUed, the air perfedly ferene and clear, and he perceived that one of the Englilh fl-.ips was a frigate ; and the Bcllona, from her peculiar conftruttion, appeared at a dif- tance confiderably Itfs than flie really was. lie accordingly made a fignal for his two frigates to clofe with and attack the Brilliant, hauled down his ftudding fails, wore round, and flood for the Bellona under his topfails. Captain Faulkner, having manned his quarters, and made every ne- ceffary difpof.tion for engaging, advanced towards the Frenchman with an eafy fail. The fea was undulated by a gentle breeze ; and the fiiips, fully prej pa ,f\ UV.t.&-_/i,JL^ appr cached each o! OF GREAT BRITAIN. S8j I761. EUROPl« . profound and awful Olence. Never was there . n,ure equal match. Both /hips were co,n,„and- rd by officers of approved courage and ability »nd their burthen, number of guns, and w Jhl of metal, were the lan.e. The' Coirageurhad 700 men the Bellona 550. The fire%n bmh fides was fufpended, un.il they were within pifto,. fl.ot of each other, when the aSion commen ed !l un ="'">' '"-'^ '"inu'es, the rigginff the Bellona was entirely cut and Iha.tered by .11 (ho , and the mizzen-maft fell over the ftern w.th all the men on the round top, who faled e.r hves w,th great difficulty, by clambering into A port-holes. Apprehenfve that the enemy Luld n„... Uieer c9 Capta.n Jaulkner gave orders for im- ''"">"•"* med,ate boarding, a n,eafure, however, which'"'"" was rendered altogether impraclicable by the pofi. - of t e two fl„ps. The Courageu/was not ng athwart the bow o( the Bellona, and would ■ntalhbly have raked her fore an.l aft, as the haul Fr s, and moft of the other ropes by whi h J Wona could be worked, were already f„<,t away! By the dcxter,ty of Captain Faulkner, the iZ pon the oppofite quarter of th. Courageux. His Seers and men perceiving th. change of poll- , nn,ned,a,e ly flew to the guns on the othet Je now oppofed to the enemy, from which ey poured a moft terrible difeharge, and con, Mifd It without mtermillion or abatement. The ' -" ^' "ic ica permitted the full UK. 3 « ul'(? of th? 3«4 MILITARV MEMOIRS »76i. heavy artillery, and the execution it did on the .^oTe Couragcux was dreadlul. 'Ihc engagement contU nued, in this furious manner, for twenty minutes, when the French enfign was hauled down. Thf battle ccafcd ; the Britilh failgrs left their quarters; and the officer* were congratulating on the fuccefs of the day, when a (hot was un. cxpeftedly fired from the lower tier of the Cou, raceux. The feamen immediately ran to their quarters, and, without orders, poured in two broad-fides upon the enemy, who now called tor quarter, and an cx^d was put to the engagement, -L-rhe Bellona had fuffered confiderably m her riKRJng, but her hull was fcarcely touched -, and the number of the killed and wounded, did not exceed 40. The Couragcux appeared like a wreck on the water. Nothing was left ftandmg, but her fore-maft and bowfprit ; large breaches ivere made in her fides, many of her guns dif- i^iounted, and her decks were ilrewed with car- jiage. Above 220 of her men were killed ; and lulf that number was brought alhore, wounded, to Lilbon, to which place the prize wa^^ conveyed. The valour and addrtfs of Captain Logie 111 the Brilliant, contributed, in a great mealure, to the fuccefs of the Bellona. He had two frigates to enga-e, the leaft of which was of equal itrength xvithdie flVip he commanded. He could not at- tempt to board, or exped to make prize ot either •, he therefore determined to amule them both, fo as to prevent their aflifting the Coura- r^eux. This he efftded with great dexterity, and pbliged them both to fiiecr off, confiderably d^^- pfxtcnty of Captain maged in their mails and rigging OF GREAT BRITAIN. To what caufe muft vvc afcribe this continued fuperiority of the Englifh, in naval engagements ? Is it not," fays a celebrated French writer,* that the fea is the eflential element of the En- glifii, v«hcrcas the French can do without it ; and that every nation always fucceeds heft in thofe things of which it ftands in abfoUite need ? May it not arife from London's being a fea-port, whereas Paris fees only a few boats paffing upon the Seine ? Or, may not the En- glifli climate and foil produce men of a more robufl: and vigorous habit of body, and minds more fitted to labour and fatigue, than that of France, in the fame manner as it produces dogs and horfes more proper for the chace ?'* Allowing this to be cafe ; how fliall we account for the inferiority of the French failors, in managing their guns ? They are regularly taught the prafti- cal part of gunnery, an advantage which the En- glifh have feldom the opportunity of acquiring. To what then muft it be owing, but to that bravery and refolution, which no education or difciplinc can beftow, and which never forfakes them in the moment of danger. By thefe they remain in full poffeHion of their faculties, at a time when the French are frequently rendered incapable of any vigorous exertion either of mind or body. • Voltaire. (( tc (C C( {( (C (( ({ « (( C( (C (( 1761. lURofs; 3 B 2 C H A P. 386 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1761. tVROPE. CHAP. XXXIII. Negotiaiion for peace — Interference of Spain Con-< fcrcnccs broke off"- — Rcfignation of Mr. Pitt — War declared againft Spain. JN OTIIING, but repeated misfortunes, and the inability under which France found herfelf to maintain the war, could have difpofed her coun- cils to peace. The pacific fentiments of Britain, were influenced, by her having obtained, during tlie war, its original object, fecurity for her A- merican pofleflions, to which the war in Germany was no more than fecondary. In the beginning of the year 1761, the belligerent powers agreed to renew certain negotiations, which had been abruptly broken off in the end of the year 1759 j and Auglburg in Germany was appointed for the place of conference, the Due de Choifeul being appointed the French plenipotentiary. It foon ap- peared, that the negotiation, through the compli- cation of interefts concerned in it, murt be inex- tricable, unlefs matters were previoufly adjufted between Great Britain and France. It was agreed, therefore, that the Britilh and French minifters iliould enter upon a treaty, by agency ; and ac- cordingly M. Bufly was lent to London, as Mr, Stanley was to Paris, for that purpofe. M. BussY, the French miniftcr, on his arrival in Great Britaui, perceived a diverfity 01 difpoii-' tign in the people, as to the object of peace : the OF GREAT BRITAIN. 1761. EUROPK* one more flexible, earneft, and gentle ; the other more firm, indiiFerent, and blunt. To difcrhni- nate thofe two parties, we fliali rank the firfl un- der the name of Lord Bute,* and the lad under that of Mr. Pitt. The principles of the former, were as follow, p,.^,, Uur German connedions, had been an old and "/ '"''^ popular complaint ; and our career of glory and ^''" fuccefs, had furnifhed us with acqulfitions, not a^.^!''' only to accomplifh the end for which the war was undertaken, but alfo to gratify us with the pro- fpea of large and additional advantages. Ih this fituation, it was no unnatural event, that minds of the befl and nobleft difpofitio*>s, fhould be In- dined towards eftablilhing the peace and repofe ot Lurope. This inclination derived accummu- latfi force and vigour from the profpeft of na- tional felicity, arifmg from the introdudion to government, of a young prince, whofe good and benevolent difpofitions might be lefs obflruded by the hurry and accidents of a turbulent uncer- tain ftate of war, and more extenlively dilFufe themfelves, and endear the growing affeaions of b's people, by eafing them of the burthens and taxes they fo chearfully complied with, enlarginP- their commerce, and giving them all the blefTmgs aprofperous peace, under the influence of pu- •^I'c virtue , and the adva ncement of the elegant m1?'! ""''''™'" "::y ^^ ^='''1 ^« have cultivated the mind of h,, I'lr :-■ "'^ -- ^'- -"«-t companion of his fo- l.tudc_and was now admitted to a Iharc in the adminiibation. H, -™ u. iiarl of Holderncllc as iccretary of flate for the noVthen; 388 1761. MILITARY MEMOIRS AtHUPB. Principles and polite arts. Peace was the only means of at- taining thofc bk flings in view ; and therefore an immediate negotiation for that purpofe was necef* I'ciry, ltd the prefent ftate of affairs might be changed for the worfe. Mk. PiTT, and thofe comprehended in his fy- Jndh1»^''' ^t^i^' ^' conduct, differed materially in their prin- jparty. ciplcs from the above. They were not averfe to peace. In the midft of our glory and conquefts, the Britilh court generoufly manifefted its equity and humanity for preventing the farther ravages of war, by making overtures to that of France, for coming to an accoaimodation. Thcfe over- * tures were rcjcded by that petulant and haughty court, with tlie fcorn and contempt of conquerors. From this recent event, from the duplicity and infmcerity of the French in all their tranfaftions, from their movements and machinations at. all the other courts of Europe, and from their unintermit- ting approaches towards the moft intimate coalition and union of interefts with Spain, it was evident, th?t their proftfiions were little to be depended on. It was, therefore, natural for minds of the moft exalted greatncfs, to think, that, as they had con- duced the war with unexampled vigour, which had been followed by unparallelled fuccefs, they Jliould improve this fuccefp, and continue the ex- ertion of this vigour, till the enemy fliould be brought to relent, and become fmcere in their defires after peace ; not indulged in negotiations to amufc and relax our fpirit, whilft they were drawing breath, improving by our inattention, and looking out for auxiliavies, and frcfh aflbciatcs, to OF GREAT BRITAIN. 389 1761, EUROPE* renew the war. They fhould be pufhed in every ftrong and attainable poft, till reduced to fix at once the capital terms of peace, in clear and wcU- cxccuted preliminaries. BussY improved upon this fpirit of oppofitlon ; and, while he rendered himfclf agreeable, by his courtefy and addrefs, to the fpeculators of negoti- ation, he dextcroufly threw into a farcalfical light, every virtue of thofe who were for puflnng on our advantages with unremitting vigour. He plied Mr. Pitt with the common places of compliments and foothing expreffions ; but the genius of that ininifter difdained thofe mechanical arts, which the court of Verfailles, and fome perhaps at that of St. James's, thought to be eflentials. * Every thing being thus prepared, BufTy pre- spainmtcr- fented to the Britilh minifter, what he called a *""'" private memorial, mtimatmg, that his Catholic ^tioa. Majefty fhould be invited to accede to the gua- ranty of the treaty, and that his concerns like- wife fliould be included in this negotiation. Thofe were comprized under the three following heads. Fir/l^ Satisfaftion for Spanifli captures made by the Englifli flag, for which there was little or no colour of complaint. 2dly, The claim of the Spa- niards to fifh upon the banks of Newfoundland j | J * It has been thoiigiit, that, at the bceiniiing of the negotiation of Mefi: Bulfy and Stanley, the former had in refcrve, the unexpeaed Jnttrpofition of Spain to rtrard tlic coiiclufion of tl)c treaty ; and that the chief obje(ft of his miflion, was to irritate and force the partizain el peace to difenver therardvcs. t 'Hie hiflnry of the .Spani(h claim to fi/h upon the hanks of New- JMiiuihind, is curious.— Newfoundland is not the moft inviting coun- ty 'ii the world, and luis occafionaliy pafli-d thronsh fcvcral hauds. f 390 MILITARY MEMOIRS eVKOFE. i"?^!!- nnd, la/lly. The demolition of the Englifli fettlc- mcnts made in the bay ol' Honduras. — From this, and the Due de Choifcul's declaration about the lame time, it appears, that ^he courts of France and Spain had combined together, and entered into deliberate, ftrong, and intimate engagements ; by which the crown of Spain was to dircft and guaranty our peace with France, and the French king adjuft our differences with Spain. But vi- gour animated the court of Britain. Mr. Pitt, by order of the king, returned to M. Bulfy his me- morial, as totally inadmiffable ; and broke off the conferences, by intimating the recal of Mr Stan- ley, and the difmiilion of M. Buffy. He called on the Spanilh ambaffador to difavow the memo- rial given in by Buffy ; but the Spaniard, in- Head of difavowing, openly acknowledged and ju- flified the ftep taken by the Frenchman. He de- clared, that the kings of France and Spain were Conferopct biokc utfi ■Nothing 1$ more indifputable, than that the original right of it, by difcivciy, btl(>ngt(i to tlie crovvn of Eiiglai)d, ii) far jaik as the reign of iltniy the :th. Iiiit the climate was i'o iininviting, tliat the En- flilh, though tliey never made any formal ccflion of it, al;uut the year ls;o, ntjiltflcd it lb greatly, that the Biiiayncers, or, as they are call- ed, 'the Gui)!iilcoans, for tlie benefit of the Spaiiilh Iciit-ohfervers, filhcd on the lianks of Newfoundland, and otiierwiit carried on a con- fidtrahle trade there in futs and fKins, till, in the year 15 7<;, the En- v;lilh re-afii.rttd their light to the place; and, in the year 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a Dcvonfhire gentleman, took an exclulive pof- fcflion of it, hy a conimiflion under Qvieen Elizabeth. — Notwithlland' ing thcfe tiifls are incontcftable, the .Spaniards netcr loft 'igiit of the right of paflurage they prtttndtd to on this fea-common, the mod fertile and prohtalile of any in the world. They mentioned it at the treaty of Uticcht, wlicre it was not tliought worthy of a flrious difculr fion ; and it remained dormani, till, to the amazement of the world, it was revived in the negotiation at London in the year i/uX, between Mr. Pitt aiiU Mr, JJuliy. OF GREAT BRITAIN; Bnited, not only by the ties of blood, but by mu- 'iSu tual .mereft. He h.nfted much o„ the fincere ^ defire of peace the only motive which influet^ed '"'"• the condua of the two n.onarchs ; and concluded m the true ftyle of Spanifl. rhodomomade, that ■f h.s mafter had been adluated by any other prin- c.ples, his Catholic Majelly, giving full koL to h.s greatnefs, would have fpoken from himfelf. and as became his dignity. 1n?^Ta\ ^^,7 .""'"^d'^tely communicated to Lord Bnftol at Madrid, to remonftrate, ^vith ener- Sy and firmnefs, on the unexampled irregularity of that court ; to defire a proper explanation, with regard to the naval armaments, which had been lo long preparing in the various ports of Spain • and to come to fome explicit and categorical ec^ clanciffement, with regard to the deftination of l|er fleets, as well as with refpea to her difpofi. tions to maintain and cultivate friendfhip and Lod correfpondencc with Great Britain.— The dif- patches from Lord Briftol arrived on the nth of September, tranfmitting a paper of M. Wall, the bpanifh mmifter, containing the fentiments of that court, which fully, amply, and affeaionately owns Hnd vindicates her whole proceedings with France and intimates the warmed attachment and adhe' rence to the interefts of that court. Mr Pitt feems to have feen clearly, at this time, the ultimate and fecrct views of Spain ; and 'n this profpea, he flood rccol!e6ted in all his in! nate vigour and fumnefs. He confidered this ex- planation of the Catholic kind's fentim.nf., as a H'li declaration of his engagements and rcfolutions c 39* 1 76t. EUROPE. *^ MILITARY MEMOIRS to fupport the crown of France with all his power. The interfperfed faint compliments of regard to Great Britain, he looked upon as fo many thin blinds, and weak devices, to put this kingdom off its guard, till he fliould be fufficiemly en. abled, by receiving hi? t.eafure from the Weft. Indies, to co.. ' - war with a greater certainty of fuccefs. Tl' uifappoint the effcdh of this plan, to precipitate this proud and unprovoked enemy into his own fnare, to cut off from him his nerves and fmews of war, and hurl the calamities of his own duplicity and fineffe upon the heads of him. felf and his people, Mr, Pitt was for the nioft vi. gorous meafures being inllandy taken and exe- Mr. ritt cuted. He moved, that the treafures of the Spa. moves for i i i war againft nifli monarch fliould be mtercepted, and the ter- rors nnd mifchiefs of hoftile enmity carried into his wide-extended dominions, under the fanftion of an open and declared war, unlefs, without fur- ther negotiation, he inftantly gave the fulltft fe- curity of his friendfliip and neutrality, to the re. quifition to be made thereof, not by the tardy and cautious fteps of an ambafl'ador, but by our com. manders in chief at the head of the Britifti power, tendering the acceptance of fincere friendfliip, or inveterate enmity, and armed in the might of the nation to fave or to defl.roy. Oppofcd. In this grand and leading motion, he was op- pofed by his colleagues in adminiflnition. They urged, that a tedious, bloody, and expcnfive war, with fo powerful an enemy as France, might well induce their attention and caution how they in- • volved their young foveicigu in a pevv war with Spain. OF GREAT BRiTAm. i76t. a powerful king/ rich in his refources of treafure, and formidable by a numerous fleet of capital fhips. Spain had not only fliewed no enmity to- wards us, but had at times fo perfevered in pro- feffions of friendfliip, that even our ambaffador was led to think Ihe defircd to be upon the beft terms with us. It was not the intereft of the crown of Spain, to embarrafs itfelf with the broken fortunes of France. The friendlhip of nature and coiifanguinity, might be ftrong between thefe two crowns ; but it was not reafonable to think it would fo far miflead the Spanilh monarch, as that he fliould involve his fubjeds, and his own inte- refts, in thofe calamities and ruins of war, which Reaf^>ns a- might be fuppofed to be unavoidable, in taking V^^^, part againft a vidorious, powerful, and trium- phant nation, flulhed with fuccefs, and ikilled in the arts of conqueft. In thefe circumftances, it appeared neither juft nor politic, to be the aggref- fors, in hurrying on hoftilities, and making an enemy ; when, by delay, and further negotiation, we might preferVe a friend, and obtain the blef- fings of a good peace with the whole world. At the fame time, they thought it neceflary, not to relax in vigour, or be unprepared for the word, which, fliould it happen in this way, would clear us from the afperfion thrown out upon us at the commencement of the war with France. Our moderation and equity would then obtain us the efteem and approbation of all Europe, when they beheld with how much reludance we entered up* on a new war* c 2 394 militaHy memoirs 1761. HUKOPE. Mr. Pitt TCrigUS. Itis chti- radkr at- tempted. Mr. Pitt, finding himfelf over-ruled, and urt* fupportcd by any but Lord Temple, his fellow- compatriot, and coadjutor in the meafures pro- pofed, faw his influence in the ftate at an end. He knew himfelf able to anfwer and account for his courfe of adminiftration hitherto ; and this ap- peared" to him the propereft time to refign his truft, when he could no longer be ufeful in the execution of it. He mud either obftrud and embarrafs the meafures carried on by others, if he oppofcd them ; or facrifice his own fame and honour, if he concurred in them, contrary to his own convi£lion, and what he apprehended to be the intereft of his country. From thefe, or fuch like fair and honeft mo- tives, Mr* Pitt, to the univerfal aftonifhment and dejedion of the whole nation, refigned the feals into his Majefty's own hands, on the 9th Oftober. —•He cbndefcended to juftify himfelf, on this oc- cafion, from the afperfions thrown out againft him, by declaring his motives for refignation, which were, that he would no linger be anfwer- able for meafures of which he had not the folc dire(5tion. No minifter of Great Britain, has been more fortunate than Mr. Pitt ; and none were better entitled to grandeur and profperity, from the abi- lities and vigour of mind confpicuous in every part of his conduct. To the mod extenfive know- ledge, and an eloquence irrefiftible, he added that iioblcnefs, that difmtereftednefs of foul, which ren- der thofe qualifications venerated, as well as ad- mired. Bold, aQivc, and enterprifing, there was a Jfi&Ar^Mnwiiy. TITT, :EAMJL of CM^iTJmM, grcatnefs ii by little niii faved them out the adv tune, he ra to the high His knowk liini to appi cmploymenl and capaciti ful intereft, fons upon h commendati He poflei fidence and ; a minifter o; of fuccefs. nerally atten him feemed time,^ admin In conduclin to the remot not a place, of his favour the enemy t with reiterate quarter, fo t titude and ce to have loft i the mihtary g phne to the ; f^pported oui our reputatic ■■•**' OF GREAT BRITAIN. grcatnefs in his defigns, not eafiiy comprehended by httle minds; and nothing, but fuccefs, could have faved them from the imputation of rafhnefs. With- out the adventitious advantages of birth and for- tune he raifcd himfelf, fingly by his own abihties, to the h.ghefl degree of power in this kingdom. His knowledge of the human charaaer, enabled bim to appomt particular men, to thofe particular employments and enterprifes, to which their genius and capacities were adapted; and the mod power- ul mtereft, could never obtrude unqualified ner- fons upon him— merit, only, was a fufficitnt* re- commendation. He pofleffed, in the higheft degree, the con- fidence and affeaion of the people; without which, a minifter of Great Britain can have little hopes of fuccefs. Advancement to power, which is ge- nerally attended with the lofs of public efteem, in imn feemed only to confirm it ; and, for the firft time,^ adminiftration and popularity w^re united. In conducTing the war, his views were extended to the remoteft parts of the world ; and there wa. not a place, however diftant, but felt tne power of his favour or refentment. He never permitted the enemy to breathe ; but overwhelmed them with reiterated blows, l-.ept up the alarm in every quarter, fo that, dazzled, as it were, by the mul- t-tude and celerity of his enterprifes, they feemed to have loft all power of refiftance.—He revived t e military genius of the people ; reitored difci- . Pline to the army ; eftablifiied a national militia ; l^Pported our allies ; extended our tr.d- • -inj our reputation; and augmented our dominions. 395 EUROPS. 30^ MILITARY MEMOinS 1761. Difpatcli, aaivity, rcj^ularity, and vigour, were tlieii»bers of the houfe of Bourbon had agreed to guara^nty their refpeftive dominions, it was to be undcrflood only of thofe dominions which fliould remain to France after the war was eoncluded.* •—To this memorial, the Earl of Egremont, who had fucceeded Mr. Pitt as fecretary of ftate, re- plied in clear and difpaffionate terms ; and, with- out {looping to perfonal invedives, perfpicuoufly pointed out the evafive duplicity of the Spanifh court.'. — Thus an attempt to reftore tranquillity to Europe, was the means of plunging her more deeply into the horrors of war. • This anfwcr was not at all (roqformable to the demand. It fcti forth, indeed, the general purport of 3 treaty dated the Ijth of Auguft ; but carefully avoids an explanation of Spain's intention towards Great Britain, or her future conneftions with France. The particular terms of this famous paUum famU'u, at length tranfpired; when it appeared not only inimical to Great Britain, but to all the powers of Europe. By the %2,A and 44th articles, the fubjefts of the feveral branches of ihe houfe of Bourbon, are admitted to a mutual naturalization, and to a general participation of reciprocal privileges and immunities. By tlic 36th article, they contradt to difclofe to each other, their alliances and regotiations. By the 17th and l8tli articles, they formally engage, not to liftcn to, nor make any propofals of peace to tlj^ ir common eiitniics, but by mutual confent ; and, in time of peace, as well as war, to aft 9S if the two monarchies formed only one and the fame power. The direft trade to America, however, forms an exception to the abfolute community of interefts. And, in the 8th article, it is (lipulated, that France (hall not be entitled to the alTiHancc of Spain, when involved in a war in confcquence of her engagements by the treaty of Weftplialia, unlefs fome maritime power Ihould take part in thofe wars. A plain pfotn, '\.hs.\ oiitain was the objcCt agair.ft which the whole tieatj' wai^ ^ircftcd. OF GREAT BRITAIN. I'rance, funk in defpondency, revived with the profpea of this new alliance. Her navy Mattered and inconfiderable as it was, affumed a refpeftable appearance, when united with that of Spam. Every expedient was put in praGice, to increafe their fleet ; and almoa the whoie pro- perty of the kingdom, was employed in equipping- privateers. ^ xr a Britain, now at war with the principal powers of Europe, feemed to derive additional Itrength and vigour from the number of her ene- mies — The fpirit of the nation was raifed to a kind of enthufiafm, by a fucceffion of important viftories } and a Spanifli war added the profpeft of plunder, to the defire of conqueft. The fup- phes granted by parliament, were liberal beyond precedent; and the land-forces and feamen were confiderably increafad. War was formally declared againft Spain on Ward. «ie 4th of January 1762 ; and, by Spain, againfl S'^ Britam, on the i8th of the fame month. The &• Spanifh navy, at this period, confifted of about 100 fljips of war, of which 52 were of the line. 399 1761. EUROPE. 3 » C H A P, '4^^ MILITARY MEM0II13 ^UROFE. CHAP. XXXIV. Situation of the French and allied armies — Battle of Crabenjiein — -Prince Xavier defeated- — Heredi- tary Prince defeated — Severe aftion at Bucker Muhl — Cajfel furrenders to the allies — Conchifion of the war in Wejiphalia, Though, at the beginning of the year 1762, the French had the advantage of the allied army, both in numbers and fituation, the event of the campaign promifed to be favourable to the latter. Neither the fuperiority of number, nor the ad- vantages they had gained in the field, had at all availed the French. They had to contend for the Tery places which they had fought for the two pre- ceding years. A great diffenfion had, likewife, for fome time, prevailed between Soubife and Broglio, who , had fent reciprocal complaints of Brogiio fu- each other to court. The contention ended in the r'boubire difgrace of Broglio, who was fufpcfted of having negleded (thro' his exceffive pride, which could not bear an equal in command) to improve thofc favourable opportunities which the fortune of war had thrown in his way. The command of the army was therefore given to the Prince de Sour bife, who was greatly beloved by the troops ; and with him Marflral D'Etrees was foon after affocir ated in the command. The event, however, foon evinced how little thofc generals were able to contend witu j. rsncr f crdinand. The French army was very atlvn^r Ot GREAT BRITAINi tegeoufly poftcd near a place called Grsebenftein, on the frontiers of Heffc. Their centre occupied an eminence ; their left wing was rendered almoft inaccefliblc, by feveral deep ravines ; and their fight was covered by the village of Grsebenftein, by feveral rivulets, and a ftrong detachment un^ der Monfieur de Gaftries, one of their beft of- ficers.-^*iiThe allied army was inferior in number to the Freftch, and was alfo feparated into bodies, fo diftant from each other, that the French never imagined it would be in their power to join in any fudden attack upon them j and therefore thought they had nothing to fear; Their fecurity proved to be but ill-grounded; General Luckner, with a confiderable body of the aUied army, was ported near Eimbeck on the Leine, to the eaftward of the Wefer. Here he watched the motions of Prince Xavier of Saxony, and was reciprocally watched by him. At laft. Prince Ferdinand fent orders to G sneral Luckner^ to quit this port, in order to affift him in the defign he had of attacking the French army. To accomplifli this, Luckner left a fmall party in his camp, which deceived Prince Xavier. He then marched off with all the reft, in the night-time ; croffed the Wefer with the utmoft fpeed ; and ported himfelf behind the French army, without being perceived. At the feme time. General Sporken placed himfelf in fuch a manner, as to attack the right wing in flank. Prince Ferdinand croffed the Dymel, in order to fall upon their centre. The attack on the enemy's left was com- manded by Lord Granby. 401 1762. suKorss 3 D 2 4ot MILITARY MEMOIRS 1762. SVROPH. Battle of s. Her oppofition to Prullia, thotigh infiiKiiaJ by pcrfonal animofity, coincided alfi) with the political intcicd ol ti-.e i.mpiie. It w:.s tiie only mcllu'd by which fl'.c tould e\cr hope to make fuch an ellahlilTinient in Germany, as might five her a title to interfere in tlie aliiiirs of thecmpie; an objt l(\ which had ever en- jtrollld tlie a :tCiition, and influenced the cotidud of her father. ViMtM^ (( (( OF GREAT BJIITAIN. 4,5 on the 23d of February, to the minillcrs of the '76«. allied courts, he declared, that, " in order to the " edablifhment of peace, he was ready to facri- ' " fice all the conquelts made by the arms of " Uuflia in this war ; in hopes that the allied " courts will, on their parts, equally prefer the " reftoration of peace and tranquillity, to the ad- vantages which they might expcd from the continuance of the war, but which they can- not obtain, but by a continuance of the cHufion *' of human blood." — This declaration was not quite agreeable to the allies. They praifed, indeed, the difintereaednefs, fpirit, and humanity of the declaration : but they recommended to him, to be attentive and faithful to his treaties; a charaQer no lefs t Ilential to a great and good monarch, than humanity, and love of peace. They likewife pro- felled an ardent defire for peace ; but were by- no means inclined to purchafe it, at the expence of all the conquefls they had made, or hoped to make. — Their remonlhances had very little eflect on the Czar. A fufpenfion of hoftilities with Pruf- The .,.^ fia, took place on the i6th of March ; and, on *^'"!' """'' the 5th of May, a treaty of peace and alliance i^'unia""^ was concluded between the courts of Berlin and Peterfburg. In this treaty, nothing was (tipulated in favour of tiie former allies of Rufiia : they were not only entirely abandoned, but the Czar alio confented to let his troops ad: a::^a:nn: them. This furprifuig good fortune of the Pruffian mo- narch, (lid not flop here. Sweden, which, for a i new til X\„,! K. 11 t-w;.- Ct followed the example of the court of Pctalb ii iia. ur G t 41 » MILITARY MEMOIRlS SUROPE. 1762. and a treaty of peace was figned with Pruflia, ort the 2 2d ot" May. TtioifGH this extraordinary change of affairs^ was undoubtedly owing, in a great meafure, to the perfonal elleem which Peter 111. entertained for the King of Pruilia, he fecms alfo to have been influenced by another motive. The Czar was 13ukc of Hollein ; and the Dukes of Holftein had pretcnhons alfo to the duchy cf Slefwic. This duchy had been ceded to Denmark in 1732; but, as this ceflion was made merely through neceflity, it wag thought, that the houfe of Holftein would take the firft opportunity of recovering their rights. Peter, therefore, finding himfelf poffefled of the whole power of the Ruffian empire, refolved to make ufe of the prefent opportunity. But, as he could not carry on a war with Denmark and Pruflia at the fame time, he refolved to put an end to the war with Pruflia, and therefore pro- ceeded in the manner already mentioned. T H E King of PrulFia took care to profit as much as he could, by this unexpcded revolution in his favour. His fituation was flill dangerous j for the Auftrian armies were greatly fuperior to his. — The cities of Glogau and Breflau were threatened by the Auffrian armies, and Schweid- nitz by the King of PrufTia's. The adivity of this monarch, however, foon determined the ope- ThcAuni;- rations of the campaign. On the 12th of May, cut ci Sax- Prince Henry attacked the Auflrian pofts towards the frontiers of Saxony. The enemy were ob- liged to evacuate Dippolfwalda, with the lofs of fomc killed, and about 4000 taken prifoners, to- •11 y OF GREAT BRITAIN. 413 1762. EUROPE. gcther with ^65 waggons, &c. Tims, all that part of Saxony poffeired by the PrufTians, was lecured; and any attempts which they might make for the recovery of Drefden, greatly facilitated. The Auftrians were very fenfible of the impor- tance of thofe ports they had loll ; and therefore they made feveral brifk efforts to recover them. But, tho* they were largely reinforced from the armies in Silefia, they were conftantly repulfed with great flaughter. It became necefl'ary, there- fore, to keep a large army from the '■' ir in Sile- fia, to hinder Prince Henry from making incur- fions into the heart of Bohemia. The King of FrufTia was not joined by his Ruffian allies, till the latter end of June. Mar- flial Daun's army polTeifed feveral advantageous ^ Dnt emmences, by which he was enabled to protcd ^''^'^^'''' Schweidnitz ; and, trom thefe, his antagonift !'H,'of propofed to difludge him. He was for fome time nkr'*^ unfuccefsful ; but, at laft, the Auftrian General, fearing left the Pruffians fliould fall upon his prin' cipal magazine, of his own accord, abandoned the ports he had hitherto defended with fuccefs, and fell back to the borders of Silefia. On his de- parture, the King immediately made preparations tor the fiege of Schweidnitz. Several detachments of Pruffians penetrated far into Bohemia, and laid many parts of the country under fevere con- tribution. A confiderablc body of Ruffians, like- wife entered the fame country, and were guilty of the gre^tert excefl'es — But, wliile the Kin- of „.^.,..^ i^ruiiia^s attairs feemed to be in the moft profpe- ^^^i^ rous ftate, his good fortune was fuddenly clouded 'ann abandons !'!'■>» M 4'4 MILITARY MEMOIRS 176*. lu&ovs. Catifes of tliit> i\'vu!u- tioiu by the depofition and death of his firm friend and ally, Czar Peter III. The caufes of thi,'; evolution, were the many innovations made by the Czar, without regarding the opinions and prejudices of his fubjefts. Be- ing himfelf a foreigner, he feemed, to them, to pay more regard to the interefts of foreign coun- tries, than to that of Ruffia. The politicians of the country were difgufted, with his preferring the hopes of an inconfiderable conqueft in Holllein, to th')fe folid advantages which might have arifen from a continuance of the war with Pruflia. His extreme attachment to the King of Pruflia, like- wife gave offence. But the moii imprudent part cf his conduct, was his interfering with ecclcfia{!:i- cal matters. He had been educated a Ludieran ; and, though he, in appearance, conformed to the Greek church, in order to qualify himfelf for the fuccefllon, he never paid much refped to that fort of worihip. On the contrary, he feized the re- venues of the clergy, allowing them only feme fn-.all penfions for their fubfiflence. He aUb com- manded the clergy to fhave their beards, which was deemed a crime of the firft magnitude ; and feme regulations were made concernirig the images and piftures in the churches, which feemed to indicate a defign of totally abolifliing the eflablilh- cd religion, and introducing lAitheianifm into its place. — This imprudent prince alfo lived on bad terms with his confort, a princtfs of the houfe of Anhalt Zcrbll, a woman of a bold and mafculine fpirit. He was fo much attached to the Countcfs of Worouzolf, with whom he Rved in a very ■ ters to he OF GREAT BRITAm. 4'^ public manner, that it was apprehended he had ^762. a defign of throwing his Emprefs into a mona- e^.. ftery, and raifing the Countefs to the throne. The confequence of thefe, and feveral other particulars of the Czar's condud, was, that a moft dangerous confpiracy was formed againft him, in confpiracy favour of the Emprefs ; and fo Ul was the unhappy '"''P'^ TJ • r- J 1 , ' r^ agamlt rrince lerved, that nobody gave him any notice P^teriir; of it, till the confpirators had become too ftrong to be fubdued. The Emprefs had got herfelf de- clared Independent Sovereign of Ruflia, by the guards, the clergy, and the chief of the nobility. The Czar was amufing himfelf in a houfe of plea- fure, called Oraniebaum, on the fea-ihore ; when a foldier informed him, that his kingdom was taken away from him, and that the Emprefs was haften^ mg to Peterfburg with a body of troops. For fome time, he was quite aftonifhed at the news^ and knew not what courfe to take : but, being at laft roufed by a fenfe of danger, he refolved to de^ fend the place with his Holftein guards. This refolu- tion, however, he foon aband<^ned, thinking their number was too fmall ; and refolved to attempt an efcape to Holftein. For this purpofe, he embark- ed in a fmall veffel with a few attendants, and rowed towards Cronftadt : but, being informed tliat this fortrefs was in the hands of his enemies, and that no poffibility of efcape remained, he re- turned in confufion to Oraniebaum. Here he refolved to throw himfelf into the power of the Emprefs, from whom he had very little reafon to expea compamon. He fent meiTengcrs with let- ters to her, containing a renunciation of the em* 3 f 4i6 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1762. EUROPE. Peter HI. depofed by the Czari- His impri- ibnnieiit and death. F.fTcfts of this revolu- tion on the King of PruiTia's af- fairs. plre, and afking no other favour for himfelf, but leave to take the Countefs of Woronzoff, and one fnigle friend, along with him. Thefe terms wert rcjefted. He was required to fign an uncondi- tional refignation of his crown, according to a form that was [ epared for him. The unfortunate Prince then figned a paper, in which he declared, that he was convinced of his inability to govern the empire, either as a fovereign, or any other way ; and that he was fenfible of the dillrefs, in which his continuing at the head of affairs, would necelTarily involve the empire. Having figned this abdication, he gave up his fword, and was conducted to prifon ; where, in a fliort time, he died of a diforder, which was called an hcmorr* hoidal colic. This revolution feemed to threaten the interefts of the King of Pruiiia with another fatal blow j but, happily for him, the Emprefs could not, for fome time, look upon herfelf to be in fuch a ftate of fecurity, as could enable her to enter into a war of fo great confequence. It was neceflary for her, to retain all the force of the empire within itfelf, in order to oppofe the defigns of male-contents, which the Ruflian empire never wants. She there- fore declared to her minifters, " that fhe v.as re- *' folved to obferve, inviolably, in all points, the perpetual peace concluded under the preceding reign ; but that, neverthelefs, fhe had thought proper to bring back to Ruflia, by the nearell: roads, all her troops in Silefia, Pruflia, and Po- merania." — This favourable difpofition towards the Pruffian monarch, was alfo thought to have been <( 6( 762' Tome confiderable advantages over the army of ^ Prince Henry ; and even drove them back to Freyberg. But that prince, taking advantage of the abfence of General Haddick, on the 29th of Auftrians Odober, attacked the united army of Imperialifts defeated at 3^^ Auftrians, and totally defeated them. Great Frcv bci K* numbers were killed ; and near 6000 prifoners ■were taken, among whom were 240 officers. Thirty pieces of cannon, and feveral ftandards, alfo fell into the hands of the Pruflians. — The Auflrians attributed this d-^eat, to the treachery of one of their general officers, who was foon after taken into cuftody. The Pruflians immediately purfued the advan- tages afforded them by this vidtory. The Au- ftrians themfelves, by a foolifh piece of conduft, gave their enemies an additional advantage over them. They concluded a partial ceffation of ho- ftilities with the King of Pruflia, for Silefn, and the electorate of Saxony only ; without confiderlng, that thus the other parts of their empire were more expofed to the attempts of ihe enemy. The event fully fliewed the imprudence of their con- duft. One body of Pruffians, breaking into Bo- hemia, penetrated almofl to the gates of Prague, and deft rove u a lajrge magazine. By another, the town of Egra was bombarded and cannonaded with red hot bullets, till it was almoft entirely laid in aflies. Other bodies fpread themfelves all over Saxony ; while fome penetrated into the moft diftant parts of Franconia, and even as far as Suabia, ravaging the country, and exading the moft enormous contributions from all the OF GREAT BRITAIN. 421 1762. EUROPE. towns wliich fell under their power. Even the diet of the empire, fitting in the city of Ratilbon, did not think themfelves fafe from thefe bold in- vaders ; but began to fly, and were preparinp- to remove their records. But, of all others, the "free city of Nuremberg was the greateft fufferer on ^u.^be., this occahon ; having been obliged to pay a con '^''^ ""'^" tribution, to the amount of L. 200,000 Sterling., tir''"" Many ftates alfo were obliged to fign a neutrality, m order to fave their territories from further ra- vages.— It has been thought, that, in thefe expe- ditions, the Pruffians raifed a fum equal to the annual fublidy which had been paid their King by the court of Great Britain. Thus matters were at laft left to be decided by the arms of Auftria and Pruflia alone. A great part of the empire was already included in the peace between Great Britain and France. The relt was either included in the neutrality which the Pruifians had forced, or fo exhaufted that they could no longer furnilh an army j and the great fuperionty of the King of Pruffia, at the clofe of the campaign, at laft difpofed the Emprefs Queen P.acc can- to peace. Conferences, for this purpofe, were ac ^'"^^^be- cordingly opened at Hubertfburgh, and a treaty '^Hnd"' V'as quickly concluded.— -l^e fubftance of this treaty, wh.ch at laft put an end to fuch a furious ai'.d deftrud.ve war, was no more than that a mutual reft.rution and oblivion fhould take place, and each party be in the lame ftate at the end of the war, m wiiich they had been at the beginning Pruflia. 421 1762. EUROPE. MILITARY MEMOIRS CHAP. XXXVI. Conducl of the Bourbon family towards Portugal-—' Rife, pro^refs, and t juclufion of the war in tuat country, i HE formidable alliance concluded among the different members of the houfe of Bourbon, gave juft caufe of apprehenfion to many ot the neutral powers. From her clofe connections with Great Britain, Portugal feemcd to be mod in danger. The filuation of this country, inclofed on every fide (except to the fca) by Spain, pointed it out as an obvious and an eafy conqueft — It is unne- ceffary to inveftigate the remote Cdufes which have funk Portugal into fuch a contemptible rank, as flie now holds, amongft the powers of Europe. Certain it is, that, for upwards of a century, Ihe has been gradually diminilhing in power and con- fideration. A long peace, without adding to her commerce, had almoft annihilated her military. Her army, inconfiderable in number, was with- out arms, without officers, and without difcipline. The earthquake, which had overturned Lilbon in 1756, added mifery to weaknefs ; and the nation, fcarcely relie\cd from this calamity, was plungitl into new misfortunes. A. confpiracy was iormed againft the Sovereign, by one of the moft noble and wealthy famines in Portugal. The dctedion of this confpiracy, was followed by a moft bloody and dreadful exertion of jufticc. Many ptrfous, iroia bare fufp prifoiiinei In thij houfe of be an ea cour that the 6th ( baffidors ful Mdjeft he would which rea| of Portug; garrifons i demand w a I my upor nu ,ce of prohibited invafion. His Por be intimid but with t he faid, at en;'-;igemen nicnts were give the fm this anfwcr five alliance hy the fiti The Britifh feafons, ket fiftance of 1 not infult al Oi rorrugai OF GREAT BRITAIN. bare fufpldon, fuffered death, or exile, or im- prifoninent. In this diftraacd and deplorable condition, the houfc of Bourbon imagined, that Portugal would be an eafy conqueft, notwithltanding every fuc cour that could be given to it—Accordingly, on the 6th of March, the French and Spanifli am- bafllidors prefcnted a memorial to his mod Faith- ful Mdjelty, which amounted to a demand, that lie would iuimediately declare war againft Britain, which reaped great advantages from the fituation of Portugal ; and that he would admit Spanish garrifons \u j Ws chief fortreffes. This infolent demand was followed by the arrival of a Spanifli anny upon the frontiers of Portugal : the com- nurceof corn, between the two kingdoms, was prohibited ; md every thing threatened a hoflile invafion. His Portugucfe Majefty, without appearing to be mtunidated, anfwered in a moderate Itrain, but with becciiing firmnefs. He was refolved' he faid, at all events, to orefcrve, inviolate, his engagements with Britain; but, as thofi engage- ments were merely defenfive, they ough not^o give the fmallefl offence to France or Spam To this anfwcr he received a reply, that the defen- live alhanc was converted into an offenfive one, by the fnuation of the Portuguefe dominions! ihe Bntifh fquadrons, they faid, could not, in all leafon.s, keep the fea, without the ports and af- fiftance of Portugal : and that thofe iflanders could notjnfult all mai itime Europe, if the whole riches oi Portugal did not pafs into their hands ; which ♦ 3 o 4^3 176J. EUROPE. France and Spain rom- bine ag linft Portugal. K. of P.,r. tufral\ fpi. ritcflanl'v^ to tlieir memoiial tion ol war ciilucs. ^44 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1762- furniflieJ tliem with the means to make warj ("^E. and rendered the alliance between the two courts truly and properly oftVnfive. — A fpiritcd reply was A dcciara- made to this ; and the confequence was, that war was declared by France and Spain againft Portugal. The Britilh miniftry afted, on this occafion, with the moll irreproachable good faith. Tho* they were then plunged in the moll expenfive and extenfive war, that perhaps any nation had ever carried on, thty lent vail lupplies of arms, artil- condua of lery, ammunition, troops, and money, to his For- the B.iiiih j^,^^,^-j-^ Maicfty. It has been alledged, however, euiioii. jjj^jI ^'ith fome appearance of truth, that, had tne French and Spaniards been in earncll, Portugal mud have been conquered before the Britifli troops could have taken the field, as a French army was at that very time on the frontiers of Portugal, upon another quarter. The French and Spaniards dire£led their efforts principally againft the two cities of Oporto and Lift^on ; and had they got pofleflion of both, or even of any one of thefe cities, the war moft pro- The Tioufc bablv rnull have ended in their favour. Their wnnpic p1an\vas, to invade the kingdom of Portugal in plan of in- ^j^^.^.^ jitlercnt places ; one to the North ; another uviul °'' to the South ; and the third in the middle, in order to fultain and keep up a communication be- tween the two other bodies of troops. But tho' this plan was conceived in theory, it was never perftclly executed in all its parts at the fame time, which it ought to have been, in order to eniure iuccefs. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 425 1763, 1 1' ROPE. The firfl body was commanded by the Mar- quis of Saria. It entered the north-caft angle of Portugal, and foon advanced to Miranda. It was expected, tiiat this town would liave itopped the progrefs of the enemy for fome time. A powder magazine, however, blew up by accident, which surcefs of ruined the fortifications ; and the Spaniards thus [,^,j|'|!,'Jj,^g became mafters of the place, on the 9th of May, c<""'''"«-d before they had raifed a fmgle battery. From Mi- randa, the enemy proceeded to Braganza; a con- fiderable city, from whence the royal family of Portugal had its ducal titles. This town fiirrender- ed on the 1 5th of May ; as did alio the towns of Moncorvo and Chaves, a few days afterwards. By thefe fucccffes, the Spaniards became ma- ilers of almofl: all the province of Tralos Montcs. Their progrefs fprcad a general alarm : Oporto was given up as loft ; and the Englifh admiralty prepared tranfports, to carry off the effects of the Britifli factory. The Spaniards next attempted to crofs the Douro ; but the peafants, under the conduct of fome Englifh officers, feized a dillicult jiafs, and drove the enemy back to Moncorvo. — Thty are faid, on this occafion, to have been guilty of fome cruelties to the Sp.rdh prifoncrs, which were afterwards fcvercly reialiated upon themfelves. That body of Spaniards, which was dcfigncd to form a communication between the two others, entered the province of Beira, at the villages cfallcd Val de Mula, and Val de Coclha. Being joined by ftrong detachments, which made their niinihf'r nlmnfl- eouai 1 to the ?.Iarcml< of Sarin';; G 2 4^6 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1762. lUROPE. Succcfs of the fccc "* The third jneets with s check. army, they laid feige to Almeida. This was a place of great importance, as the pofleffion of it would greatly facilitate any attempt upon Lifbon. which was the grand objeft of the war. As no means could be found of relieving this town, it furrendered upon honourable terms, on the 25th of Auguft. After tliis, the Spaniards over-ran the whole territory of Cartel Branco, a diftridt of the province of Beira, advancing fouthward, till they approached the banks of the Tagus. The third body, defigned for the invafion of Portugal, aiTembled on the frontiers of Eltrema- dura, with a defign to enter the province of Alen- tejo ; and had this defign been accomplifhed, it is probable that the Spaniards mufl: have become ma- fters of Liibon. But their fuccefs was now at an end; and they had a general to contend with, for whom their officers were by no means a match. The Count de la Lippe had arrived in Portugal, and taken upon him the command of the forces ; and his arrival had occafioned the grcatefl: joy thro' the whole nation. He immediately faw the neceffity of preventing the enemy from entering the province of Alentejo. This is an open fertile country, where the enemy's cavalry, in which confided their great fuperiority, could aft to ad- vantage. The province of Beira is rough and mountainous^ where cavalry could be of little fer- vice. The Spanilh army in Beira, therefore, alfo defigned to penetrate into Alentejo ; and this it became a capital objeft, on the part of the Count ^e la Lippe, to prevent. OF GREAT BRITAIN. 427 The firft ftep taken for this purpofe, was 1763. to attack an advanced body of Spaniards, that lav "^"^ * r * ^FU R.UPB m a fronuer town called Valentia de Alcantara, where it w.^s faid the enemy had confiderable magazines. The conduft of the enterprife, was committed to Brigadier- General Burgoyne. That brave officer executed his commiflion/ with the Gen. Bur- greateft fidelity and judgment. Tho' the place was El^c^hd; at the diltance oi five days march, he completely b^a'"'"^ furprifed it on the 27th of Augult ; took the ' ^' general, who was to command in the propofed invafion of Alentejo ; one colonel, two cap:ains, and 17 fubaltern officers. One of the beft regi- ments in the Spaniih fervice, was, on this occa- fion, totally deftroyed. By the capture of the above-mentioned gene- ral, the Spaniards, who had adembled on the and prr- frontiers oi Eftremadura, were prevented from en "■'"^' ''"■"■ . • ^1 . r ., making (ar- termg the provmce of Alentejo. The other body, ^''^ '"'^"'•- however, which afted in the Caftel Branco, had ^'""'' nothing but the paOiige of the Tagus, to hinder them from taking up their quarters in the fame province. The combined army feigned a retreat in order to draw the Spaniards into tlie mom- tainous trafts. Their rear was attacked, a. they palled the river Alve^o. The Spaniards were rcpulfed with lofs ; but this was of little confe- quence, and it was dill neceflary to prevent their palling the Tagus. General Burgoyne lay within view of a detached camp of the enemy's cavalry, near a village called Villa Velha. He obferved^ that they kept no proper guard, and w-re un- covered both in flank and rear, and thereior^ 42$ 1762. EUROPE. Co! I,<;e frtll . UjKin tiicir u.ir, and totally difpcfes them. ronclnfion oftliiscain MILITARY MEMOIRS miglit be eafily furprifed. He immediately formed a Ichcme oi putting this in execution, and com- mitted it to Colonel Lee. The defign was exe- cuted in the mofl effedual manner. Colonel Lee icll upon their rear, made a confiderable {laughter, and difperfed the whol party, with the lofs of their magazines. The lofs on the part of the Britifh, was very inconfiderable ; Burgoyne having fupported the troops by a faint attack on another quarter, which prevented the enemy from being relieved from, any of their adjacent polls. This adion proved decifn^:. The feafon was now far advanced, and immenfe quantities of rain fell. The roads were totally deftroyed ; the country became impaflable ; and the Spaniards, having feized no advanced pods in which they could maintain themfelvts during the winter, were obliged to retreat to their own frontiers. — In this manner, was Portugal laved, by the wife condu(3: of the Count de la Lippe ; and the campaign, which, at the beginning, had born fuch a louring nlpcd, clofed with a mofl: glorious view of fuc- cefs to Britain and her allies : and thus the valour of a few Britifli fubjefts, dilconccrted the ambiti- ous and unjull projeds of two of the greateil powers in Europe, CHAP. OF GRLAT BRITAIN. 419 CHAP. XXXVIL Expedition againji Martinico — Port Royal furrenders '—The whole ijland capitulates* 1762 JNO THING had been attempted in the Weft miZc\. Indies, by the Britilh, fince the year 1759. Their attempt on Martinico, had at that time failed, t The French trade to their Weft India iflands, however diftrefled, had ftill been a confiderable refoufce to that nation. Every thing was now acquired, that could be acquired, in North Ame- rica. The Weft India iflands, therefore, naturally became the next object. It was now eafy to draw together fuch a force, as could by no mes. o be refifted by the French in thefe parts, "^vi:,. yas alfo the more proper, as a war with Sc" n was • now looked for with great probability. An ar- '^''f''^' «- , c r • . peditioii a- mament, thererore, was ftnt nito the Weft In- sainii Mar- dies, fuch as never appeared there before. Eleven ^""*'°' battalions were drawn from New- York, and a draught was made from the garrifon of Belleifle. So.ne troops alfo were added, which had been difperfed thro' the Leeward iflands : fo that the whole land force amounted to near 12,000 men. — The land-forces w^ere commanded by General Monckton, who had been grievoufly wounded at C)iiebec ; and the naval force was under the di- rection of llear-Admiral Rodney. The fleet rendezvoufed at Barbadoes, and ar- rived at Martinico*, January 7. 1762. Tlie fol- diers were landed at a creek called Cas Navire, • See a dcfciiption of this ifland, p. 340. 430 MILITARY MEMOIRS *7^2' without the lofs of a man. The ene-my h^d, in- AMERICA, deed, attempted to oppofe their landing ; but tKc fleet dircdkil their fire lb pioperly, that they were-' obliged to abandon the batteries they had erected. — The conqueil of the ifland, however, was not effcfted without fome difficulty. Th^ enemy had Difficulties but few regular troops : but the militia was nu- thistxiit- merous, and well qualitied tor that irregular way of fighting, which only could be carried on in the country. The whole illand, alfo, was a natural fortification, by n^cans of the great number of ravines, with rivulets between them, which lay at fmall diftances from one another. On t'hefe the French had erefted batteries, wherever that was pradicable ; and the difliculties ariling from thefe, were no-where greater, than in the neigh- bourhood of the place, which it was propofed firft to attack. The town and ciiadcl of Port Royal, which the sitii»?*onoF Britifh troops firfl attempted, was defended by two ^y:* • yg^y confiderable t-minences, called Morne Tor- tenfon and Mornc Gamier. =. If the enemy kept thefe, it was impoliible to take the town : if they were loft, it was impofiible to defend it. Both thtfe eminences were defended by very deep ra- vines, and their natural Ilrength had been impro- ved by art. — Morne Tortcnfon was firft to be at- tacked. A body of marines and regular troops advaiiced on the right, along the fea-lide, towards .vjcccfs'-iii the t<)v>n, in order to take the redoubts which the Biitiih. Vicre built on the Ica-coait ; and they were aihlt- cd by a thoufand failovs, who rowea clofe to the fliore, in flat-bottomed bortg. A ured with good weather, got clear of tins hazardous ftreight on the 5th of June, with- out the Icait unfortunate accident. Bel-ore they had got clear of the flreights. he Echo and Alarm frigates, being a-head o the fleet, defcned four veifels, which proved to be two Spani/h frigates, and two brigs ; which thf/ came up with, and took without'any refifU aiice, after a chace of three quarters of an hour. f}Jr7a- ''•'"''^ f '^'' H^v^nm,* the place of Fleet,, t leir deftmation, vhe commanders prepared every h"'^""^"' tl-"g for landing ; and, on the 7th of June! the admiral, with the greateft part of the fleet, in f.r'tl'!ctl!r'""'' *''''"Sh not denominated tl,c capital of Cub., |, !„- tnr the mofl .^porrant and wealthy place in the i.land. The harbour Pon ...h .J flaods, is. in every refpe^. one of the he.l in the Zl ■ 's ente.ed by a narrow palii.se. upwards ot half a mile in leu.-h • -Hd. afterwards expands into a la.ge hafon, Inffidcnt to contain ico," '• ■ ot ''; l^;Scft (h,ps. bavins ahiiolt throughout fix fathoms uatcr ■'"I Perfcftly fecured from every wind. The rich fleas from the icvc- 1 ',ak /■'■;'■ ;; ''?■ '''''"' '° "■"•""p^- ■^"'-- s'-t^« -- '-^ - , r" t^ ' '' ' '''"'"• ^''''''^' ''^'""^« 't^ °^» importance, vva* centre of the richeft commerce of the world. The Entrance into ! iTTbour, . fecured, on one iide, hy the Moro fort, built upon a pro! . ;"."S Pon.t of lar.d, ail of fclid mafon-wo.k, having a ditch 70 Lt < P rom the edge of the countericarp, and more than 40 feet of -l.ed the Pnntal. which joins the town. The Huv.nna iti... whic^ :; fit.atcd to the weft of the harbour, and oppofite to the Morotrt - <.mo,„Kled ,.y a ^>ood rar.part. flanked with bala.n,, and ftrci)gth- II I AM 436 MILITARY IN.EMOIRS J 762. order to divert the attention of the encm; bore =^, away to the wellward; while the whole army was '^*'^''' lately landed, under the diredion of Commodore The troops Kcppel, brothcf to the General, about fix miles ^"''' to the eallward of the Moro fort. The Spaniards had ereded a fmall redoubt, on the top of a hill which overlooked the Moro. This it became i\eccflary to reduce, before any thing was attempted againft the town. It was accordingly taken, after a very feeble refiftance, andv-cgin Vithout any lofs ; and, on the 10th, the bomb- SJZ'n.''' ketches began to bombard the town, under cover of the men of war. In, order to fecure this important place, the Spa- niards had, ever lince the commencement of the war, maintained a power lul fleet in this quarter ; and a fquadron of twelve fliips of the line, was • aaually, at this time, in the harbour of the Ha- vanna. It would have been thought but prudent, if this fquadron, inferior as it was to the Britifli, had come out, and given them battle ; as, altbo' that meafure might have been attended with the ' lofs of their fleet, yet ours mull have fuflered fo coufuievably, as to have rendered any attempt up- on the ifla-iid impvaaicable. They did not, how- ever, thii.k proper to rifl. a battle ; and the only ufe they put their Ihips to, was to fmk three of then at the mouth of the harbour, which was likewife fecured by a flrong boom thrown acrofs it. The governor, Don Juan de Prado, trufting . to the ftrength of the place, and the efl'ea the Vuhealthincis of the climate might have upon the bort iiy was nodore K miles sdoubt, ; Moro. re any It was fiftance, ; bomb- er cover the Spa- [ ot" the quarter ; nc, was the Ha- prudent, I Britilh, IS, altho' with the iflered fo tmpt up- lot, how- tlie only three of /hich was jvn acrofs , trufting effea the upon the MiaAuv-Mfn»»v Wnum/('Vfe/i/ie//^^ [he Irul IMAGE EVALUATEON TEST TARGET (MT-S) fe k .S^ ^^ ^ ^^.- «. / ■fJifSSZ* 1.0 i.l 11.25 ■ 50 ""^^ t 1^ 12.5 2.2 1.8 M 1116 V]

<^^ ) ^^ « ^ OF GREAT BRITAIN. 437 1762. Britifh army, determined upon a vigorous de- fence. He was encouraged to this, by the coun- "^ fels and experience of the viceroy of Peru, and *"''*'*"** the governor of Carthagena, who both happened to be at the Havanna at this time, in thjir way to their refpedive governments. The main objeft of the Britifli array, was to reduce the Moro, which, from the ftrength of the place, Wc s likely to be a work of time, and a fervice of danger. But, as it commanded both the town and harbour, it was neceflary that our army ' fhould be in poffeffion of it, before there could be siege of any probability of taking the town. In order to. ^'"^ ^^''"'' accompliih this point, the principal part of the army, under the command of General Keppel, was employed in the attack of this foct ; while another corps, under the command of General Elliot, advanced a confiderable way into the coun- r try, to the fouth-eaft of the harbour, in order to fecure thofe employed in watering and procurino- provifions — With a view to divide the enemy's attention, and cut off the communication between the town and the country, a third body, under the command of Colonel Howe, was ordered to encamp. to the weftward of the town. There never was an inftance, in which the Britilh nefolution and perfeverance were put to fo fevere and memorable a trial, as in the fiege of ^'ficiiiticj this place. The difficulties and hardfhips the army T"'^"" fuffered, were innumerable. Roads were to be cut through very thick woods, to preferve a com- munication betwixt the refpeaive corps of the ar- my. The artillery was obliged to be dragged a i 438 1762. MILITARY MEMOIRS AMERICA. Undaun refoliition great way, over an uneven rocky coaft. Water was fo hard to be got, (none to be had but from a gteat diltancc), tluu the army were obliged to be llipplied fVom the iliips'. Add to all this, that the foil was every-where fo thin, that it required incredible labour to collet fo much earth as to cover them in their approaches. In fine, fuch were the difliculrics the Brififh had to encounter, that numbers daily dropped down, dead, with heat, third, and fatigue — Notwithftanding which, the ted mofl perfed cordiality fubfifled between the fea of the Bri- ^^^ l^"d fervice ; and, in fpite of every harrafling tifh troops, expedient ufed by the enemy, and a climate no way favourable to the Britilh conflitutions, the worka were carried on with unremitting affiduitv, and unparalltllcd perfeverance. At length, on the ift of Juty, the batteries ^ were opened againft the Moro ; and an inceflant fire kept up, from twelve heavy battering pieces fix large mortars, three fmall ones, and twenty* fix royals. The enemy's fire was n^ way inferior, and did confiderable execution. Not dependinir Vigorous upon thjs aloiie, they made a vioorous fallv, wdth exertions of.. ini , the enemy. ^^^ intention to deltroy the works j but were re- pulfr'd with great lofs. This feemcd rather to roufe, than deprefs their fpirit; and the defence of the fort, was continued with an obflinate bravery. The Britifn forces had now an enemy to cope with, worthy of their valour ; and every private foldier feemed aftuated with the fpirit of a hero. The admiral of the fleet, not fatisfied with giving every afliltance in his power to the opera- tions on land, was refolved to employ fome of OF GREAT BRITAIN. 43^ his fliips, to batter the fort on the fea-fide. For 1762. this purpofe, three of the largeft men of war, ■viz. "^"^ ^ the Dragon, Cambridge, and Marlborough, un- ^*''''"^- der the direc>;on of Commodore Harvey, were ordered to advance as near the Moro as poffiblc, in order, by this attack, to divert, in fome mea- fure, the enemy's attention from tiie land-fide. But here, though every thing was done that could be expeded from the moft intrepid bravery, it was % all of very little confequence. The fire from the The nntiih' Moro, on account of its high fituation, made ''P"^'"'" great havock in the fhips j while that from the fort of Puntal, on the oppofite fliore, galled them exceedingly. ' After an exceffive warm cannonade of feven hours, the men of war were obliged to retire in a moft Mattered condition, having above 150 men killed and wounded Among the killed, was Captain Gooftrey of the Marlborough, a' brave and experienced officer. On the third day, after opening the grand bat- tery, it, by fome unfortunate accident, took fire ; Thcir^mni and, being conftruaed principally of wood, and ^/T^ . no water to be had, was in a very fhort time en- ^y ='^'^'^''-" tirely confumed. This was a moft mortifying-'' ftroke, confidering, at this time, the fituation of the army. By the fevcrity of the fervice, fick- nefs arifmg from fcarcity of water, and unwhole- lomencfs of provifions, together with the lofs of killed and wounded, the army was reduced to half its number. It required, therefore, no or- I lary iliare of rcfolution, to fupport this calami- Ck But the fpirit of the commanders conouered - ■ 31 i\ fire. •' I 440 1762. MILITARY MEMOIRS A feafon- ablc rein- forceinent arrives. every difficulty ; and, in fpite of difeafc and fa, AMiRicA, "^'"^» infpired the troops with frefli courage. It luckily happened, that Sir James Douglas, who had been difpatched by the admiral to fa- maica foon after the troops were landed, arrived at this time with the fleet from that ifland, bring- ing with him many ncceflaries for the fiege. A few days afterwr.rds, a confiderable reinforce- ment, from New-York, likewife arrived. This afliflance, coming fo critically, had an amazing effed upon the fpirit of the troops. They im- mediately went to work, with redoubled ardour. New batteries were ereded, in place of the old, with furprifing expedition ; the fire of wlich foon became fupcrior to that of the enemy. — At length, having filenced the guns of the fort, and demo- liflied the upper works, they made a lodgement in the covered wav. In this forward flate of the ficgc, and when every thing feemed to yield before them, a new difficulty occurred, which appeared almofl: unfur- mountabie. This was an immenfe ditch, cut in the folid rock, 80 feet deep, and o feet wide, which it feemed impoffible to fill up. Fortunately, however, a narrow ridge of rock had been left to cover it towards the fea. It was thought pradi- cable for the miners, to pafs over this ridge, 'and make a lodgement at the bottom of the wall. This accordingly was happily effeded, with very little lofs ; and immediately the miners went to work, in two different directions. V/hile they car ried on a mine along the glacis, another was forn- ed for throwing the counterfcarp into the ditch. < ' OF GREAT BRITAIN. Don Lewis de Velasco, the governor of the fort, perceiving that nothing but fome bold flroke could fecure the place for much longer time, or- dered a fally to be made, with 1 500 men, fepa- rated into three divifions, who attacked the be- siegers in as many different places. The attack was begun early in the morning ; but the Britifli troops, though furprifcd, repulled the enemy with confiderable lofs.— Finding this meafure prove ab- ortive, the governor refolved upon another, tho' with no better fucccfs. He ordered a floating bat- tery to be towed into the harbour, which fired with grape fhot and fmall arms into the ditch. But this did not in the leafl: interrupt the miners; and the fire of the party who covered them, foon obliged the enemy to retire. At length, on the 30th of July, a part of the wall was blown up, which, falling into the ditch, Jeft a breach which the engineer thought prac- ticable. Orders were accordingly given for the affault. The Britifii troops, who had hitherto fupported this fatiguing and unwholefome fcrvice with the moft ftcady patience and heroic bravery, now entered upon this dangerous employment with a more than ordinary alacrity, hopinrr it would be the end of their labours. Lieutenant- Colonel Stuart was appointed to command the attack. The troops, having mounted the breach, formed themfelves with fo much celerity, and ap- peared before the Spaniards, who were drawn up to receive them, with fo undaunted an air, and coolnefs of refolution, that, terrified at the det-er- mined valour that appeared in their countenances, 3 I 2 44* 1762. -VMERICA. The govct* nor of Tort Moro lulliej out upon chcUritilh; but is rc- pulftd. rr,it Mora taken l)y (torm. 442 MILITARY MEMOIRS Havanna LeCeged. '^^^' the enemy fled on every Me. Don Lewis dc AMERICA. Vclafcn, the governor, whofe bravery and good condud during this fiege will always be admired, difdaining to furvivc the lofs of a place committed to his charge, like another Leonidas, bravely fell, in def^:nding the colours of Spain. The Marquis de Gonfalcs, fecond in command, likewife fell, in endeavouring, unfuccefsfully, to rally the fugitives. About 4CO were killed on the fpot ; and about 400 more threw down their arms, and furrcnder- cd prifoners at difcretion. The Britifli troops being thus in poflcffion of the Moro, it was relblved to lofe as little time as poffible with the town, the fickncfs dill raging both in the army and navy, and the men dying daily. For this purpofe, a line of batteries was imme- diately erefted on the hill of the Cavannos, which commanded the whole caftern fide of the city, from one end f^ the other. The guns of the Moro, were hkewife turned againft the city ; and batteries were ereded on the weft fide of the town, which hitherto had been only watched. EvER-Y thing being thus in -readinefs, the ge- neral, in order to fave the unnecefiary efFufion of blood, fent a meflage to the governor, on the loth of Auguft, reprefenting the force of the at- tack he was ready to make on the place ; and giving him time, if he chofe to avoid it, to capi- lulate. To this meflage, the governor returned a refolute anfvver, that he would defend the place to the laft extremity. Next morning, the iith of Angufl:, Lord Albemarle ordered a general fire from all the OF GREAT BRITAIN. 443 Britidi. batteries, againft the town ; which was carried on 1762. for fix hours,,with fo irrefiftiblc a fury, as entirely ==' f.lenced all the enemy's guns. About two o'clock *"""''' in the afternoon, a flag of truce arrived at head- quarters, with propofals for a capitulation ;*which after removing fome difficulties that occurred,' Hav.„, was Imaliy concluded on the J4th, when the Bri- ''""■'"'''^''• tilh army took polTeflion of the town. . Thus the city of Havanna fell to Great Britain, alter a fiege of two months and eight days. In the courfe of the fiege, about 500 of the Britifli troops, mcluding 15 officers, were killed out-w.orthc right, or died of their wounds ; and about 700 """ were cut off by diflemper, which raged with re- doubled violence, afier the redudion of the place In no aftion during the war, was the valour of the Britifli troops, or the condud of their leaders more confpicuous. It united in itfelf, every ad- vantage that can be acquired in war. The prin- cipal port of the enemy, in that part of the world was reduced ; a fleet of capital fliips, was either deftroyed, or fell into our hands j and the plun- der ,s faid to have been little fliort of three mil- hons flerling.-The reduction of this place, while It diflrcfTed the Spaniards in the mofl eflential manner, by flopping the fources of their wealth opened to the conquerors, an eafy avenue to th'-' center of their American treafures. CHAP. 444 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1762. ASIA. C II A P. XXXIX. Expedition a^aln/i Manilhi — Troops landed — A via* Imtjiorm — 'Two atiempis of the enemy upon the Britijh camp — Repulfcd — The town Jiormtd > Capitidation with the inhabitants — The Manilla galleon taken, 1 HE lofs of the Ilavanna, gave a mod dreadful blow to the intcrefh of Spain. Since the defeat of lier celebrated armada, Ihe had not fufl'ered fo humiliating a ftroke. — But that was not the only difallrous confequence of the war, ftie had fo im- prudently declared againll Great Britain. She received another fevere wound, in a part of the world, which, from its remote fituation, was deemed altogether fafe from the attacks of any European power. Soon after the unfuccefbful attempt of the French againd Madrafs, in 1759, Col. Draper, who had eminently dillinguiflicd himfelf in the defence of that important place, was obliged to leave that country, on account of his bad Itate of health. In company with the Honourable Captain Howe, then commander of the Winchelfca, he embarked for Canton in China. During his re- fidence there, he eirtployed himfelf in acquiring a minute knowledge of tiie prefent flate of the Philippine iflands* : and, as the inhabitants carried * Tlie Philippines, or Manillas, form a principal division of tliat imnienfc Ind'aii Archipelago, which con.'ifls of above izco iflands; extending from the nii-.etccnlh decree of north latitude, almoft in a OF GREAT BRITAIN, on a connjcrable trade with Canton, he had an -npl^ opportunity oC procuring Intel Renrc.Hc "blerved, that the Spaniards in thefe Lj con fiJmg ,„ their remote diftanee from I'^urcme In i -'ally „e„eaed the keeping up a r'gX'n i .' '■'ry t< roe , thoroughly perfuaded, that an attack upon them, would never be deemed praaie! e •■neWtabirCoT fT ^'' " ""' "-■ «"™«'« mcvuab c, Colonel Draper tranfmitted the obler vanons he had made, refpeaing the Plnlippi„: o the Br.t,(h minldry ; who received them wU a. attention to which, from their impor ta" actt;rmine which were ereatpff • th^ : ■^^ ^ cireir , the importance continued chain, to the (l.ores of Mew Guinea anH t. continent. Tlie Philippines, which form t^, J n 1 ''"' '""'^"'^ there iHands. are. Ton. of them, amlTtHe a ^a TJ:^';"" ^^ mturallr. among the richeft i(l.„ds i„ I„ world t" '' t" tJie Spani(h monarchy, in it, ,T,eridian .1 . ^ """■' "''''^'» •'cin. happily ,ru,ted f^ coLer ^^ ":c;e"„t: 'f' "' ^"''' communication for the AHatic and A;erica'n t ".f Th' " ""'" "' European goods, by the way of the Cape of GoodHone !' T' '""'''" -g the traffic of China,, Japan, and the Sp ce n .d's .'^r"''- Europe and America, unite all the extenfiveT ' '''"' "'=' "^ one commercial chain, with the r,a::Zt::Z:l '^""' ^" I he pnncpal iliand of the Philippines is calle,! M > extending 300 miles in length and 00 1 '" '' "' ^'"^""'■''• The foil ,s cultivated by the n ti'ves lith' ' """'"' '" '^'•"''^''• part of the world : the'chi , ^ J '„ ^.'^r ttT? '"'''''' ' ' ^''^^ ha century, fled here in .reat nul "''"■ '""'l"^" '" ^he "iavds enjoy the .o..Z^ Ztl^^^: l^;^^"""' ' -'' "^^ «P- of the Philippine i.lands. as ar as to S ^ """""• "^'"^ ^^ are under the gpvernment of Luconia 1^ ,^,7 T7'^ '" '"'"' htnated on the fouth-eall of the ifland dT " ^='"'"^' 'pacious harbour, flere the l.rll ^m '""'^ "P"" " ^'^''y f-"''" =»"'i . .nd, from this plac tly L o"^ ^I'^T '■'''""' "^""^"^ '"•'••- = ASIA. «l 44d every foul on^aM In the tranfaftions of this war, the offi-nfiv^ , opera.,ons of the French were fo few a,dtcb ^''"• fiderable, and withal fo unfuccefsful, that TnV advantage on their fide, however trifling, deferves commemo rat,on. About the latte r end of mIv! «'"ycd. ^'Hl lilort by accident—The Spaniard, loft ' '//'^"- '^^- a J taken on ioli by accider,' Of R,;tiiT, ' i * ""^ " *» ^in; 14 ij-;j^atcs, were ...en,;. ^' "^""^ n,crcha„tn:cn, 8ia woe taken by tl.« 3 L 2 453 MILITARY MEMOIRS i7^>2. M. de Ternay, with a fquadron of four men of "'"'^ war, and a bomb-ketch ; and M. Haufonville, with a proportionable number of land-forces ; failed from Breft, under cover of a fog ; eluded the vigilance of the Britilh fquadrons, and ar- rived, on the a4th of June, at the Bay of Bulls, in Newfoundland. The illand was in no refpeft Newfound, prepared to refill them : and they reduced, with- land taken. ^^^ difficulty, the forts of St. John, Trinity, and Carbonear j deftroyed the two laft, and likcwife the ftages and implements of the filhery, to a confiderable value. No fooner did the news of this lofs arrive in England, than an armament was fitted out, in order to. retake thofe places. Thefe prepara- tions, however, were anticipated by the vigilance and aaivity of General Amherfh He immedi- ately detached his brother, Colonel Amherft, with a body of forces, and Lord Colville with a fmall fquadron, to recover this valuable ifland. The troops were landed, after a confiderable refiftance, about feven miles to tl^e northward of St. John's. They were preparing to attack that place, after having reduced feveral advantageous pofts in its neighbourhood, when the governor thought pro- i^etakcn. pcr to furreudcr himfelf and garrifon prifoners of war. The French fleet elleded their efcape. They were defcried at a confiderable diftance ; but, Lord Colville not apprehending that they were really the enemy's Ihips, a purfuit did not take place. We lliall conclude the military tranfaaions of this period, with an account of the unfortunate ex^ OF GREAT BRITAI]^. 459 1762. AMERICA. pcdition agalnfl Buenos Ayres ; an expedition, jvh.ch, while it ftrongly marks the viciliitude of human allairs, and /hows what narrow bounds there are between vidory and defeat, tends alio to difpofe the minds of men to humanity, gen- tlenefs, and benevolence. At the beginning of the war with Spain, it i^-cpcdition was judged expedient to encourage private ad- S:!^ venturers, to add to our.other operations againfl the enemy. Buenos Ayres, on account of its vicinity to the Portuguefe fettlements, was judged to be an objed of importance. The polTtllion of It, while It-relieved our Portuguefe allies from an enemy m their neighbourhood, would afford a ftation extremely well adapted for enterprifes a- gainft the Spanifh fettlements in the South Seas. •—The force deftined againfl this place, confided ot three flout frigates, and fome Imail armed vefTels and flore-fhips. They had 500 foldiers on board, partly Englifh, and partly Portugu :fe • and were commanded by Captain Macnamara, an adventurer of fpirit and experience, who had been many years a captain in the Eafl-India companv's fervice, and had embarked his whole fortune 'in the prefent enterprife. The embarkation was made from the Tagus, and their voyage to the mouth of the river de ll Piata, as favourable as could be wifhed. Upon entering that immenfe river, on the 2d of No- vember, they were attacked by a violent gale of wind, accompanied with thunder and lightning When the tempefl ceafed, th.ey found the river was f]ioaly, and the navigation to Buenos Ayres I 4^0 MILITARY MEMOIRS »762. exceedingly difficult; and that the Spaniards, fo ...... o- far from beinji unprepared tor refinance, had aU ready begun to ad on the offenfive, by taking the Portuguefe fettlcmcnts of Nova Colonia. Affairs being in this iituation, it was juJged necclTary to begin with the recovery ot Nova Colonia, before any attack was made upon Buenos Ayres. They were encouraged to this attempt by an Englilh pilot, \yho knew the place and river, and undertook to carry the commodore's fliiji. within pillol-lhot of the enemy's principal battc'ry. The attack EvERY thing feemcd to prefage fuccefs. The 5^^^j|"^^'°' fhips were in excellent order, and the men in high fpirits. Colours of every kind were dif- played : the men, in new red uniforms, made a gallant appearance ; and the whole armament, horns founding, and drums beating, advanced to the attack, with all the pomp and parade of a naval triumph. — The attack commenced with vi- gour, and was continued with the utmoft fury for four hours. The fire of the Spaniards, tho* well pointed, and fupported with great refolution, began to abate ; and the fuccei's of the Englifli fecmed certain. At that critU-;il luoment, when the Spaniards were on the point ^f l.riking tbeir A dreadful coloiirs, the commodore's fliip, Ly loiiie accident, diiattei. -wliich has never been accounted for, took fire. She was inflantly in a blaze ; and the fame mo- ment difcovered the flriuics, and the impofTibility of extinguifhing them. A more dreadful fpeftacle cannot wtU be conceived. The fides of the vef- fel were immediately covered with naked men, OF GREAT BRITAIN. 461 who, a few minutes be fore, were afTurcd of wealth • 7>« the bafis ■ _ Hf. The prifoners made on ail fid'-s and th,. I,.(l • , given during the war. (hall be reflored'v.:?!, . i^"*^" '^'"'""^ '^''y •"• ipeaively paying the advances niadel, t" T , r« ^°"^ ' '""'^ Crown' re- of their prilbncrs, by the S^vc ici^n of h j' '""^['"^"f ^"'J maintenance been detained. ^ ^'^^'ciu^n of the country where they /hull have i^^^'^t^t^ZSt^Tr =^^-t-fi-'. which he has parts ; and guarantees 11511,^0^ "^^^ 'j^L':' ?' ^^"'l'^.' '" »" it^ King of Great Hritain : moreov r U , , . ^.^'l. '''^I'«^"d«:ncies, to the guarantees to his kritannrM ^^( : ' 'S H U^T ""f ^^^ "'^" ='"'* ticrendencies as well as the ill f/l f A f ' ^""^''='' ^'^l^ '^J' "» iflands and coails in the .u fa 1 'w ^T, "''""'' '''"^ "" t'^«= °ther every thing tiiat depends on tl 'a d ^ td;'!"^",/ ","' "\«'="'"-^'' with the Sovereignty, prone, cv a, /l n r^ ' ^^' ''^"'''> «'"' ^"a^S by treaty orothJ;wi',S\t.w:oft':' 'T' ^'" i"'^':!* "^'I"''-^'^ the raid places. His Britannic M.j.a on 1 s (Ti '' '^' '''' """' °^" liberty or the Catholic religion to ll^\nZ!Zl:':^ SX' "^""^ ''' 3 M EUROPt. ^^4 MILITARY MEMOIRS 1762. both fides. The terms, however, were evidently E^^E. more advantageous to the American colonics, than Great Britain ; and it would not, perhaps, be too bold to affirm, that the French forefiiw, that the ceffion of Canada would :emove the only obftacle which pi vented the Britifh colonies from afTum- ing independence. Great Britain had it in her option, to retain the Weft-India iflands of Marti- nico, Guadaloupe, Marigalante, and Defiderade, V. The fulijefts of France fhall have the liberty of fidiing and drying on a part o(' the coalh of the illand of Newfoundland, fuch as it is fpcci- fied in tlK 13th article of the treaty of Utrecht ; and his Britannic Ma- jelly coiii'cnts to leave to the fubjefts of the moft Chriftian King, the libcrtv of tiching in the gulf of St. Laurence, on condition that tlie fub- je^s of France did not exercife the faid filhery, but at the diRance of three leagues from all the coalh belonging to Great Britain. VI The King of Great Britain cedes the illands of St. I'lerre and Mi- quelon, in full right, to his moll Chriftian Majelly, to ferve as Ihelter to the French filhermen : and his mod Chriltian Majefty .ngages, not to fortify the iaid illands; to ere^ no buildings upon them, but merely for the convenie.ice of the filhery ; and to keep upon them, a guard of fifty men onlv for the police. , , , , . Vil, In order to re-clhblifh peace on folid and durable foundations^ and to remove for ever all lubjeft of dilpute, with regard to the limits of the Britifh and French territories on the continent of America,, it is a- greed, that, for the future, the confines between the dominions of the refpeftive Crowns in that part of the world, (hall be fixed irrevocably by 3 line dr:iwn alone the middle of the MillilTipiii, from its fource to the river Iberville ; 'and, from thence, by d line drawn along the middle of this river, and the lakes Manrcpas and Pontchartrain, to the fca : and ft,r this purnofe, the moll Clirillian King cedes, in full right, the river ' and port of 'the Mobile, and every thing which he poflelTcd on the left lide of the river Mifliflippi ; except the town of New Orleans, and the illand in which it is lituaud. VIII. The King of Great Britain (hall reftore to France, the i.lands of Guadaloupe, of Marigalimte, of Defiderade, of Martuiico, and IScUeille ; and the fortrelics of thelc ilhinds, Ihall l>c rclVored, in the lame condition they were in, when they were conquered by the Britilh arms. IX. The moft Chriftian King cedes and guarantees to his Britannic Msicfty, the Iftands of (Grenada and of the Grenadines; and the parti- tion of the ifla.ids called neutral, is agreed and l.xed, fo that thole of St. Vincent, Dominica, and Tobago, (hall remain in full right t«o Great Britain ; and that ot St. l.ucia Ihall be delivered to Prance, to cnjuy the fame likewile in full right. , .n , c,-, . X. His Britannic Majefty rcflorcs to France, the illand of Oorec ; and his moll Chriftian Majefty ceoes to (;reat Britain, Mie river Senegal, with the forts and fadirics ot St. Lewis PoJor, and Cialam. XI. In the Hart Indies, Great Hritain (hall reftore to France, the dif- ferent faftovies which th-t Cro-.vn poflcfled on the coaft of Coromandel and Malabar, as alio in Bengal, at the bcsinnins of the year 174';. OF GREAT BRITAIN. and to give up Canada ; but as the war had been undertaken in order to protect the BritiOi colo- nies, the fecurity of thefe colonies was, with feeming propriety, made the principal objed in the treaty of peace. The fubftance of the treaty between his Pruf- fian Majcfty and the Emprefs-Queen, was no more than that a mutual reftitution and oblivion fliould take place, and each party fit down quietly with the lofs it had furtained. His moft CliriniiT,-, Majcfty (liall rcrtore, on his Mr, all that he may have coiiciucred iii tlic Eall Iiulics, during the pielcnt war. Xir Xm. 'i-lie ifland of Minorca Ihalt be reftored to his Britannic Majcf V as well as Fort bt. Philip; and the town and port of Dun- kirk, fliall be put into the flate fixed by the iaft treaty of Aix la Cha- pelle. XIV. XV. There is a reciprocal reftoration, on all fides, of the con- quells made in Germany and Poitugal. XVf. The decifion ^iS^ 192* 210, 240, noy 372, 429, 457. Allied army afTembles under the Duke of Cumberland, 75. De- feated at Haftenbcck, 80. Dif- perfed by the convention of Cloiler-feven, 84. Rc-afTcmbled under Prince Ferdinand, 113. Gains the battle of Croveit, t68. . Defeated at Sangerfhaufen, 1 70. Worlts M. Chevert at Meer, 1 72. Defeated at Bergen, 2 1 6. Gains the great battle of iMinden, 219. Worlled at Corbach, 286. Vic- torious at VVarbourg, 290 ; at Kirch-Denkcrn, 359 ; at Grtc- benllein, 402. AmheyfifGcn. reduces Loui/lmurfr, i^J2. Takes pollcffion of Ticon- deroga and Crown Point, 24?. and Montreal, 335. " Af»herjl, Col. retakes Newfound- land, 458. Afigria, the pirate, his harbour taken and dertroyed, 41. Apraxin, Gtn. diigraced, 161. AJia, military tranfactions in, 38, 140, 201 266, 338, 444. ■dujinans. See Germati nuar. Balfour, Captain, his bravery at Loui/bourg, 194. Barrington, Gen. reduces Guada- loupe, 243. Battla. Bergen, 216. BreHau, 124. BukerMuhl,407. Campen, 300. Corbach, 286. Crevelt, 168. Cunnerfdorf, 230. Exdorf, 288. Grxbenftein, 402. Haftenbeck, 80. Hohkirchen, 182. Kirch- Denkern,359. Kolln, 71. Land- «hnt, 310. Lignitz, 318. Liffa, 127. Lowofchutz, 30. Minden» 2F9. Prague, 60. Quebec, 260. Rcich^nberg, 57. Ro/bach, 120. St. Cas, 154. Torgau, 326. Warhourg, 290. Bedford, (Ru/Tel) Duke of, con- eludes the treaty of Paris, 46*. Belleijle, reduftion of, 373. —-> Duke dc, appointed Frencli fecrctary at v.ar, i6p. > 468 N Btllona, Eng. man of war, defpe- rate engagement with, the Cou- rageux, 381. Berlin, laid under contriuution by the Rufiians, 323. Bevern, Prince of, account of, 72. B/akeney, Gen. his defence and furrendcr of St. Philips, 20. Bligli, Gen. his operations againfl Cherbourg, 1 50. Rear-guard attadted at St. Cas, 153. Bofcaiven^ Adm. fails for New- foundland, 15. Affifts in redu- cing Louifljourg, 192. Defeats de la Chie, 275. Braddock, Gen. his unfortunatd expedition, 11. Breretont Major, killed, 269. Broglio, M. his charaAer, 360. Bronun, Gen. mortally wounded at Prague, 61. Brunfwic, Hereditary Prince of, his gallant exploits, 168, 223, 225, 285, 286, 287, 292, 296, 300, 355, 361. Bttrgoynct Brigad. Gen. ferves m Portugal, 427. Bujjy, M. his unfuccefsful negoti- ation, 390. Butey Earl of, zealous for peace, 387- B^ngf Adnn. fails to relieve Mi- norca, 18. Engages the French fleet, 19. Superfeded, 21. Tried, ib. and executed, 22. ByroTiy Capt. deftroys a French fleet, 335. Calcutta, taken by the Nabob of Bengal, 43. Retaken by Adm. WaUon and Col. Clive, 140. Carnuc, Maj. defeats the Mogul army, 344. Carrickfirgns, M.Thurot's defcent at, 246. Cavendijh, Ld Frederic, 152,403. Cherbourg^ expedition againtt, 149. E X. Cherokee war, 336, 372. Clive, Col. his exploits, 140, 143. Clermont, Count de, commandii the French arnriy, 156. Colberg, taken by the Ruffians, 369. Confians, M. de, defeated by Ad- miral Mawke, 277. Contades, M. dc, commands the French army, 170. Coote, Col. See ^Jia. Coniijl}, Adm. Sec /ijia, Cronuti Point, taken poffcffion of by Gen. Amherfl, 245. Cuviherland, Duke of, his mifcon- dua, 85. Czarina, Elizabeth, her death and charafter, 409. ~ , Catharine, depofes her hufbaud, 416^ D'Ache, M. 201, 270. D*un, M. account of, 67. Sec Gerfnany. Deathy Capt. his fate, 209. De la Cine, M. defeated by Bof- cawen, 275. D'Ejiaign, Count, his fuccefs in the Eall- Indies, 344. D'Etrees, M. commands the French army, 75, 400. Dofninique, ifland of, taken, 372. Douglas, Sir James, 434. Do'wne, Lord, killed, 300. Draper, Col. his bravery at Ma- drafs, 267. Commands at the reduclion of Manilla, 446. DrcfJen, diftreffed, 188. Du ^uefne. Fort, unfortunate ex- pedition againli, 1 1. Taken, 2cc. Dutch, rcfiife to affilt Britain, 17. Chaftifed in the Eaft- i ndies, 271. Egremont, Earl of, appointed Se- cretary of State, 398. Elliot, Capt. defeats Thurot, 3^8. , Cob bravery of his regi- ment, 288. N 1 4^9 mhinjion, Capt. takes a French Hanover, taken by the French ft.p on the coaft of Holland, Evacuated, 158 ""''' - E^^itUn^ agalnft Rochfort. 87. :^:w;'Al^:Xtt^^^^^^^^ bt. Ma o, ,46. Cherbourg, 150. fleet, 277. ' ^ '*=""'' Senegal and Goree, 204. Louif. ^«>, Lord Charles, r,6 Cfuadaloupe, 242. Qiiebec, 249. 31 r ' ' "+» Bellelfle, 374. Martinico, 429. Hod^L, Gen. aflifts in rednrJn* Havanna 433. Manilla, 444. Bellelfle, 374."'**' "^ "'^"""^ Buenos Ayres, 459. ^,/,,,,,, AdrnJ i^, 2^7. Faulkner, Capt. his bravery, 381. ^°^^^^'> Mr. his cruel ufage i^t Ferdinand, Prince, compared with z/!:^^' "^3- the Pruflian monarch. 2^? See ^'''^^"' ^"- commands at Marti- Mledarmy. ^^ nico, 240. • - - '"^'^<'» i-ord, his death and characi Finck, Gen. furrounded and taken with his whole army by M. Daun, 237. Forbes, Gen. reduces Fort du Qnefne, 200. Forrejl, Capt. his fiiccefs, 210. Foudroyant, French fhip of war, taken, 208. Fox, Mr. refigns, 48. Frederic, III. King of Pruflla, his charafter, 25. See Gennan 'war. Gardiner, Capt. killed, 208. George IF. his death and charac- ter, 303 ter, 197. ' jJ'O'-d, 15, 90, 146, 154. ' > Col. 261, 437. -//«fer/y2a/-^/;, peace of, 421. Jennings, Col. commands at Car- rickfergus, 347. Imhoff, Gen. 172. Keith, Field- marflial, 30, 183. ' Kjppel, Commod. 205, 374, 436. K^nollis, Lieut, his bravery and death, 351. ZrT/cr^j-.Capt. his bravery at Louif- bourg, 194. g^^f?aiLafcendsthethrone,3oc. r ^°"'^' '-• German war, 29, to 33.-56, to 7 'v lA ^°^' ^^^' ^^S, 34- S6.~97,to 134.— 1^6, to 191. f^™'^'^"-229»309..3i5.3i9- --- - ~ "^ -^^w, Mr. defeated and taken, 344. —213, to 239.1-282,'to 329.' 0//f/;r//?, Capt. wounded, 281. <>'i/;^'j-, Count de, killed at Cre vclt, 169 Lehivald, M. 105. Levi, Chevalier de, his operations at Quebec, 330, •^^/i^/ii-, fubjeded to military exe- C/a^z,takenbytheAuftrians,3io. r *^"i'°"' ^*'^- Gorce, reduc d, 205. Louijboiirg, furrender of, 195. Gottingen, taken, and retaken, %%, ^'^^^^^^"y Gov. his expedition a- 301. ^ gainlt the Cherokees, 336. Granhy, Marq. of, 290, 355, 359, niacnamar^, Capt. his fate, 4C(v G,t?i' r.J , MaJrafs, befiecred, 266. ^^^ GuaJahupe, reJuced, 244. yi/«r/^„.,„^/; Duke of, 147, i^. I 1 1 f [ 470' If. E X. Marthiicoy redufti'on of, 420. j^tinorcMy taken by the Frencli, 20. yk/ow^/o/;. Gen. 249,260,263,429. Montcalm^ Marq.de, 1 38, 252,261. JMoore, Commodore, 240. Mot daunt. Sir John, 95. Murray, Gen. 249, 263, 330. JViaw/tranfadtlons, detached, 206, 380, 351, 378, 456. Hiagaruy Fort, taken, 248. Nivernoii, Duke de, 462. Peace, negotiations for, 386,462. Pitt, Will. Efq; 49, 55, 387, 394. Pocock, Adm. 201, 270, 434. Poland, King of, his lettef to hia general, 32. Pondicherry, 338. /*r/a/'Ma.v, Gen. killed, 247. PruJJia, See Frederic and Gerviatl •war. ' l^telec, expedition againft, 249. Befieged, 3J2. Pap.'ilies man of war wrecked, 552. Richlieu, Dukede, 1 8, 82, 1 1 3, x 3 1. Pochfort, expedition againft, 87. itctlo, Lord, takes Domiijique, 372. RuJJiaris, ii^^ic optrations, 57, 99, t^ J76, 228, 317, 321, 367, 409. Sackville, Lord George, 147, 219. Saunders, Adm. 249, 279. Schmettau, Count, burns the fub- urbs of Drefdcn, 188. Senegal, expedition againft, 204. Skjnner, Capt. his bravery and death, 351. Sbubife, Prince, his charafter, 360. Stanley, Mr. his negotiation for peace in France, 386. Stevens, Adm. 339. Snuedes, their operations, 57, 130. Thurot, M. his exploits, 273, 346. Tiddyman, Commodore, 446. Ternay, M. furprifes St. John's in Newfoundland, 458. Ticonderoga, unfuccefsful attack a- gainft, 196. Abandoned, 245. Toivnfend, Col. killed, 245. Velafco, Don Lewis de, his bravery and death, 442. Wall, the Spanifh minifter, his in- folent behaviour, 397. JVatfen, Adm. 40, 145. IVititerJield, Gen. killed, 112. Wolfe, Gen. 91, 96, 193, 249, 255, 260, 262. Worge, Col. 205. Xavier, Prince of, 361, 404. Tfcnhurg, Prince of, 170, 216. THE END. Printed by Churnude & Wilson, Royal Bank Clofc, Edinburgh. 279. ns the fub- 8. inft, 204. •avery and •after, 360. itiation fur 3, 57* ^S°' . 273» 346. r, 446. ^ [.John's in jl attack a- oned, 245. 245. his bravery ^er, his 7- in- , 112. i93» 2 49» . 404. 0, 2I<9. 1 1