Gazette Of The United States & Evening Advertiser

Whitehall, October 22.

A letter from Sir James Murray, adjutant General to the forces under the command of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, was received this evening by the Right Hon. Henry Dundas, his majesty's principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, of which the following is a copy:

Engel Fontaine, Oct. 18, 1793.

SIR,

I had the honor of informing you, in my last dispatch, that his Royal Highness, at the earnest request of the Prince of Cobourg, had marched with a part of the troops under his command, for this place. They arrived here upon the 16th. The prince, being acquainted with his Royal Highness's intention, had been enabled to withdraw from thence four battalions to strengthen his other posts: a fifth battalion followed those upon his Royal Highness's arrival.

The enemy, having collected in extraordinary numbers, attacked the corps under the command of Gen. Clairfayt, which was posted with its right near Berlemont, and its left near the village of Wattignies, upon the 15th and 16th. Upon the former day the left wing of the enemy was entirely defeated. Having advanced into the plain which lay upon that side between the two armies, they were charged by the Imperial cavalry, and driven back, with great slaughter and the loss of twelve pieces of cannon. The attack which they made upon the left of the Austrians was more obstinately supported; they were, however, finally repulsed.

Upon the 16th the enemy having drawn the greatest part of their force to the right, again attacked the left of Gen. Clairfayt's corps, and the village of Wattignies. They could upon this side approach within cannon shot of the Austrians, under cover of an immense wood, called the Have d'Avesnes; which, when they were repulsed, secured their retreat; they brought a great quantity of heavy artillery to the edge of the wood, under the protection of which they attacked the village. The utmost firmness and bravery were displayed by the Austrian troops upon this occasion. The enemy were several times repulsed with great loss; they were repeatedly driven from the village after they had carried it; but being enabled, by great superiority of numbers, to bring continually fresh troops to the point of attack, they at last succeeded in maintaining the position of that post.

The communication between General Clairfayt's corps and that of General la Tour, which observed the entrenched camp near Maubeuge, being by this means cut off, it was judged necessary by the Prince of Cobourg to abandon the position which had been taken for the purpose of investing Maubeuge, the army passed the Sambre in the night without the smallest loss. Lieutenant General Benjowsky, who commanded a detached corps upon the left of the army, defeated a corps which was opposed to him, killed a great number of the enemy, took four hundred prisoners, and eleven pieces of cannon. Count Haddick, who was detached by Gen. La Tour, likewise gained a considerable advantage, penetrated to Sorbe Chateau, and took three pieces of cannon.

In the two engagements, the Austrians took twenty-four pieces of cannon and two howitzers, without the loss of one on their part. They have had about two thousand men killed and wounded. There can be no doubt that the loss of the enemy has been much more considerable. The Austrians now occupy the left bank of the Sambre. No certain accounts have been yet received of the further motions of the enemy.

I am, &c.

(Signed)
JAMES MURRAY.