shed by the
hereditary prince in the neighbourhood of Coveldt, so that the passage
of the mountains was rendered impracticable. The duke de Brissac had
been advantageously encamped, with his left to the village of Coveldt,
having the Werra in his front, and his right extending to the salt-pits.
In this advantageous situation he was attacked by the hereditary prince
and general de Kilmanseg, with such vivacity and address that his troops
were totally routed, with the loss of six cannon, and a considerable
number of men killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. After the battle of
Minden, colonel Freytag, at the head of the light troops, took, in the
neighbourhood of Detmold, all the equipage of the mareschal de Contades,
the prince of Conde, and the duke de Brissac, with part of their
military chest and chancery, containing papers of the utmost
consequence. [522] _[See note 4 C, at the end of this Vol.]_

GENEEAL IMHOFF TAKES MUNSTER.

Prince Ferdinand having garrisoned Minden, marched to Hervorden; and the
hereditary prince passed the Weser at Hamelen, in order to pursue the
enemy, who retreated to Cassel, and from thence by the way of Marburg
as far as Giessen. In a word, they were continually harassed by
that enterprising prince, who seized every opportunity of making an
impression upon their army, took the greatest part of their baggage, and
compelled them to abandon every place they possessed in Westphalia. The
number of his prisoners amounted to fifteen hundred men, besides the
garrison left at Cassel, which surrendered at discretion. He likewise
surprised a whole battalion, and defeated a considerable detachment
under the command of M. d'Armentieres. In the meantime, the allied
army advanced in regular marches; and prince Ferdinand, having taken
possession of Cassel, detached general Imhoff with a body of troops to
reduce the city of Munster, which he accordingly began to bombard and
cannonade; but d'Armentieres being joined by a fresh body of troops
from the Lower Rhine, advanced to its relief, and compelled Imhoff to
raise the siege. It was not long, however, before this general was also
reinforced; then he measured back his march to Munster, and the French
commander withdrew in his turn. The place was immediately shut up by
a close blockade, which, however, did not prevent the introduction
of supplies. The city of Munster being an object of importance, was
disputed with great obstinacy. Armentieres received r