fome regiments having gained an e- minence defended themfelves brave- ly, but in the end they were to- tally routed. The infantry, both French and Imperialills, made but a faint refiftance. The King of Pruflia in perfon, expofed to the hotteil fire, led on liis troops ; tlie enemy gave way in every part; they were feized with a panic, and fied in the utmofl diforder. They left 3C00 men dead on the field of battle, 63 pieces of cannon, and many colours. Eight French generals, 250 ofHcers of different ranks, and 6000 private men were taken. Night alone faved from total deftruclion the fcattcred re- mains of an army, that in the morning was fo numerous and fo formidable.
1 have not undertaken on this, nor fhall I undertake upon any o- ther occaiion, in thefe prelimina- ry chapters, to enter into the de- tail of all the various manoeuvres of every battle ; they are matters little undcrftood by, and little iti- terefting to, the generality of rea- ders. Befides, the accounts are fometimes inaccurate, and feldom or never confillent with each other.
The glorious fuccefs of the battle of Rofbach, was fuch as hardly wanted to be improved; the enemy was left totally incapable of a61ion. The king was fet free on that fide ; but it was a freedom which gave him no refpite from his labours ; it only gave him an opportunity of undergoing new labours in another part. The Auibians had a vaft force, and had new began to make a proportionable progrefs in Silefia. The dependence which the King had upon the fidelity of his generals there, feemed fhaken by fomething which then appeared, and Hill feems ambiguous in their condutl:. The
Auftrians, after a fiege from the 27th of October to the 1 1 th of November, carried on under infinite difficulties and with a prodigious lofs, had re- duced Schweidnitz, and obliged the PrufTian garrifon of 4.000 men to lurrender prifoners of war. Scon after, as they had intelligence of ths viftory of Rofbach, and knew that the King of PrufTn was on fall march to the relief of Sileua, the Aullrians refolved to lofe no time to attack the Prince of Bevern in his Itrong camp under the walls of Breflau. A treble fupcriority incited them to this attempt. They attacked the Prince's army with great refolution,
and their attack was luilain- -kt .
1 • 1 • • J- N0V.22
ed with amazmgintrepidity.
The flaughter of the Aullrians was prodigious. A great part of iheir army had retired from the field of battle, and the reft were preparing to retire ; when all at once the Pruflian generals unexpeftedly took the fame refolution. A part of their army had fuffered a great deal in the engagement. They became apprehenfive of a total defeat in cafe their intrenchmenis Oiouldbe forced in any part. With thefe ideas they retreated from the llrcng poll they occupied, and retired behind the Oder. The Auftrians returning, with aftoniiliment faw themfelves mailers of the field of battle, which they had but jull been obliged to relinquifh. What is remarkable, and what gave rife to many conjeftures, the Prince of Bevern going to re- connoitre without efcort, and at- tended only by a groom, was taken two days after the battle by an ad- vanced party of Croats, a imall body of whom had crofled the Oder.
This advantage, though dearly
bought, was immediately followed
with many others. Breflau, -kj
the capital of Silefiajimme- ' '^*
C 4. diately
