ction, and to procure
provisions for his forces. With this view he decamped on the
twenty-sixth day of June. He had no sooner quitted Aschaffenburgh, than
it was seized by the French general; he had not marched above three
leagues when he perceived the enemy, to the number of thirty thousand,
had passed the river farther down, at Selingenstadt, and were drawn up
in order of battle at the village of Dettingen, to dispute his passage.
Thus he found himself cooped up in a very dangerous situation. The enemy
had possessed themselves of Aschaffenburgh behind, so as to prevent his
retreat; his troops were confined in a narrow plain, bounded by hills
and woods on the right, flanked on the left by the river Maine, on the
opposite side of which the French had erected batteries that annoyed the
allies on their march; in the front a considerable part of the French
army was drawn up, with a narrow pass before them, the village of
Dettingen on their right, a wood on their left, and a morass in the
centre. Thus environed, the confederates must either have fought at a
very great disadvantage, or surrendered themselves prisoners of war, had
not the duke de Gramont, who commanded the enemy, been instigated by the
spirit of madness to forego these advantages. He passed the defile, and
advancing towards the allies, a battle ensued. The French horse charged
with great impetuosity, and some regiments of British cavalry were
put in disorder; but the infantry of the allies behaved with such
intrepidity and deliberation, tinder the eye of their sovereign, as soon
determined the fate of the day; the French were obliged to give way,
and repass the Maine with great precipitation, having lost about five
thousand men, killed, wounded, or taken. Had they been properly pursued,
before they recollected themselves from their first confusion, in all
probability they would have sustained a total overthrow. The earl
of Stair proposed that a body of cavalry should be detached on this
service; but his advice was overruled. The loss of the allies in this
action amounted to two thousand men. The generals Clayton and Monroy
were killed; the duke of Cumberland, who exhibited uncommon proofs of
courage, was shot through the calf of the leg; the earl of Albemarle,
general Huske, and several other officers of distinction, were wounded.
The king exposed his person to a severe fire of cannon as well as
musquetry; he rode between the first and second lines with his swo