108 THE LIFE or 



and ordered themtopublilh immediately through 

 the town, that wherever I found the cockade of 

 the French, in one hour from that pioment, X 

 would treat it aS an enemy. 



I here learnt that the French General, com^ 

 manding in Breda, had fent out detatchments 

 into the country, towards Hoogfir oaten, to force 

 the farmers to fend all their waggons during that 

 night to Baerle-Hertog, for the purpofe of tranf- 

 porting, on the following day, the forage they 

 had been able to colle6l into the garrifon. This 

 appeared a meafure of too great importance to 

 be overlooked : notwithftanding therefore there 

 was much to rifque, by penetrating fo far into 

 the country, ftill the object was worthy an at- 

 tempt, even though I was forced to pafs the 

 garrifon oi Breda, and confequently expofe my- 

 felf to the danger of being cut off. After having 

 dctatched an officer, withfome huzars to Kaam 

 to deftroy fome forage I could not carry off, I 

 m^irched by Reil to Alphen, a league from Baerle- 

 Hertog. Here I lay upon my arms, till about 

 two o'clock in the morning, watching the vil- 

 lage, leaft intelligence of my approach fhould 

 go to the enemy ; leaving an officer and fome 

 huzars to occupy Alphen. I then proceeded to 

 Baerle-Hertog, where I knew the Commiflaries 

 had direded the waggons and carts to affemble 

 the preceeding night. I reached that village 



early 



