g in the village, after it had been
three times lost and carried. The action was chiefly confined to this
post, where the field exhibited a horrible scene of carnage. At noon the
duke of Cumberland ordered the whole left wing to advance against
the enemy, whose infantry gave way; prince Waldeck led up the centre;
marshal Bathiani made a motion with the right wing towards Herdeeren,
and victory seemed ready to declare for the confederates, when the
fortune of the day took a sudden turn to their prejudice. Several
squadrons of Dutch horse posted in the centre gave way, and flying at
full gallop, overthrew five battalions of infantry that were advancing
from the body of reserve. The French cavalry charged them with great
impetuosity, increasing the confusion that was already produced, and
penetrating through the lines of the allied army, which was thus divided
about the centre. The duke of Cumberland, who exerted himself with
equal courage and activity in attempting to remedy this disorder, was in
danger of being taken; and the defeat would in all probability have been
total, had not sir John Ligonier taken the resolution of sacrificing
himself and a part of the troops to the safety of the army. At the head
of three British regiments of dragoons, and some squadrons of imperial
horse, he charged the whole line of the French cavalry with such
intrepidity and success, that he overthrew all that opposed him, and
made such a diversion as enabled the duke of Cumberland to effect
an orderly retreat to Maestricht. He himself was taken by a French
carabinier, after his horse had been killed; but the regiments he
commanded retired with deliberation. The confederates retreated to
Maestricht, without having sustained much damage from the pursuit, and
even brought off all their artillery, except sixteen pieces of cannon.
Their loss did not exceed six thousand men killed and taken; whereas
the French general purchased the victory at a much greater expense. The
common cause of the confederate powers is said to have suffered from the
pride and ignorance of their generals. On the eve of the battle,
when the detachment of the count de Clermont appeared on the hill of
Herdeeren, marshal Bathiani asked permission of the commander-in-chief
to attack them before they should be reinforced, declaring he would
answer for the success of the enterprise. No regard was paid to this
proposal; but the superior asked in his turn, where the marshal would
b