THE BROME-WALTON FAMILY. 
251 
Sackville, the fifth brigade (light 12-prs.), and sixth and seventh 
(Hanoverians and Hessians) kept advancing to the front. Two large 
columns of Saxon infantry in the most gallant manner advanced to 
support the re-formed cavalry; but again the 12-prs. opened upon 
them, and they soon broke and disappeared (85). 
Again and again the brave French cavalry formed up to charge, but 
never got near our devoted infantry—being repelled by the massed fire 
of small-arms and artillery; and each time the enemy's cavalry and 
infantry retreated the R.A. unlimbered and poured some rounds into 
them (80, 82, &c.): this continued from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m., when the 
enemy gave way all along the line, and made for the bridges to get 
back under shelter of the ramparts into Minden : meanwhile the Here¬ 
ditary Prince had got round to their rear, and Drummond's and Foy's 
field brigades had converged upon the edge of the morass—converting 
Minden into a Sedan. The carnage was horrible: the enemy lost about 
8000 in killed, wounded, and prisoners; 43 guns; 10 pair of colours, 
and 7 standards. Our loss amounted to 2800 in killed and wounded; 
and the Royal Artillery, 3 officers and 20 men. 1 2 Our heavy brigades 
ceased firing at sunset, by order of the Prince, under the ramparts of 
Minden (85); and at 10 p.m. Drummond's and Foy's light brigades 
took up the pursuit of the scattered bodies in retreat. 3 Decker was 
quite lost in admiration of the organisation, equipment, and achieve¬ 
ments of our field artillery brigades on this memorable day; and 
Mercer tells us (in his Waterloo diary, item 1792) that in his day 
“Minden was what Waterloo has since become." 3 
In the Orders of the day, “ His Serene Highness orders his greatest 
“ thanks to be given to the whole army for their bravery and good be- 
“ haviour yesterday, particularly to the British infantry, and to the two 
“battalions of Hanoverian Guards; the same to all the brigades of heavy 
“artillery. H.S.H. declares publicly that, next to God, he attributes 
“the glory of the day to the intrepidity and extraordinary behaviour of 
“these troops. Likewise to ... . the three English captains, 
“Phillips, (Macbean next day, by special letter), Drummond, and Foy." 4 
The allied army encamped the same night upon the field of battle— 
with head-quarters at Suderhimmen— 
“ Content with our hard fare, my hoys. 
On the cold, wet, ground.” 
“ Why should we be melancholy, boys P 
Whose business ’tis to die.” 
—The Soldier’s Song , at Minden. 
Next morning, at 9 o'clock, Minden was summoned by Prince 
Ferdinand, whereon the garrison surrendered, with 3000 regulars and 
Campaigns of Prince Ferdinand,” pp. 103, 110. B.A. “ Muster-Bolls,” 1769. The ISTo. 1 of 
the 12-pr. flag gun, Sergt. Wm. Bobe, was the father of Wellington’s commander of B.A. in the 
Peninsula, Col. Sir William Bobe, k.c.b. ; and died as Lieut, and Barrack-Master of Woolwich. 
2 Achievements of Field Artillery (May), “Proceedings” B.A.I., Vol. XIX., Xo. 9, p. 463. 
_ 3 “ In the north-east corner of Church Court, Chichester, next the entrance from the Cross, 
lived a Colonel Jones, a Hero of Minden, who was looked upon with a kind of awe.” 
4 “ Campaigns,” 1759, pp. Ill, 112, 
