his most
christian majesty.

By way of retaliation for the cruelty practised at Hanau, a detachment
of the allied army under general Luckner was sent to raise contributions
in Fulda, and actually carried off hostages from that city; but retired
before a strong body of the enemy, who took possession of the place.
From hence the French marched, in their turn, to plunder the towns of
Hirchfeldt and Vacha. Accordingly, they appeared at Vacha, situated on
the frontiers of Hesse, and formed the head of the chain of cantonments
which the allies had on the Werra. This place was attacked with such
vigour, that colonel Frey-tag, who commanded the post, was obliged to
abandon the town: but he maintained himself on a rising ground in
the neighbourhood, where he amused the enemy until two battalions of
grenadiers came to his assistance. Thus reinforced, he pursued the
French for three leagues, and drove them with considerable loss from
Giessa, where they had resolved to fix their quarters. These skirmishes
happened in the beginning of May, when the grand armies were just in
motion to begin the campaign.

SITUATION OF THE FRENCH ARMIES.

By this time the forces under the mareschal duke de Broglio were
augmented to one hundred thousand; while the count de St. Germain
commanded a separate army on the Rhine, consisting of thirty thousand
men, assembled from the quarters of Dusseldorp, Cologn, Cleves, and
Wesel. The second corps was intended to divide the allied army, wrhich,
by such a division, would be considerably weakened; and the French court
threatened to form a third army under the prince de Soubise; but this
did not appear. The duke de Broglio was in such high favour with the
French ministry at this juncture, that he was promoted over the heads of
many old generals, who now demanded and obtained their dismission; and
every step was taken to render the campaign glorious to this admired
commander: but notwithstanding all their care, and his own exertion, he
found it impossible to take the field early in the season, from want
of forage for his cavalry. While his quarters were established at
Franckfort, his troops were plentifully supplied with all sorts of
provisions from the Upper Rhine; but this convenience depended upon his
being master of the course of the river; but he could not move from this
position without forfeiting the advantage, and providing magazines for
the use of his forces; so that he was obliged to lie ina