Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/306

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288
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1814.

tire body, of both cavalry and infantry, would have been surprised in their cantonments: as it was, we sent them scampering, like the herd of swine filled with devils, in treble quick time. It was my lucky lot to bear the most prominent part in the affair. With my own hands, I struck the flag in the battery, after giving them a most glorious peppering in our advance, and subsequently by unspiking their guns, and bringing them to bear upon them in their retreat. We captured Mons. Le Murche, the leader of the detachment, and his gallant charger; and, in 28 hours from the commencement of these detailed events, I was, in spite of a severe wound, gaily and triumphantly prancing on that very pavement, and on that identical horse, which with its rider, now my prisoner, had placed me in such jeopardy, and, filled me with such consternation.” * * * * *

In another letter to his friend, Captain Watts says – “It may with truth be asserted, that a more fortunate measure than our attack upon the enemy at Gessendorf, was never decided on. We have just assisted in rescuing the gallant Duke of Brunswick, with his corps of about 1800 men, from the most perilous condition. Excluded by Buonaparte from the terms of his late treaty with Austria, with which he had been acting as a partisan, be determined, rather than tamely submit to the despot, to attempt his retreat from the very heart of Germany, surrounded by enemies. In pursuance of this determination, he was forced to fight a battle every day, in one of which he captured 1200 prisoners: he stormed two towns which barred his progress; laid Leipsic itself under contribution; and finally arrived, closely pursued, on the banks of the Weser, four days after our defeat and dispersion of the enemy. By the flight of their armed vessels, and the destruction of their battery, the river, upon which he embarked his men in small coasters, was left open, and he, by these means, made his way down to us, without further hindrance or molestation.”

We have only room for one more extract of this highly interesting correspondence.

* * * * * “When I got on board the Mosquito, I was told by Captain Goate, that the Duke had just arrived, and that