drons, and being impelled by the
impetuosity of his own courage, he resolved to give them battle. He
accordingly attacked them about two in the afternoon, and the action
became very warm and obstinate; but the enemy being continually
reinforced with fresh battalions, and having the advantage of a numerous
artillery, all the prince's efforts were ineffectual. Prince Ferdinand,
being at too great a distance to sustain him, sent him an order to
rejoin the army which was by this time formed at Sauxenhausen. He
forthwith made dispositions for a retreat, which however was attended
with great confusion. The enemy observing the disorder of the allied
troops, plied their artillery with redoubled diligence, while a powerful
body of their cavalry charged with great vivacity. In all likelihood
the whole infantry of the allies would have been cut off, had not the
hereditary prince made a diversion in their favour, by charging in
person at the head of the British dragoons, who acted with their usual
gallantry and effect. This respite enabled the infantry to accomplish
their retreat to Sauxenhausen; but they lost above five hundred men
and fifteen pieces of cannon. General count Kielmansegge, major-general
Griffin, and major Hill, of Bland's dragoons, distinguished themselves
by their conduct and intrepidity on this occasion. The hereditary prince
exposed his life in the hottest part of the action, and received a
slight wound in the shoulder, which gave him far less disturbance than
he felt from the chagrin and mortification produced by his defeat.

Many days, however, did not pass before he found an opportunity of
retaliating this disgrace. Prince Ferdinand, receiving advice that a
body of the enemy, commanded by major-general Glaubitz, had advanced on
the left of the allies to Ziegenheim, detached the hereditary prince to
oppose them, at the head of six battalions of Hanoverians and Hessians,
with Elliot's regiment of English light-horse, Luckner's hussars, and
two brigades of chasseurs; on the sixteenth day of the month, he engaged
the enemy near the village of Exdorf, and a very warm action ensued,
in which Elliot's regiment signalized themselves remarkably by repeated
charges.*

* Though this was the first time that Elliot's regiment
appeared in the field, it performed wonders. They charged
five different times, and broke through the enemy at every
charge; but these exploits they did not achieve without