The New Hampshire Gazette

HAGUE, October 1.

LETTERS from the army of the 22d past give an account of the affair, which happened on the 21st, between the corps under the Marquis of Granby, and General Zatrow, posted at the Brucker Muhl upon the Ohm near Amoneburg, and a part of the French army.

The French Generals de Castries, and Starckfeldt, are said to have been dangerously wounded therein. The following is the most exact account we have received of that action.

The enemy having on the 16th of last month considerably reinforced their right by marching the whole corps de reserve towards Dechenbach, and posting the greatest part of their army between Holzhausen and Bauebach. General Wangenheim had taken possession of the heights of Daunerde, with Aldestedi's and Goldacker's brigades, eight squadrons of Hanoverians, and seven battalions of the same troops which had composed the corps under the Hereditary Prince; 4 squadrons of General Bock's corps, and the Carabineers occupied the heights of Rodeken: Beckwith's brigade, those of the English guards, and of Malburg, the heights of Langentein and general Wietersbach that of Stangenbach. The rest of the army remained in its former position, from Bodenhausen to Bettendorff, whilst the corps under Luckner, Conway, and Gilde, lay between Watzbach and Wettern.

In the night between the 20th. and 21st. the enemy resolved to get possession of Amoneburg, which was defended by one battalion of Grone and 200 Commander's. With this view they raised several batteries, and took possession, in the night, of the Brucker Muhl, where they raised a small breast-work, and a kind of trench to secure the entrance. A redoubt on this side of the river, and just opposite the bridge, was defended by 100 men, whom they attacked in the Morning, but without being able to carry it. They placed at the same time some cannon, at the foot of the hill of Amoneburg, about 200 paces from the bridge, in order to bear on the redoubt. It appeared, that their intention at first, in taking possession of the mill, was only to cut off our communication with Amoneburg; but the fog, with the fire of their cannon, giving it the appearance of a design of more consequence, we brought up several pieces of artillery. Lord Granby's whole corps moved that way: General Wietersbach marched to Kirchain, and eight battalions and four squadrons into the Wood of Stautzenburg. In proportion as the number of our cannon increased, that of the enemy did so likewise, till they had brought up 24 pieces of heavy artillery. On our side all the Hessian and Buckeburg, and half of the Hanoverian artillery, was placed upon the height of Brucker Muhl: and from break of day till dark night, a most terrible firing continued without intermission. We maintained the redoubt, and the enemy the mill. History I believe, can scarce furnish an instance of so obstinate a dispute; in which the loss on either side may easily be conceived to be considerable. The troops in the redoubt were constantly relieved, after having fired 60 charges: and towards the close of the day, seventeen complete battalions had been employed on that service. The redoubt was exposed to the fire of the enemy's artillery at the distance of about 300 paces and to that of all their small arms, within 30 paces distance; besides that the troops, coming and going, were obliged to march near 400 paces, exposed to the enemy's cannon, loaded with grape shot. The enemy's situation was nearly the same, excepting that the mill afforded them rather more shelter. This, in general, is the whole affair. The oldest soldiers say, they never saw so severe a cannonade; since, though there were near fifty pieces of cannon employed, their execution was confined to the space of about 400 paces; and not only the Fire of the artillery, but the musquetry too of the two opposite posts, was not intermitted a single instant, for near 15 hours. Towards the conclusion of the affair, the number of the killed and wounded, at the entrance of, and in the redoubt, On our side, seemed to exceed 200; so that the troops, which came there last in the day, made use of the dead bodies to raise the parapet a little, which was almost levelled; and within a very small compass, 1700 of the enemy's cannon balls have since been taken up. While the enemy were attacking the redoubt, they played likewise some batteries on Amoneburg, and assaulted it three times, but without success. On the 22d every thing was quiet, and the works on both sides repaired without the least Molestation. We raised a corridor-Able work on the height, especially over against the tone gallows. The Entrance of Kirchayn is fortified in the same manner; and Lord Granby's whole corps is between the Kleine and Schweinberg: General Weinbech is on the height of Kirchayn; and the main body between Staurzenberg and Schon-stadt. After a fire from the enemy, which lasted all Night, and by which they made a practicable breach, the garrison of Amonebourg surrendered prisoners.