410] 
conducted by the two Generals, 
Ruhaut and Giscard, before men- 
tioned, that they patiently waited 
the event of fire and desolation, 
and used every effort to repair, at 
the moment, as much as possible, 
the dreadful consequences which 
they occasioned. Enquiry seems now 
‘to have been particularly set on foot, 
in regard to certain of the Generals 
who had been hitherto entrusted 
with commands; and in conse- 
quence, Generals Luckner and An- 
selme were served with a decree of 
accusation from the National As- 
sembly ; and Luckner was commit- 
ted to prison. This honest veteran 
paid for the perfidies and faults of 
Berthier, who had either emigrated 
or absconded. 
The Prussians still continued in 
full retreat, by the way of Stenay. 
They evacuated Verdun on the 
12th of October; and which, on 
the following day, was taken pos- 
‘session of by M. Dillon, who com- 
smanded the advanced guard of the 
‘army, after the junction had been 
Jermed between Dumouriez and 
Kellerman. Besides this army, that 
under General Bournonville, who 
was stiled the French Ajax, was 
particularly galling tothe Prussians; 
and daily took men, horses, and 
cannon. It is, however, allowed 
wnall hands, that the retreat of the 
Prussian army, although marked by 
the roads being strewed with car- 
cases of horses and dead bodies, was 
very regular and orderly, and con- 
ducted with the most consummate 
ability. 
This campaign is one of the most 
glorious and the most scientific 
that the French armies ever per- 
formed :—it was a war of positions, 
by which means and manceuvres 
they stopped a superior enemy that 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1792. 
was marching in triumph to the 
capital of the kingdom, with an ar- 
my of about 70,000 men; while 
the French generals that were be- 
fore them at Grand Pré, only had. 
17,000. With this small force, they 
fought them, they made a successful 
retreat before them, they joined 
two other corps that were at a great 
distance, and with them formed an — 
army, with which they took a grand 
and superior position at St. Mene- 
hould, repulsed their attacks, and. 
forced them to retire and to quit 
France, without putting to the ha- 
zard of a battle the only army that 
France had at that time to protect _ 
the country. This really was what 
the military call a war of positions, 
in which science must have the ad- 
vantage; and the event shewed 
that the French had made proper 
use of it. 
We have already taken notice of 
the capture of Worms by General 
Custine; which was soon followed 
up by that of Spires, and a large 
quantity of flour with warlike stores 
of every description, which proved 
a valuable acquisition to the armies 
of France. The progress of this 
general was at once rapid and suc- 
cessful; he followed this blow by 
the attack of Mayence. This strong 
fortress, on the banks of the Rhine, 
was garrisoned by 10,000 men; and 
which surrendered on the 2ist of 
October, without much loss on the 
side of the French: a spirit of dis- 
may seems to have seized the whole 
of the German frontier, if we may 
judge from the little resistance given. 
to the French at this period, Franc-~ 
fort on the Main was delivered up 
to Custine on the 23d, almost on the 
first summons. Here also a large 
quantity of stores was found, be- 
sides the inhabitants being obliged 
ta 
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