ItC^' THE LIFE or 



enemy, who I was confident rnufl have learnt 

 the nature of my expedition, and the fmallnefs 

 •of my force, and would probably attempt to cut 

 off my retreat* I had not however proceeded. 

 far on my route, when I Was met by a mefien- 

 ger, whom the Duke Frederic had fent to re^ 

 call me, and to inform me that that very morn- 

 ing, the firft column of his army had left Bois 

 le Diii\ and part of it would that evening reach 

 ^ilhourgh, whether I was direded to repair, 

 and where my detatchment was to return under 

 the command of its proper officers, after which 

 I was myfelf to join his Serene Highnefs. 



This cheering intelligence removed all ap- 

 prehenfions of danger, and in the evening I 

 reached Tilbonrgh without having met with any 

 oppoiition, there I found the officer who I had 

 detatched to Kaam^ and who had executed the 

 purpofe of his miffion. Here, in confequence of 

 the Duke's order, I gave up my charge; but in- 

 ftcad of going immediately to Bois le Due, I 

 conceived the idea of reconnoitring the pofts 

 occupied by the French in the environs of 

 Breda. To cffe(fl this purpofe, when midnight 

 had fcarcely yielded to the morning of the i6th 

 of March 1793, taking with me a non-commif- 

 lioned officer and a trumpet, onfny own authority, 

 I fet out to fummons Breda, about four or five 

 leagues diilant. I well knew that garrifon could 



be 



