HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



19 



The French were posted on the 

 banks of the Margne, opposite to 

 those towards which the alHed army- 

 was now advancing. Two divi- 

 sions were to force a passage over 

 this river, while the three others 

 were executing other orders : but 

 the former arrived so late at the 

 place of their destination, and. were 

 8o fatigued with the length of their 

 mafch, that the utmost they could 

 do was, to make good their passage 

 over the river, being utterly unable 

 to perform the remainder of what 

 had been proposed. Anotlier di- 

 vision, on its arrival at the French 

 quarters, founii them in such good 

 order and strength, that fearing to 

 be cut off by their superior num- 

 bers, it immediately retreated to the 

 position it liad left. The two di- 

 visions under Gerieral Otto and 

 the Duke succeeded better, and 

 drove the French from several of 

 their ])osts. In the la:-t that v.-as 

 carried by the Duke's division, they 

 vere strongly intrenched, and matie 

 a form.idable resistance ; but by the 

 judicious conduct of General Abcr- 

 cromby, and the valour of the 

 troops under his command, tl-e 

 entrenchments were forced, and 

 the enemy totally routed. 



Thus ended the operations of 

 the 17th of May J a day rendered 

 memorable by the disappointment 

 of lhc«anguine expectations of the 

 allii.-s to legain their posts in t!ie 

 Fleisish districts, and rcjestablihh 

 the superiority they had lost there 

 at the close of the former cam- 

 paign. The effects oftliis unex- 

 fiected disappointment were petu- 

 iarly unfortunate for the confede- 

 racy ; it excited, or to speak per- 

 haps more properly, it revived a 

 tpirit of mistrust which had in a 

 great ira-jsure been laid, by the con- 



sciousness of the necessity of acting 

 together with confidence and una- 

 nimity : it extinguished the readi- 

 ness and alacrity req\iisite for the 

 formation of enterprizes, by damp- 

 ing that hope of success which de- 

 pends on the honour and secrecy 

 of those who are privy to them. 



The advantages obtained by the 

 allies in this conflict were of so lit- 

 tle importance, that the French 

 determined to renew the ficrht next 

 day. Their Generals felt the ne- 

 cessity of recovering immediately 

 the ground they had lost. They 

 were conscious of the critical situa- 

 tion in which they stood, and that 

 the present occasion would prove 

 very decisive. Actuated by the 

 urgency bf the moment, they lost 

 no timie in making the m.ost skil- 

 ful arrangements, and at break of 

 day attacked part of the Duke of 

 York's division which lay nearest 

 to them : another body was speed- 

 ily ordered to move to its assist- 

 ance ; but their attack was made 

 with such a superiority of numbers^ 

 that they bore down all resistance. 

 The Duke's main body being weak- 

 eaed by the absence of the troops 

 he had been obliged to detach for 

 the support of those that were en- 

 gaged, the enemy seized this op-i 

 portunity of assailing him. The 

 force destined for this purpose was 

 so numerous, that it completely 

 surrounded and f-ll upon him on 

 every side. General Otto's division^ 

 that lay at som6 distance, was dis- 

 lodged by them from its position, 

 and overwhelmed by the irresistible 

 stieiigth that presrted upon it fiom 

 all quarters, and incessantlv sup-- 

 plied by fresh additions, was utterly 

 unable to afford him relief. The 

 Duke's division was, after th? most 

 intrepid resistance, obliged every 



C 2 where 



