168 
THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE. 
and lie still charges with more impetuosity or sustains the charge with more firm¬ 
ness ; that is, disputes the ground with more obstinacy than almost any other 
man in Europe. Some nations, who sustain the distant combat with courage, 
turn with fear from the countenance of an enraged enemy. The highlander 
advances towards his antagonist with ardour; and, if circumstances permit him 
to grasp him, as man grasps man, his courage is assured. 
WAR OF AUSTRIAN SUCCESSION. 
Of this strength, three troops of the Horse and ITovse Grenadier Guards, the 
whole of the Blues, two regiments of Dragoon Guards, six of Dragoons, three 
battalions of Eoot Guards and 15 regiments of the line embarbarked for Elanders 
in 1712. In the following year the Eighteenth proceeded to join the army; and 
in 1744 nine more infantry regiments were despatched to the field of action. 
THE BATTLE OE DETTINGEN, 1743. 
The battle of Dettingen, though undecisive in its political results, had great 
effect in raising the martial character of the British soldier. The instances of 
individual daring which distinguished the fight are very numerous. There is an 
anecdote on record of a trooper of the 3rd Dragoons named Brown having had 
two horses shot under him and two fingers of his left hand carried away. Thus 
partially disabled, he perceived the standard of the regiment in peril, the cornet 
who bore it having been wounded in the wrist. He rushed forward—a gens 
(Varmes had seized it. Brown shot him, tore the colour from his grasp and placed 
it between his legs while he desperately made his way back to his regiment. The 
French surrounded and cut at him. Eight wounds did he receive in his face, 
head and neck; three balls went through his broad hat and two lodged in his 
back 1 Still he bore him bravely onward and rejoined his corps at a distance of 
80 yards. The ears of the poor fellow were gladdened with the welcome shouts 
of his comrades. The King would have given him a commission, but Brown 
could neither read nor write, so he was placed in the Life Guards as a compli¬ 
ment. As however, the bails could not be extracted, the Crown gave him a 
pension of £30 a year and he retired into private life with the pleasing conscious¬ 
ness that he had deserved well of his country. 
The 21st Royal Regiment of North British Fusiliers also did themselves honour 
at Dettingen. When the French cuirassiers pounced upon them, Sir Andrew 
Agnew, deeming it impossible to withstand their charge (for the impenetrable 
square was not then known in the British army), ordered the regiment to fall 
back from the centre by right and left. The cuirassiers rushed madly into the 
lane they formed, believing that the line had been broken. The 21st then 
delivered a volley and charged the horses with the bayonet, nearly annihilating 
the French corps. The King did not fail to see the movement and its result. 
“ Ah, Sir Henry,” said His Majesty, pleasantly, after the battle, “ the gens 
cTarmcs got in among you to-day!” “Yes, please, your Majesty,” answered 
the brave Scotch knight, “but they did not get out again/ 5 
