li+ ANNUAL REGISTER, 1814. 



the left, an attack on the village of 

 Mercxetn was made by Colonel 

 M'Leod's brigade, led by himself, 

 in the most gallant style, and un- 

 der the immediate direction of Ma- 

 jor General M'Kenzie. 



The rapid, but orderly advance 

 of the detachment of the third bat- 

 talion of the rifle corps, under Cap- 

 tain Fullarton's command, and of 

 the second battalion of the 78th, 

 commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel 

 Lindsay, supported by the second 

 battalion of the 25th, commanded 

 by Major M'Donnell, and by the 

 35th, under Lieut.-Colonel Elphin- 

 stone, and an immediate charge 

 with the bayonet by the 78th, or- 

 dered by Lieutenant-Col. Lindsaj', 

 decided the contest much sooner, 

 and with much less loss than might 

 have been expected, from the 

 strength of the post, and the num- 

 bers of the enemy. 



Colonel M'Leod received a se- 

 vere wound through the arm, in 

 the advance to the attack, but did 

 not quit the command of the bri- 

 gade till he became faint from loss 

 of blood. I am happy to think that 

 the array will probably not be long 

 deprived of the services of this dis- 

 tinguished officer. 



The enemy were driven into 

 Antwerp, with considerable loss, 

 and some prisoners were taken. 



I have the greatest satisfaction in 

 expressing my warmest approbation 

 of the conduct of all these troops : 

 no veterans ever behaved better 

 than these men, who then met the 

 enemy for the first time. 



The discipline and intrepiditj- of 

 the Jlighland battalion, which had 

 the good fortune to lead the attack 

 into the village, reflect equal credit 

 on the officers and nen. 



The same spirit was manifested 

 by the other troops employed. 



Two guns of Major Fyer's bri- 

 gade were advanced in support of 

 the attack, and, by their excellent 

 practice, soon silenced a battery of 

 the enemy. 



The 52nd regiment, under the 

 command of that experienced offi- 

 cer Lieut.-Colonel Gibbs, was af- 

 terwards moved into the village of 

 Mercxem, in order to cover the 

 withdrawing of the troops from it, 

 which was ordered as soon as the 

 Prussian column arrived by the 

 great road, the head of which had 

 already driven in the outposts, 

 when our attack began, 



Lieutenant-Colonel Gibbs re- 

 mained with the 52nd, and .3rd 

 battalion 95th, till after dark. 



This reconnoissance having been 

 satisfactorily accomplished, the 

 Prussian troops are going into can- 

 tonments, and this corps will re- 

 sume nearly those it occupied be- 

 fore. 



The severity of the weather has 

 been excessive. The soldiers have 

 borne it with cheerfulness and 

 patience, and I hope will not suflPer 

 very materially from it. 



1 send inclosed a return of the 

 killed and wounded. 



I have the honour to be, &c. 

 (Signed) 



Thomas Graham. 



Admiralty-office, Feb. 26. 

 Copies of letters received at this 

 office, from Rear Admiral Dur- 

 ham, Commander-in-chief of his 

 Majesty's ships and vessels at the 

 Leeward Islands, addressed to 

 J. W. Crnker, Esq. 



