Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

LONDON, July 24.

This morning Mr. Shaw, one of the King's Messengers, arrived at the Secretary of State's Office, from the Continent, with dispatches from Lord Malmesbury.

Yesterday we presented the public with accounts from the British army down to Friday last. We now give the following communications, to the date, from another Correspondent:

Camp at Kontich, July 16.

Last night the enemy attacked our advanced posts of Hessians in the village of Waelhem, of which they possessed themselves after a slight resistance. The Hessians with the same precipitation which marked their conduct in destroying the bridge at Malines, set fire, in their retreat, to the bridge over the river at this end of the village, to prevent the enemy from pursuing them—a circumstance which will enable the enemy to keep possession of the place, and to annoy our advanced posts on this side of the water, by firing on them from the houses and banks of the river.

That the enemy might be prevented from crossing the river at Duffel, three miles from the place, or in its neighbourhood, the Earl of Moira immediately marched thither with his army, where he is now posted.

The enemy, in the afternoon of this day, by a severe fire of Musquetry from the village of Waelhem, forced an Austrian party, posted in a battery at the end of the bridge, with two 12 pounders, to retreat; upon which six British field pieces, belonging to General Stewart's brigade, under the command of Captain Robertson, were ordered forward to within 150 yards of the village, to fire on the numerous riflemen of the enemy, who lined the banks of the river, and the windows of the houses, without a man being visible at which they could fire. The artillery on this occasion behaved with the utmost gallantry, keeping up an incessant fire for upwards of two hours, and, in some measure, silencing that of the enemy, when they were ordered to retire, after having about one third of their men either killed or wounded by the fire of the enemy's riflemen from the windows of the village. On this occasion Captain Robertson received a contusion from a spent shot, which struck him on the shoulder.

Though we succeeded in some measure in forcing part of the enemy to retire from the village, the action was productive of no one beneficial consequence to repay our loss of men, and waste of ammunition; for no sooner were the guns withdrawn than the enemy returned to the village in as great force as ever.

This evening the French also advanced in some force on the village of Duffel, where Lord Moira is posted. His Lordship was however, fully prepared to give them a proper reception; for, on taking post there, he had prudently fortified the approaches to the bridge, which he also laid with combustibles, by which he had the power effectually to prevent the enemy from passing, while at the same time he could maintain a free passage for his own troops to the last minute. On seeing the numbers of the enemy his Lordship immediately detached across the bridge to attack them two regiments of infantry, some field pieces, and about 500 light cavalry, chiefly composed of the 15th and 16th dragoons; with a few of the 8th and 14th.

The French, on seeing our troops advance, began to retreat, so that our infantry had no opportunity of coming to action with them, but our cavalry pushed forward, without losing a moment, charged that of the enemy, which amounted to about 600 men, with so much impetuosity, that after a severe but short conflict of a few minutes, the French were completely routed, with the loss of about 40 men killed, among whom was the Colonel who commanded them. Our dragoons took a number of fine horses, and pursued the enemy almost close to Malines.

Our loss was four killed, and eight wounded.

Last night, the enemy kept up an incessant fire from Waelhem, which killed and wounded several of our troops: among others, Lieutenant Richardson, of the 8th, was killed by a rifle-shot, which struck him on the fore-head.

Lord Moira's army has been perfectly unmolested all this day; the check which the enemy received yesterday having, as it would appear, deterred them from attempting anything in that quarter. One of Lord Moira's patrols of cavalry this morning pursued a small party of French Hussars, and took the principal of it prisoner, after being severely wounded. He says, that the French army to which he belonged are in general heartily tired of the war, though they have, at the same time, the greatest confidence in General Pichegru, who commands them. After being brought in he underwent a long examination by the Duke of York and the Earl of Moira.

Four Light Infantry companies belonging to the guards which were lately landed at Antwerp from England, marched thence into camp.

The French still molest us by firing from their covers in Waelhem. In the course of this day they killed twelve Hessians.

Friday, July 18.

This morning the enemy were found to have withdrawn the principal part of their force from Waelhem; nor is there any appearance of them at Duffel. We are therefore led to believe that in consequence of being foiled in their attempts to pass at these places, they will endeavor to do it near Lier, to the left of our present position. If they succeed in this we must change our ground, otherwise they may get to Antwerp before us.

Colonel Reid of the artillery, having arrived from England, to relieve Colonel Congreve, the latter will shortly leave the army on his return home, carrying with him the regret of the whole army for his departure. The troops are sensible of his value, and of the important services he has rendered them during the two last campaigns. As an artillerist he has long been acknowledged as the first in Europe—As an officer, no man in the army possesses a clearer head, or more extensive knowledge of military affairs.

The accounts from the British army, we yesterday laid before our readers, and those given in the preceding communication, announce, that on the 18th the French had made a movement towards the left of the position occupied by our troops, in consequence of which it was expected the latter would be under the necessity of changing their ground, to prevent the French from cutting off their retreat.

By dispatches from the Duke of York, which were received yesterday, brought to Mr. Dundas's office, by the hon. Captain Hope, who left the army on Sunday last, it appears, that on the preceding day, the French attacked the Earl of Moira's army. and that the British were preparing to retreat to Breda at the time Capt. Hope came away.