CRISIS OF THE BATTLE OF MALPLAQI3ET. 21 



through the Redans and formed new lines of horse. Bouflers, 

 instead of fighting like a private horseman, ought to have charged 

 with his whole line ; but the Elite came forward almost alone and 

 furiously dashed through the first and second lines of the allies, 

 they even disordered the third, but the mass of enemies was 

 overwhelming and their fire destructive. Broken by the shock, 

 singly cut down or trampled under foot, they could not conquer, 

 and in despair drew back with honour though defeated. Other 

 partial charges were made with less and less success, and when 

 their opponents were at length fully formed, they moved for\vard 

 and in one dash, drove the discomfited enemy beyond the rivulet 

 of Camp Perdu. 



Before this event the prince of Hesse, watchinoj the moment 

 for action, had closely followed the success of Routsan and Lord 

 Orkney ; and passing through the openings, near the chapel of 

 Jean Vauquier, he wheeled to the left, and charged the French 

 right wing in flank; the manoeuvre was successful and the whole 

 hostile right wing routed. The marquis de Vailiere, Count Cog- 

 nier and M. de Beauvean, were now rallying the French cavalry, 

 and Marshal Bouflers was still unwillling to retreat ; though his 

 right was dispersed, the centre pierced, the left cut off", and many 

 of the ablest generals, killed or wounded : by obstinately remain- 

 ing on the field of battle, he exposed the last — the only remaining 

 army of the state : by retreating he acknowledged a defeat which 

 the unsubdued spirit of his troops shewed that they denied by 

 their conduct. At length advice was brought that M. Le Legal, 

 with 50 battalions on the left, was in full retreat covering the 

 movement with his cavalry; and then he consented to withdraw 

 towards Bavai, forming closed columns. M. d'Arlagnar traversed 

 the woods — the Marshall, with the horse of the centre, crossed 

 the Hon at Taisnieres, and the Chevalier Luxembourg co- 

 vered the rear with the reserve ; on the plain of Bavai, beyond 

 the woods, the columns joined again and halted to collect the 

 stragglers, and break down the bridges ; the army then crossed 

 the Honneau. Marlborough and Eugene admired the order and 

 boldness of the retreat, only one or two battalions were cut in 

 upon by general Viull nor were they followed beyond the Hon- 

 neau. Their left wing withdrew towards Quievrain, pursued by 

 the Hanovarians, who found their horse in three columns on the 

 heights of Etonges. They charged, and were repulsed by the 

 Carbineers with the loss of Colonel la Leppe. In the course of 

 the night and next morning, they crossed the Scheldeand took up 

 a position between Quesnoy and Valenciennes. C. H. S. 



