60 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1794. 



in the garrison. 'V^'^hJle such prac- 

 tices were on foot, it was impossi- 

 ble for either courage or military 

 sltillto be of much avail; and those 

 who were so ready to txtol the 

 French for their exploits, ought 

 to have acknowledged that, situated 

 as their eiieinieswere, the latter de- 

 served no less admiration for hear- 

 ing up so resohitely against difScul- 

 ties, in their nature insurmounta- 

 ble ; as they were infallibly calcu- 

 lated lo baffle all intrepidity of spi- 

 rit and wisdom of exertion. 



Theloss of Nimeguen was ac- 

 companied with tliat of another 

 place, still more famous for the 

 various sieges it had sustainftd at 

 different periods, during the three 

 last centuries. This was the strong 

 and important town of IVIaestricht, 

 It had,by its noble defence against 

 commanders of the highest fame 

 in their day, acquired a reputation 

 whicii, it was presumed, it would 

 not fttil to maintain ; while those 

 who were entrusted with its de- 

 fence recollected the motives that 

 should animate them. The garri- 

 son consisted of select officers and 

 soldiers, and amounted to upwards 

 of 8000 men, abimdantly furnished 

 with the means of a brave and 

 obstinate resistance. The honour 

 that would result from the taking 

 of such a place was a very stimu- 

 lating motive among the French, 

 The person chosen to command 

 on this occasion was General Kle- 

 ber, who had already signalized 

 himself by his courage and con- 

 duct, tie summoned the town 

 upon the 26th of September ; but 

 was given to understand that it 

 would not yield but in the last ex- 

 tremity, 'i'he besieging army was 

 very n'.:mcrou5, and the corps of 



engineers attending it composed 

 of the most expert in that depart- 

 ment. On the town's refusal to 

 surrender, a number of batteries 

 were planted on every spot from 

 whence the town was annoyable. 

 Their execution proved formidable; 

 and it became ' necessary for the 

 garrison to exert its utmost efforts 

 to counteract them.- As there was 

 a considerable body of lavalry in 

 the place, a determination was 

 tak^n to employ it in making a 

 sudden and rapid sa'ly on a bat- 

 tery, of which the situation required 

 an expeditious attack. It was ac- 

 cordingly attacked and entirely de- 

 stroied, and one of the guns car- 

 ried off. Encouraged by tliis suc- 

 cess, the besieged made anothersally 

 on t!ie Frtnch batteries ; but the 

 eneniy \ras dtily prepared, and the 

 attempt miscanied. A third sally 

 succeeded better ; and the bat- 

 tery against which it was directed 

 was almost entirely demolished. 

 But these vigorous efforts, on the 

 part of the besieged, produced no 

 permanent benefit. The moun- 

 tainous ground in the environs of 

 the town, afforded so many situa- 

 tions to erect battering pieces, and 

 those which were injured by the 

 besieged were so speedily replaced 

 by otiiers, that the besiegers, being 

 constantly supplied with heavy 

 cannon, and conslructingadtiitional 

 batteries wherever they could be 

 serviceable, surrounded the town 

 with them in such a manner, that 

 their firing continued without in- 

 termission. No part of the town 

 remained unexp..sed, and many 

 parts were laid in ruins. This de- 

 structive scene lasted several days 

 and nights, during which a great 

 slauglitcr was wiade of the garrison 



and 



