ssians advanced, the right changed its position, and having soon met
with a small rising ground, they availed themselves of it, by planting
it with sixteen pieces of heavy artillery. The fire from thence was
partly pointed at the enemy's right, to increase the disorder there, and
took their left wing in front, which was excessively galled thereby. At
five the victory was decided, the cannonading ceased, and the enemy
fled on all sides. They were pursued as long as there was any light
to distinguish them, and it may be said, that night alone was the
preservation of this army, which had been so formidable in the morning.
They took the benefit of the darkness to hurry into Fribourg, and there
to repass the Unstrut, which they did on the morning of the sixth, after
a whole night's inarch. The king of Prussia set out early in the morning
to pursue them with all his cavalry, supported by four battalions of
grenadiers, the infantry following them in two columns. The enemy had
passed the Unstrut at Fribourg, when the Prussians arrived on its banks,
and as they had burnt the bridge, it became necessary to make another,
which, however, was soon done. The cavalry passed first, but could
not come up with the enemy till five in the evening, upon the hills of
Eckersberg. It was then too late to force them there, for which reason
the king thought proper to canton his army in the nearest villages, and
to be satisfied with the success his hussars had in taking near three
hundred baggage waggons, and every thing they contained. The whole
loss of the Prussians in this important engagement, did not exceed five
hundred men killed and wounded. Among the former was general Meincke,
and among the latter prince Henry and general Seydelitz. The enemy lost
sixty-four pieces of cannon, a great many standards and colours, near
three thousand men killed on the field of battle, and upwards of eight
thousand taken prisoners, among whom were several generals, and other
officers of distinction. Three hundred waggons were sent to Leipsic,
laden with wounded French and Swiss. Upon the approach of the Prussians
towards Eckersberg, the enemy retreated with great precipitation; and,
after marching all night, arrived the next day at Erfurth, in the utmost
want of every necessary of life, not having had a morsel of bread for
two days, during which they had been obliged to live upon turnips,
radishes, and other roots, which they dug out of the earth. The French,