reditary prince and general Sporcken to turn their
left, while he himself advanced against their front, with the main body
of the army.. The enemy was accordingly attacked almost at the same
instant, both in flank and in rear, with equal impetuosity and success.
As the infantry of the allied army could not march fast enough to charge
at the same time, the marquis of Granby was ordered to advance with the
cavalry of the right; and the brigade of English artillery, commanded
by captain Phillips, made such expedition, that they were up in time
to second the attack in a most surprising manner. The French cavalry,
though very numerous, retired at the approach of the marquis, except
three squadrons, who stood the charge and were immediately broken.
Then the English horse fell upon the enemy's infantry, which suffered
greatly, while the town of Warbourg was assaulted by the Britannic
legion. The French, finding themselves hard pressed on both flanks,
as well in front as in rear, retired precipitately, with considerable
damage, occasioned chiefly by the British cannon and dragoons, and many
were drowned in attempting to ford the Dymel. The battalion of Maxwell,
and a brigade under colonel Beckwith, composed of grenadiers and
highlanders, distinguished themselves remarkably on this occasion. The
enemy left about fifteen hundred men killed or wounded on the field of
battle; with some colours, and ten pieces of cannon; and about the same
number were made prisoners. Monsieur de Muy lay all night under arms,
on the heights of Volk-Missen, from whence he next day retired towards
Wolfshagen. On the evening of the battle, the marquis of Granby received
orders to pass the river in pursuit of them, with twelve British
battalions and ten squadrons, and encamped at Wilda, about four miles
from Warbourg, the heights of which were possessed by the enemy's grand
army. [561] _[See note 4 O, at the end of this Vol.]_ By this success,
prince Ferdinand was enabled to maintain his communication with
Westphalia, and keep the enemy at a distance from the heart of Hanover;
but to these objects he sacrificed the country of Cassel: for prince
Xavier of Saxony, at the head of a detached body, much more numerous
than that which was left under general Kielmansegge, advanced towards
Cassel, and made himself master of that city; then he reduced Munden,
Gottengen, and Eimbeck in the electorate of Hanover. All that prince
Ferdinand could do, considering how muc