general had established his head-quarters; but
he abandoned them at the approach of the allies, and leaving behind
all his sick and wounded, with part of his magazines, retired without
halting to Paderborn, and from thence to the Rhine, recalling in his
march the troops that were in Embden, Cassel, and the land-graviate of
Hesse, all which places were now evacuated. They were terribly harassed
in their retreat by the Prussian hussars, and a body of light horse,
distinguished by the name of Hanoverian hunters, who took a great number
of prisoners, together with many baggage-waggons, and some artillery.
Such was the precipitation of the enemy's retreat, that they could not
find time to destroy all their magazines of provision and forage; and
even forgot to call in the garrison of Vecht, a small fortress in the
neighbourhood of Diepholt, who were made prisoners of war, and here was
found a complete train of battering cannon and mortars. The count de
Clermont, having reached the banks of the Rhine, distributed his forces
into quarters of cantonment in Wesel and the adjoining country, while
prince Ferdinand cantoned the allied army in the bishopric of Munster;
here, however, he did not long remain inactive. In the latter end of
May he ordered a detachment to pass the Rhine at Duysbourg, under the
command of colonel Scheither, who executed his order without loss,
defeated three battalions of the enemy, and took five pieces of cannon.
In the beginning of June the whole army passed the Rhine on a bridge
constructed for the occasion, defeated a body of French cavalry,
and obtained divers other advantages in their march towards Wesel.
Keiserwaert was surprised, the greater part of the garrison either
killed or taken; and prince Ferdinand began to make preparations for
the siege of Dusseldorp. In the meantime, the count de Clermont, being
unable to stop the rapidity of his progress, was obliged to secure
his troops with strong intrenchments, until he should be properly
reinforced.

PRINCE FERDINAND DEFEATS THE FRENCH, &c.

The court of Versailles, though equally mortified and confounded at the
turn of their affairs in Germany, did not sit tamely and behold this
reverse; but exerted their usual spirit and expedition in retrieving
the losses they had sustained. They assembled a body of troops at Hanau,
under the direction of the prince de Soubise, who, it was said, had
received orders to penetrate, by the way of Donawert, In