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MARCH OF LORD MOIRA'S CORPS,

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enemy of an impending attack, and he himself took every possible measure to promote a belief in the exaggerated account which had been already circulated of the strength of his force.

On the 30th Lord Moira's force came into communication with that under General Walmoden, within three miles of Ghent.*

On the 6th the rear-guard was attacked near Alost. On the same day, H. R. H. the Duke of York, retreating from Grammont in the direction of Antwerp,† reached

* On the same day, an occurrence took place on the march, attended with rather serious consequences, but affording a very useful lesson to the young soldiers in the earl's army. A false alarm was given by a sentinel firing at an ass, and one of the regiments in the rear, on turning out, fired on its picquet.

+ Lord GRENVILLE to Marquis of BUCKINGHAM, St. James' Square.

9th July 1794.

The retreat to Antwerp has been decided, not by opinions here, nor even by those of the Duke of York and Lord Cornwallis, but by the necessity consequent on the Austrian movements. Whether those movements were right, I am not enough of a soldier, nor enough informed as a statesman, to pretend to form an opinion. The immediate effect of them is not necessarily the abandoning the towns taken last year, which are in a state to maintain themselves long, and to impede many of the operations of the enemy. Nor, as long as the Austrians maintain their line from Louvain to Namur, is the possibility of succouring them considered desperate. What I most fear in the present moment is the effect of despondency here and abroad. It would have been a flattering and glorious thing to have terminated the war by a successful offensive campaign in Flanders; but if that

Asche. On the 9th, the duke marched through Malines, and there met with Lord Moira's column, which halted till the duke passed.

Head-quarters were fixed that day at the Chateau of Contich, and the corps under the Earl of Moira formed the first line in front of the village of Waerloos.

The Hessians occupied Malines, under the command of Lieutenant-General Dalwig.

Lord Moira's corps had at this time undergone uncommon fatigues. Owing to the secrecy preserved on their leaving Ostend, the officers left all their clothing and camp equipage behind, thinking they were merely moving to an encampment outside the walls of the town, and therefore neither officers nor men had shifted, or had

has failed, I am far from thinking it a reason for abandoning a cause in the issue of which our existence is implicated.

If we listen to the ideas of peace, it is a confession we are unable to carry on the war, and such a confession is a bad security against the events which must follow in Flanders, in Holland, and, by a very rapid succession, in this island.

Lord GRENVILLE to Marquis of BUCKINGHAM, St. James' Square. 19th July 1794.

Lord Cornwallis is returned, speaking highly of the Duke of York, and far otherwise of the Austrian generals, to whom he and all mankind in Flanders impute all that has happened. It is a whimsical circumstance, and hardly to have been foreseen, that, in a war which we carry on conjointly with Austria, the great want which we experience should be that of Austrian generals of capacity sufficient to command the excellent troops which are acting in the Netherlands.

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the covering of a tent or house from the time they landed. Water was scarce, and in consequence of the dryness of the season, and the soil in this part of the country being of a light sandy nature, they were almost smothered in their encampment with clouds of dust.

Amongst the papers left by General Graham, some orders issued by the Duke of York and Lord Moira during this campaign are so suggestive and interesting to military men, even at the present day, that the following extracts have been made :

HEAD QUARTERS, Alost,* Saturday, 5th July 1794.

After Orders, half-past six o'clock.

Lord Moira is exceedingly distressed by the complaints which have been made to him from inhabitants plundered by the British soldiers. He calls upon the officers commanding regiments, by every sense they have of military discipline or national credit, to exert themselves in suppressing a conduct so disgraceful to the army. On his part, he must subject the troops, in consequence of this irregularity, to restrictions which, out of a view of their convenience, he could wished to

* Some of the proper names and names of places in these orders are probably not quite correct, being in the orthography of the orderly sergeant who copied the orders.

have forborne. A captain's guard is immediately to be mounted at the bridge leading into the town, and no soldiers (officers' servants or others) are to be permitted to enter the town, unless under the care of a non-commissioned officer, who is to be responsible for the man or party. No officer is to absent himself from his battalion but by the special leave of his commanding officer for a time limited. The provost-marshal has orders to patrol in the environs of the camp, and to punish on the spot every man who shall be found committing the smallest outrage. Should these enormities hereafter take place, it will be strictly inquired how such a want of vigilance existed in the regiment to which the offenders may belong, as to have given the individuals the opportunity of committing the offence.

B. O.

When the brigade halts a time that their packs and accoutrements are put off-their packs to be put down regular by the arms, and their accoutrements hung upon them, that every man may be able to get his own without any confusion.

HEAD QUARTERS, Camp on the Heights of Alost,
Sunday, 6th July 1794.

Returns to be immediately made out for two days' bread, forage, and fuel, for the 6th and 7th inclusive.

AFFAIR NEAR ALOST.

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Communications to be immediately made by the different regiments on their front and flanks.

HEAD QUARTERS, Camp near Alost,

Monday, 7th July 1794.

The detachment of the 8th and 14th Dragoons will put themselves under the command of LieutenantColonel Churchhill immediately.

A return of killed and wounded of the different regiments in the skirmish of yesterday to be given in immediately.

HEAD QUARTERS, After Orders, 7th July.

All wheel-carriages, of every denomination and description whatsoever, belonging to the different regiments and detachments, are immediately to be loaded and assembled on the road leading to Malines. A person will be appointed to conduct them, and to give further instructions.

The shameful marauding in the neighbourhood of the camp having continued, Lord Moira positively orders that no soldiers shall be permitted to leave their corps under any pretext, except in parties headed by a noncommissioned officer.

As soon as the regiments get their meat, they are to cook provisions for to-morrow as well as to-day.

A return to be immediately given in of the number

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