The New Hampshire Gazette

To the Particulars already given of the Battle of Crefeld, as inserted in our last Gazette. We have an Opportunity of adding more Circumstances from a Pamphlet just published in England; which, says the Author, “are equally wonderful, equally honourable, and equally true with the first Account taken soon after the Action, and published in the London Gazette Extraordinary.

The French were the miserable Remnant of a flying Army, reduced to Diseases, pillaged by their Officers, and frighted by the Spirit they saw in those who followed them. The proper French who made the Body of the Army, were of this Character; and hating their Officers, and despising their sweetened Lives, they observed no Discipline. Prince Ferdinand, with an Army more terrible from its Principles than Numbers could have made it, followed and pressed the frighted enemy, drove them from F to Po, and at Length terrified them from their Camp at Khenberg. The Situation of the French at Crefeld was an Advantageous one, but very much inferior to that of the Hanoverian Army.

There were upon the Spot many large and deep Ditches, which Count Clermont continued by the indefatigable Labour of the Swiss and Wirtembergers, along a great Part of his Front; and all about him there were Woods. The Places where his Camp was yet accessible he fortified with Barricades of Trees.

Prince Ferdinand, when he had viewed their Dispositions from an Eminence, represented it to his Troops as an Omen of Success; he told them Fear had given the Enemy this Caution, and that these were all they had to encounter. For these being forced, the Terror of the Enemy would do the rest: That they must prepare to be quick in Pursuit for it would, on the Part of the Enemy, be a Flight, not a Fight.

An Hour after Midnight, on the 23d, Prince Ferdinand was at the Head of his Forces, and every Thing was in Motion; two Hours were spent in giving Orders and Instructions, and after this the Men did take the Refreshment of an early Breakfast. At Dawn the Army was upon its Knees: and more than Fifty thousand Hearts dissolved at once before the Throne of Mercy: begging the Almighty's Blessing on their Swords, drawn in the Cause of virtuous Liberty, and pure Religion.

The Prince of Clermont received Intelligence of the Enemy's marching up to attack him, from the advanced Party he had posted at Anrath. These should have been attacked by the Grenadiers of the right Wing, where Prince Ferdinand commanded in Person, but after a general Discharge of their Muskets at about three Quarters of a Mile Distance, they fled to the Camp, and the Alarm was universal.

The Prince of Clermont, who saw now where the great Attack would be, gave that Post of Honour to the Swiss, who did their Duty, and were cut to Pieces. The next Dependence of the French General was on the Wirtemberg Regiments; but they, who had been engaged against their Wills, took the Advantage of the Confusion, and went over in a Body to the Enemy, with these remarkable Words, We are Protestants, We will not fight against ourselves.

In this Confusion, the Count de Gisors called together the Officers, represented to them the Dishonour of being beaten by half the Number, and asked, if there was one among them who did not prefer an honourable Death to such an Infamy; and throwing himself between his Men and the Hanoverians, an Infantry, he said, Gentlemen, the Honour of your Sovereign is at Stake, We will expect you to do nothing but what we do ourselves. Come on, and face this handful of an Enemy.

Shame, and the faint Remembrance of their natural Spirit, led them after him. As he pressed forward in the most desperate Part of the Encounter, a Musket Ball passed thro' his Breast toward the Shoulder. He stood some Minutes after this; and then suffering others to pass before him, sunk softly to the Ground, as if the great Care that occupied his Thoughts, was the Fear his Soldiers should know it. He was removed to a Tent, and in the End became Prisoner to the Hanoverian Party, where, in Spite of the best Care, he died the Evening after.

On the other Part, this desperate Encounter was supported with equal Spirit by the hereditary Prince of Brunswick. He pressed on the more furiously for this Resistance; and perhaps it is no more than Justice