Popham, of the navy. The Duke of York, however, aware of the superiority of the enemy, resolved to withdraw every thing from the town, except what was absolutely necessary for its defence. The town was accordingly to be deserted on the evening of November 7. All the artillery of the reserve, with the British, Hanoverian, and Hessian battalions immediately returned; but piquets, to the amount of 2,500 men, were left under the command of Major-general de Burgh.

The Hanoverian and British troops effected a retreat in a tolerable manner; but their hurry in destroying the bridge before the Dutch troops could reach it, produced the most fatal effects to the allies. Finding it on fire, they sought to pass the river over the great flying bridge; but no sooner had they got upon it, than it swung round, either owing to the republican artillery having cut the ropes, by which it was kept in one position; or from a mistake of the troops, who, thinking that the enemy had possession of the bridge, fired upon it for a length of time. The issue was, that some perished by shot, others were drowned, and about 400 were taken prisoners. The gates of Nimeguen were then opened to the besiegers.

The Duke of York, convinced that an engagement might be attended with the most fatal consequences to Holland, retired immediately. The French, continuing their military operations, were determined to cross the Waal, and General Daendels (who has been mentioned in our fourth chapter) was entrusted with this enterprise. Having collected a number of boats, he filled them with troops, and effected a landing near the post of Ghent, during a thick fog; in consequence of which, he was also enabled to surprise a battery. This attack, which extended to several posts belonging to the allies, was ultimately unsuccessful, several of the assailants having been killed by the fire of the batteries, and a great number drowned. This project was altogether relinquished, and the generals Bonneau and Lemaire received orders to invest Breda by means of winter cantonments. Grave also was surrounded in a similar manner.

The Duke of York left the British army, and returned to London, which announced that the court of St. James's thought the conquest of Holland by the French unavoidable. While the Duke of York held the chief command, the army was in a wretched condition, and it could not be thought that its situation would be bettered, when under a foreigner (General Walmoden). Patriotic subscriptions were raised in England, to supply the army with flannel vests, and other necessaries essential in that country.

General Pichegru, on the return of his health,

peace.

1794.

left Brussels, and proceeded to head-quarters, BOOK I. with the determination of invading Holland. The states of Friesland agreed to acknowledge CHAP. VIII. the republic of France, to end their connection with Great Britain, and sign a treaty of and alliance with the convention. In other provinces, also, resolutions were passed, clearly inimical to the Stadtholder's government. Republican sentiments shewed themselves so plainly in Amsterdam, that the government of Holland positively forbad all popular discussions on political subjects, and the presenting of petitions or memorials on any account whatever. Soon after this, the Stadtholder went to Amsterdam in disguise, to ascertain the true state of the public mind. His situation was very distressing. He had published many spirited addresses to the people, but was unable to instil into them a spirit of resistance. The opposite party would subject the country to a foreign power rather than join in any way to secure its independence.

Many respectable citizens of Amsterdam drew up a petition, and presented it to the magistrates early in November. It stated the sudden appearance of the hereditary Prince of Orange and the Duke of York in that city, which, they affirmed, had no other object in view than to check the deliberations of their high mightinesses, to induce them to receive British troops, and to consent to a general inundation. The petition condemned such measures, and if they did not desire to receive the French, they were not inclined to stop the subjugation of Holland by the only methods that could be properly adopted with that view. The petition was successful; the magistrates would not attempt the inundation, and many of the petitioners, who were arrested, were taken from prison in triumph.

Though the republican troops did not advance with their usual rapidity, the combined army found it very difficult to act upon the defensive. Numbers were cut off by disease, while the hospitals were in want of assistance and suitable inedicines. inedicines. The military were without clothing and shoes, and the sudden changes of the weather at this eventful period caused a putrid fever, which made the most dreadful destruction.

Nothing less than an intense and rigorous frost could assist the French general's design. Towards the latter end of the year, an unexpected degree of congellation took place, and General Pichegru, finding that both the Maese and the Waal were already able to bear troops, determined to take advantage of this opportunity to complete his projects. Two brigades, under the generals Daendels and Osten, received orders to march across the ice to the isle of Bommel. Another detachment was sent, at the same time, against Fort St. André, and the reduction

BOOK I. of those places were achieved in the month of December. A successful attack was made at the CHAP. VIII. same time on the lines of Breda, Oudebosch, and Sevenbergen. 1794-5.

The town of Grave, which was considered a master-piece of fortification, and which had already suffered a blockade of two months, was now obliged to surrender, being destitute of provisions and ammunition. Its garrison was consequently made prisoners of war.

The weather still continuing favorable to his enterprise, General Pichegru ventured to cross the Waal with 70,000 men, without the assistance of either bridges or boats. The whole of the troops had not, however, reached, the place of destination, when a sudden thaw seemed to hazard the success of the bold expedition. The frost, however, returning, the French were enabled to form a junction.

The French general attacked the position occupied by General Walmoden, between Nimeguen and Arnheim. Major-general Dundas had succeeded in carrying Tayl, and driving a body of the enemy across the ice, with the loss of a number of men and four pieces of cannon; notwithstanding which, it was deemed necessary to remove the head-quarters from Arnheim to Amerongen. The allies, through the obstinacy of the frost, were obliged to fall back during the night, first upon Buern, and soon after behind the Leck. At times, however, they attacked the enemy, and with success, in an affair of posts, at Gelder Malsel; on which occasion, notwithstanding the difficulties resulting from an inclement season, Major-general Lord Cathcart, with three English regiments, behaved with extraordinary gallantry. The enemy at length crossed the frozen Waal in five different columns, and, having attacked the line of the allies, forced the Austrians to abandon Huesden, and the Hanoverians to retreat across the Lingen: but they were repulsed for a time at Rhenen, by the spirited conduct of the British guards and Salm's infantry. The

1

English, however, withdrew in the course very night to Voorthuisen, having been sc nate as to remove all the wounded office all the sick, except 300. During these! engagements, the allies suffered much. pared for resistance or for flight, they obliged to take shelter in open sheds, or open air, at this inclement season, and, i retreat, vast numbers of men, women, an dren, were frozen to death. The Frenc Utrecht without opposition, for the troops pay of Great Britain had retired by the Amersfort to Zutphen. Its capital was e on the very day (Jan. 18, 1795,) that G Vandamme took possession of Arnheim.

The Princess of Orange and the young male branches of the family escaped on the with the plate, jewels, and whatever else of they could carry off. The Stadtholder a hereditary Prince of Orange did not leav land till the 19th, the day on which Dort s dered to General Pichegru. His serene hig got into an open boat at Scheveling, havin three men with him who were acquainted rowing; but he arrived at Harwich on th in safety. The Stadtholder did not leave the I without much opposition; for the French insisted he should be responsible for all the bles of the country. He was indebted t fidelity of his horse body-guards, and a reg of Swiss, for his escape; they fired upo people, and his flight was secured at the ex of the lives of some of the most forward pati

Dudrecht, Rotterdam, the Hague, and voetsluys, were all occupied by the French t in succession; and the States General, yie to imperious necessity, now negociated with invaders, by whom the abolition of the stadtho ship was decreed. The English army having perienced much distress from the severity of season and the pursuit of the enemy, retired Westphalia, being considerably diminished.

doned Fort Louis, afterwards called Fort Vaub and destroyed the works as soon as they heard the enemy's approach.

On the resignation of the Duke of Brunswi Field-marshal Mollendorff, who had succeeded

ASTON

TILLEN

HAP. IX. 1794.

the command of the Prussian army, took the field. At this period, May 27, the French, to the number of 12,000 men, were forced behind the defiles of Otterback, Hoggles back, and the Lauter. These positions were defended by means of redoubts and entrenchments; the bridges were all destroyed, and three strong posts had been occupied, to facilitate their retreat in case of danger. The Prussian commander-in-chief, by a sudden movement, contrived to surround and surprise their camp. Impressed with the idea of perfect security, the French were inattentive to the approach of the enemy; and their loss on this occasion was considerable. One thousand were killed on the spot, and more than 2000 made prisoners, while eighteen pieces of cannon and two howitzers fell into the hands of the conquerors. The marshal after this established his head-quarters at Winnweiller, while his advanced posts extended as far as Deux Ponts and Carlesberg; Nieustadt was at the same time taken possession of by the prince Hohenlohe-Ingelsingen.

of

The French having procured a large reinforcement, renewed hostilities day after day, until they obtained their object. Notwithstanding the marshal's troops were posted in an advantageous situation, yet in the course of incessant attacks the Prussians gave way, though seven had been bravely withstood for two whole days before they were subdued. Another body, strongly posted at Tripstadt, gallantly resisted. The French, however, prevailed, and a great number of cannon and prisoners were taken, on the 14th of July. A fresh attack was commenced the succeeding morning along the whole of the line occupied by the Imperial and Prussian troops. The allies, notwithstanding the superiority of the French artillery was particularly conspicuous, maintained their ground until night, when they happily effected a retreat.

The army of the Moselle having commenced its march under the command of General Michaud, entered the electorate of Treves, and seized its capital, on the 3d of August. The Palatinate, too, was taken by the French on the 8th; by which means they obtained the corn destined for the supply of Germany.

The Prussians, in consequence of the retreat of the unfortunate but gallant Clairfayt across the Rhine, thought proper to abandon offensive operations, and withdraw to the neighbourhood of Mentz. Various altercations now took place between two of the allied courts, which threatened

the dissolution of the confederacy. The King of Prussia intimated his intentions, notwithstanding the subsidy received from England, to employ his troops solely in the defence of Germany; and the diet of the empire began at this period to listen aten to propositions for peace. This appeared to be the present disposition of the whole Ger

manic body, nor was it opposed by his imperial BOOK I. majesty. The British cabinet, justly alarmed at the idea of a separate peace, dispatched an em- CHAP. IX. bassy to the emperor, to prevail on his imperial majesty to adhere to his engagements; and a subsidy, under the name of a loan, was also promised for the purpose.

The success of the French in the eastern and western Pyrenées began to alarm the court of Madrid. However, the progress of the French armies in Piedmont had been retarded by the unexpected possession of Toulon by the English, and the gallant resistance displayed by the inhabitants of Lyons. Oneglia, which contained a couple of frigates and a few galleys belonging to the King of Sardinia, and had been partly destroyed by the vice-admiral Truguet during the preceding year, and which in the present campaign had been repeatedly menaced both by the English and French, was, on the 6th of April, captured by the latter.

A body of republican troops penetrated into Piedmont on one side, while another, after traversing valleys and ascending mountains covered with snow, at last scaled Mount Cenis. An attempt was made to oppose their progress, by means of batteries, redoubts, and fortifications; but General Dumas having seized all the posts in succession, obtained possession of a numerous train of artillery, and took 900 prisoners.

About the same time, in the month of May, General Dumvilion seized on the forts of Saorgio, Belvidere, Rocabilier, and St. Martin; by means of which he obtained 60 pieces of cannon, a vast quantity of ammunition, and 2000 prisoners.

A new system had been adopted by the AustroSardinians, for preventing the further progress of the French, by means of partial attacks upon their advanced posts, and by defensive operations. Their endeavours, however, were unsuccessful; having been completely routed towards the end of autumn, and obliged to make the walls of Alexandria their refuge.

Notwithstanding the inflated accounts of the generals who had fought, and of the deputies on mission, who had been witnesses, and were frequently encouragers of the dreadful havoc which was made, the war of La Vendée still appeared to be interminable. It had been stated at the bar of the convention, by General Westermann, "That of the rebel army, which once amounted to 90,000 in the district of Mans alone, not a single combatant had escaped; chiefs, officers, soldiers, bishops,

countesses, and marchionesses, had all perished by the sword, the flames, or the waves." It was also asserted by Carrier, on his return from the insurgent departments, "That the number of the banditti, and the nature of the war, had been alike unknown." He declared, that the whole population of a space of more than 400 square

1794.