HISTORY OF THE WAR.
47
poft he occupied was fufHciently lirong, the enemy might make themlelves mafters of Rees, by turning his camp, and thus exe- cute one of the principal parts of their defign; he confidered the great difference between attaching and being attacked; he confidered the effeft of an attempt ahogether unexpected by the enemy ; he there- fore took the refolution of aban- doning his poll:, and going out to meet them. Perceiving that the French were marching into diffi- cult ground, he did not lofe a . moment to begin the
^^* 5" aftion. He ordered a fmall party, which he had. ported in a little coppice, to fall upon the enemies left, which he obferved to be uncovered ; and appointed the fire of this party, as a fignal for all the reft to advance, and make the onfet with bayonets fixed. The French thus vigoroufly ^nd unex- peftedly attacked, fell into confu- fion; their courage ill feconded the wifdom of their general; they did not Hand half an hour ; they left the field of batde, eleven pieces of cannon, many prifoners, and much baggage to the Hanoverians, who drove them under the cannon of Wefel.
This fignal advantage over fuch a prodigious fuperionty was not more gallantly obtained than well purfued and improved. Imhofffavv that the rains had increafed to fuch a degree, as to leave no hopes for the allied army to pafs by the bridge at Rees. Having taken proper care of his magazines, he quitted his port at Meer, and being reinforced by fome parties, who pafTed the river in boats, he marched with the utmoft diligence towards the route of the Englifti forces, and happily
effefted a junction, which had hitherto been attended with fo many difficulties.
Prince Ferdinand in his retreat met with no obftruftion, but juft w/hat was fufficient to difplay more fully the gallantry of the officers, and the fpirit of his troops. A town called Watchtendonck was on his left, as he returned; this place, though not fortified, is a port of much importance, and being an ifland furrounded by the river Ni- ers, is extremely difficult of accefs. The French had thrown a body of troops into this place. The Here- ditary Prince, the firft in every ac- tive fervice, was employed to force it. The bridge on his approach had been drawn up. The Prince feeing that if he attempted to get down this bridge, the enemy would gain time to recoiled themfelves, threw himfelf into the river; his grenadiers, animated by fo gallant an example, plunged in after him, and furioully attacking the enemy with their bayonets, in a few mi- nutes drove them from that polt. This advantage, joined to that gained by general Imhoff, and the uncommon refolution, which ap- peared in both thefe aclions, awed the French. They found that their troops, raw, undifciplined, and lit- tle fit for hard fervice, were not to be relied upon ; and they feared to bring on an aftion, which by being decifive againft them might draw on the mort fatal confequences. So that the Prince repafled the Rhine in a mort excellent order, even with lefs trouble than he had at firft parted it ; and indeed with little molertation, but what he met with from the weather. Such excef- five rains had fallen, that he in vain attempted a pafTage at Rhineberg or
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