HISTORY 
The question which comes to be 
considered is, the utility of these 
‘extraordinary transactions, and 
-what good purpose they could pos- 
ssibly answer. If it was with the 
view of dividing the force of the 
enemy, and drawing their atten- 
‘tion to the defence of the frontiers 
generally, and without being able 
to discover to what point the prin- 
cipal attack was intended to be 
directed, where was the army, and 
‘the equipment necessary for that 
-army, to enable it to strike an im- 
portant blow? 
The whole force of France was 
mow extended from the Rhone to 
the German Ocean, an extensive 
frontier of not less than seven hun- 
dred miles, strengthened by several 
large navigable rivers, and protect- 
-ed by strong and important sta- 
ions. M. Biron marched from 
Valenciennes ; and on the evening 
-of the same day was in possession of 
‘Quiverain, the Austrian advanced 
te on the side of France, where 
eremained for the night. 
On the morning of the 29th, the 
Marischal moved on, dislodging in 
his way all the outposts of the ene- 
2: and in the evening appeared 
before Mons. The Austrians, ac- 
juainted with the approach of the 
ench army, had previously taken 
possession of the heights in the 
neighbourhood of the city. These 
were now occupied by a numerous 
‘body, who had taken the precau- 
‘tion to throw up works and batte- 
ties, in order to cover the garrison 
‘and prevent the enemy from gain- 
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[96 
ing the advantageoussituation which 
the heights presented. Biron was 
astonished at a sight, which he so 
little expected, from the accounts 
which he had received, and hesitat- 
ed on the propriety of an attack. 
The night between the 29th and 
the 30th was a scene of tumult and 
disorder. The troops became dis- 
affected; and this was followed up 
by the desertion of the 5th and 6th 
regiments of dragoons, or the great- 
est part of them. With great dif- 
ficulty they were brought back to 
camp by the exertion of Biron in 
person. On his return with the 
flying squadrons, he found nothing 
but dismay. It had been given 
out, during the absence of Biron, 
that he had gone over to the ene- 
my* ; and that his intention was 
to deliver the whole of the force 
under his command into their hands. 
His appearance restored, in some 
degree, confidence: but the idea of 
an attack onthe Austrian lines was 
now atan end. At day-break of 
the morning of the 30th, Biron 
commenced ‘his retreat in the face 
of asuperior enemy. The Austri- 
ans did not lose a moment to take 
the advantage of this retrograde 
movement, but commenced a vi- 
gorous attack on the French co- 
lumns. The army were able to 
make good their retreat to Quive- 
rain ; from whence they were con- 
ducted to their former camp at 
Quiverechain, leaving a battalion 
of national guards to protect the 
former post. ‘The Hulans soon 
after advanced upon Quiverain, 
* This was a common artifice among aristocratical officers of the army, in order 
hope of disgusting the soldiers, and crushing the spirit of the revolution. To 
Ie the pe w soldiers, and to bring confusion and shame uponevery undertaking ; 
motive (when the perfidy was obvious to the soldiers) we may attribute the 
Y ened that attended afterwards the retreats of Dillon, Biron, and others. 
and 
