The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a private Letter. Ostend, Aug. 26.

The French having formed a Resolution to deprive the Queen of Hungary of this important Port, managed their Design with such Circumpection, that the Place was invested on the 7th of this Month, at a Time when we least expected it, and when most People here thought the Danger quite over. On the 9th, they opened the Trenches within Cannon Shot of the Place. On the 11th, they began to fire from a Battery to the North of our Port, by which they extremely incommoded all the Vessels that either came in or sailed out. On the 17th, they unmasked two others on the same Side, one of which pointed directly to the Mouth of the Harbour, and the other entirely commanded the Road, so that no Vessel, either great or small, durst approach us, at least in the Day-Time; by which our Communication with England was entirely cut off. Besides these three Batteries, the Enemy had a fourth, on the same Side, consisting of six Mortars, from which they played upon us continually. On the Side of the Gate of Nieuport, which was that of the Attack, they pushed their Approaches with such Vigour, that their Batteries were in a Condition of playing by the 18th, in the Morning, and by the 22d, our Pallisadoes were in a Manner covered with the Earth thrown out of their Works. About eleven that Night, they attacked the covered Way from the Front of their Works, and in Flank by the Dike towards the Sea. This was performed by 30 Companies of Grenadiers, with such Vigour that they soon became Masters of some Places of Arms, and made Prisoners a Captain, 2 Subalterns, and 70 private Men. The Count de Chanclos being informed of this, order'd the Baron de Sterndahl, to take immediately the Piquets of the Reserve, in order to drive the French from the covered Way, before they had established themselves. This was performed with the greatest Cheerfulness and Success, and the Enemy were dislodged, with the Loss of between 400 and 500 killed and wounded, and of 3 Officers and 30 private Men made Prisoners. The Loss of the Besieged amounted to 190 Men, or thereabouts.

On the 23d in the Morning, a Cessation of Arms was concluded for two Hours, in order to carry off the wounded Men, and bury the Dead. The Governor laid hold of this Opportunity to hold a Council of War, to which all the English Field Officers assisted: Therein considered, that the covered Way was no longer tenable, that most of the Cannon of the Place were dismounted, that they had none to supply their Places, that the Ramparts, which were of a very bad sort of Turf, were already entirely ruined in several Places, and that consequently they had no Choice to make but of this Alternative, Whether they should secure the Honours of War by an immediate Surrender, or for the Glory of defending this Place three or four Days longer, determine with themselves to become Prisoners of War. These Reflections induced the Members who composed this Council, to think the first Method most expedient; they therefore demanded a Capitulation, and Hostages being exchanged, it was agreed the Garrison should march out on the 27th, to the Army, with two Pieces of Cannon, two Mortars, and all the other ordinary Marks of Honour. The Capitulation being signed, the French took Possession of the Gate of Nieuport, by sending thither two Companies of Grenadiers. The Artillery which the French have employed in this Siege, consists of 56 Pieces of heavy Cannon, and 24 Mortars: Their Loss, according to their own Account, amounts to 17 Officers, and 1900 private Men killed. On the Side of the Allies, there have been three Officers killed, 4 wounded, and 243 private Men killed and wounded. General Molk embarked in the Night of the 27th, with the Hussars and Hanoverians, in order to go to Flushing, and from thence to the Army; but one of the Transports, which had 34 Hanoverian Horses on board, sunk in our Port by a Bomb breaking on Board her, there were also some Hussars killed and wounded, during the Time of their embarking, which as I told you before was in the Night, but Day breaking before it could be entirely concluded, about 19 of them were left behind. This to the best of my Knowledge, is a fair and circumstantial Account of what has happened during the Siege; and whatever People in other Places may say, I dare venture to assert, that no Troops in the World, under like Circumstances, could have made a braver or a better Defence. Count Lowendahl himself acknowledged this, and when he signed the Capitulation, said, Considering the Condition the Place is in, and the Ease with which we might ruin the remaining Works, I might very well justify refusing some of your Demands; but after so good a Defence, I think you deserve whatever is in my Power to grant.