e
whole brunt of the French carabineers and gendarmerie, but absolutely
broke every body of horse and foot that advanced to attack them on the
left and in the centre. The Hessian cavalry, with some regiments
of Holstein, Prussian, and Hanoverian dragoons, posted on the left,
performed good service. The cavalry on the right had no opportunity of
engaging. They were destined to support the infantry of the third line:
they consisted of the British and Hanoverian horse, commanded by lord
George Sackville, whose second was the marquis of Granby. They were
posted at a considerable distance from the first line of infantry, and
divided from it by a scanty wood that bordered on a heath. Orders were
sent, during the action, to bring them up; but whether these orders were
contradictory, unintelligible, or imperfectly excited, they did not
arrive in time to have any share in the action [521] _[See note 4 B, at
the end of this Vol.]_; nor, indeed, were they originally intended for
that purpose; nor was there the least occasion for their service; nor
could they have come up in time and condition to perform effectual
service, had the orders been explicit and consistent, and the commander
acted with all possible expedition. Be that as it will, the enemy were
repulsed in all their attacks with considerable loss; at length they
gave way in every part, and, about noon, abandoning the field of battle,
were pursued to the ramparts of Minden. In this action they lost a
great number of men, with forty-three large cannon, and many colours and
standards; whereas the loss of the allies was very inconsiderable, as
it chiefly fell upon a few regiments of British infantry, commanded by
the major-generals Waldegrave and Kingsley. To the extraordinary prowess
of these gallant brigades, and the fire of the British artillery, which
was admirably served by the captains Philips, Macbean, Drummond, and
Foy, the victory was in a great measure ascribed. The same night the
enemy passed the Weser and burnt the bridges over that river. Next day
the garrison of Minden surrendered at discretion; and here the victors
found a great number of French officers wounded.

DUKE DE BRISSAC ROUTED.

At last the mareschal de Contades seemed inclined to retreat through the
defiles of Wittekendstein to Paderborn; but he was fain to change his
resolution, in consequence of his having received advice, that on the
very day of his own defeat the duke de Brissac was vanqui