'$4 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1794; 



The chief object in contempla- 

 tion among the h«ads of the allies 

 seemed now to be the preservation 

 of what remained of their shattered 

 forces, and, if possible, of the prin- 

 cipal places of strength yet in their 

 possession. Allowing the reports 

 pf the slain and prisoners in the 

 allied army as laid before the Con- 

 vention, and published by their di- 

 rection, to be exaggerated, it ap- 

 peared that whatever might be the 

 causes, the combined forces had 

 suffered a diminution of more than 

 half of what their numbers amount- 

 ed to at the commencement of the 

 present campaign. The Austrian, 

 the British, afid the Dutch troops 

 then formed a total of little less 

 than 200,OCO men ; of which not 

 more than 100,000 were now 

 remaining to oppose the undimi- 

 nished strength of the French, 

 wliich pressed upon them from all 

 quarters, and was daily receiving 

 additions ; so eager was the repub- 

 lican administration to improve the 

 advantages latdy gained, and to 

 overwhelm the confederates before 

 they could be reinforced, and thus 

 deprive them at once of all expec- 

 tations of recovering their losses. 

 Charleroy had surrendered to the 

 French on the very eve of the bat- 

 tle : a circumstance that 's^as not 

 known to the aUies till very late 

 in the action, and materially con- 

 tributed to discourage them, as 

 they relied on the garrison making 

 a vigorous sally during the en- 

 gagement ; and which would have 

 proved a strong diversion in tfieir 

 favour. 



While these transactions were 

 takiiig place in the vicinity of 

 Charkroy, the French were not 

 less rctive in the province of 

 Dflanders. TJiey wpre commanded 



by General Moreau, one of the 

 bravest and most expert officers in 

 the service of the republic. His 

 operations were directed against 

 Ypres, the most important town in 

 that province, and the taking of 

 which would be attended with the 

 most signal advantages, as it would 

 open a road to all the other parts 

 of the country where the alUes were 

 stationed, and lay them open to 

 the enterprises of the French. 

 This strong town was accordingly 

 besieged by General Moreau, at 

 the head of near 60,000 men ; part 

 of which force was intended to 

 watch the motions of General Clair- 

 fait, were he to attempt to raise 

 the sicgc. This he very speedily en- 

 deavoured 10 effect. Knowing the 

 conseqiience of preserving this 

 place, he collected the whole 

 strength he was able, and advanced 

 with a full determination to ven- 

 ture a battle for this purpose. 

 He attacked the French on the 

 I3th of June, and from this day to 

 the 17th left them no respite. 

 This engagement was, in point of 

 duration and uncertainty haw i^ 

 would terminate, the most renaark- 

 able during she whole campaign. 

 Success seemed at first to incline 

 towards the Austrians, who re- 

 peatedly drove the French from 

 their posts, and for a long time 

 rendered the victory doubtful. 

 But after, (ive days continual 

 fighting, the final issue proved fa- 

 tal to the allies : they were driven 

 from the field of battle, and vvith^ 

 drew in the greatest disorder to- 

 wards Ghent, where Clairfait ral- 

 lied his scattered troo])s, in order 

 to cover that large city, and pre- 

 serve a communication with Oude- 

 narde. But the French were now 

 posted between him and this town. 

 Despairing 



