HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
posts that were on this side of the 
euse, to secure some batteaux for 
the purpose of passing the river, 
and to examine the proper place 
for executing this passage. The 
rest of the army followed on the 
3d, and executed the march thro’ 
the Campine with great success, 
and arrived on the banks of the 
Meuse upon the 17th and 18th. 
General La Marliere had driven 
all the posts that the enemy had on 
this side of the river to the other: 
but, wanting resolution andactivity, 
had let them take away all the bat- 
teaux that were upon the river 
Meuse, except two that General 
Miranda was fortunate enough to 
take near Wassein. In this place 
he conceived the passage might be 
executed; and in consequence, 
sent La Marliere with his avant- 
guarde to threaten the enemy, oppo- 
site to Ruremonde, as if he had in- 
tended to pass the river thereabout; 
which stratagem called their atten- 
tion to that quarter, while in the 
‘night, with the two batteaux afore- 
said, General Miranda passed the 
_ river at Wassein with a body of 
1,500 men, took possession of a 
wood that was opposite to Wassein, 
and protected the passage of his 
troops. When the number amount- 
ed to 4,000 men, he marched to the 
enemy that was behind the river 
Roire, forced all their advanced 
posts to repass this river, and at- 
tacked the bridges of Ruremonde 
and Orsbeck. As soon as the ene- 
my perceived this resolute attack, 
they set on fire two bridges, and 
with the greatest precipitation be- 
‘their retreat towards Wassein- 
By a ford, pointed out by 
some of the scholars of the town of 
Ruremonde, drawn by curiosity to 
the opposite side of the river, two 
[121 
squadrons of French light cavalry 
crossed it, and seized some bat- 
teaux ; by means of which the in- 
fantry also began to pass. With 
these.two squadrons of cavalry and 
one battalion of infantry that fol- 
lowed, General Miranda entered 
the town of Ruremonde; where he 
found some of the enemy’s baggage, 
and made a few prisoners. The 
magistrates delivered every thing 
with friendly dispositions, and in- 
formed him of the despondent si- 
tuation in which the enemy, though 
stronger in force, were in at that 
time. General La Marliere was 
sent immediately with his avant- 
guarde in pursuit of the enemy, and 
soon afterwards General Champ- 
morin followed him with a second 
division of the army towards Was- 
seinberg and Bercheim: they made 
some prisoners, and took part of 
their baggage in their retreat. At 
this time General Miranda received 
an express from General Dumou- 
riez, informing him, that some mat- 
ters of the greatest importance 
made it necessary that General 
Miranda should come to him at 
Liege as soon as possible. Gene- 
ral. Miranda's intention was to fol- 
low the enemy to Cologne, join 
Dumouriez’s army there, and to 
drive them to the other side of the 
Rhine, making. this river their 
barrier for the winter season; but 
the news received from Dumouriez 
compelled him to alter his plan. 
However, he gave orders to La 
Marliere to invade all Prussian 
Guelders and the Duchy of Cleves, 
and Jay a moderate contribution on 
his Prussian Majesty's territories, 
just to shew that the French army 
that had driven him from Cham- 
pagne, had ended the campaign, by 
taking winter quarters upon his 
russian 
