Military Memoirs of Capt. George Carleton by Daniel Defoe
page 43 of 250 (17%)
page 43 of 250 (17%)
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ready to disappear. There was a large Wood on the Right of our Army,
through which lay the Road to _Ghent_, not broader than to admit of more than Four to march a breast. Down this the Prince had slid his Forces, except to that very small Party which the Captain and my self commanded, and which was designedly left to bring up the Rear. Nor did we stir till Captain _Collier_, then _Aid de Camp_ to his Brother, now Earl of _Portmore_, came with the Word of Command for us to draw off. When _Villeroy_ was told of our Retreat, he was much surpriz'd, as thinking it a Thing utterly impossible. However, at last, being sensible of the Truth of it, he gave Orders for our Rear to be attack'd; but we kept fireing from Ditch to Ditch, and Hedge to Hedge, till Night came upon us; and so our little Army got clear of its gigantick Enemy with very inconsiderable Loss. However, the _French_ fail'd not, in their customary Way, to express the Sense of their vexation, at this Disappointment, with Fire and Sword in the Neighbourhood round. Thus Prince _Vaudemont_ acquir'd more Glory by that Retreat than an intire Victory could have given him; and it was not, I confess, the least Part of Satisfaction in Life, that my self had a Share of Honour under him to bring off the Rear at that his glorious Retreat at _Arfeel_. However, in further Revenge of this political Chicane of the Prince of _Vaudemont_, and to oblige, if possible, King _William_ to raise the Siege from before _Namur, Villeroy_ enter'd into the Resolution of Bombarding _Brussells_. In order to which he encamp'd at _Anderleck_, and then made his Approaches as near as was convenient to the Town. There he caus'd to be planted thirty Mortars, and rais'd a Battery of ten Guns to shoot hot Bullets into the Place. But before they fir'd from either, _Villeroy_, in complement to the Duke |
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