The Austrians having failed in several of their points of attack, the enemy was enabled to bring nearly his whole force against the daring Britons who had thus attacked his position; and the morning of the 18th of May was ushered in by a tremendous cannonade. Multitudes of French cavalry, infantry, and artillery, appeared advancing in every direction; and by nine o'clock, Lieut.-General Abercromby found the few men he had with him nearly surrounded by crowds of opponents; at the same time he received orders from the Duke of York to retire to the heights behind Roubaix. He fell back fighting; and as he passed through the town, his rear was pressed by hosts of enemies, who followed, shouting and assailing the British with grape and musketry. From Roubaix the division proceeded towards Lannoy; being beset by superior numbers, the soldiers had to dispute every foot of ground, and to keep up a running fight. The SEVENTH and Fifteenth light dragoons were constantly engaged on the flanks and in the rear. _Lannoy_ being found occupied by the French, the British division took to the fields, passing over hedges and ditches, constantly fighting crowds of opponents, the light cavalry evincing the most noble ardour and intrepidity; and the SEVENTH thus exhibiting, under accumulated disasters and difficulties, the innate bravery of Britons, and the great value of light cavalry. One of the foot guards who was present (Browne), observes in his Journal, "Our British light cavalry which were with us (the Seventh, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth) performed wonders of valour, charging the enemy with unexampled courage whenever they approached; it was no uncommon thing to see _one_ of them attack _three_ of the French dragoons at once, in order to rescue the prisoners they were carrying off. It was owing to their bravery that so few prisoners were taken; they also retook numbers from the enemy. As soon as we reached the village of Templeuve, we halted and formed; and from thence marched to our former position, behind the village of Blandin. Our loss proved to be very inconsiderable to what might have been expected, for it was rather to be wondered at that one of us escaped." The loss of the SEVENTH was, four horses killed; six men and ten horses wounded; and fifteen men and thirty-two horses prisoners of war and missing. The conduct of the British on this trying occasion was highly commended by the Emperor of Germany; and the Duke of York expressed his approbation of the valour and firmness of the corps engaged. The troops returned to their former position in front of _Tournay_, where the British were attacked on the 22nd of May; they repulsed their opponents, who were forced to retire with the loss of seven pieces of artillery. The loss of the SEVENTH on this occasion was limited to one troop horse.