The History of Henry Esmond, Esq., a Colonel in the Service of Her Majesty Queen AnneThackeray, William Makepeace
History
The History of Henry Esmond, Esq., a Colonel in the Service of Her Majesty Queen Anne
Thackeray, William Makepeace
Great Britain -- History -- Anne, 1702-1714 -- Fiction; Historical fiction
On the 2nd of July his Grace stormed the post, with what success on our
part need scarce be told. His Grace advanced with six thousand foot,
English and Dutch, thirty squadrons, and three regiments of Imperial
Cuirassiers, the Duke crossing the river at the head of the cavalry.
Although our troops made the attack with unparalleled courage and
fury--rushing up to the very guns of the enemy, and being slaughtered
before their works--we were driven back many times, and should not have
carried them, but that the Imperialists came up under the Prince of
Baden, when the enemy could make no head against us: we pursued them
into the trenches, making a terrible slaughter there, and into the very
Danube, where a great part of his troops, following the example of their
generals, Count Darcos and the Elector himself, tried to save themselves
by swimming. Our army entered Donauwort, which the Bavarians evacuated;
and where 'twas said the Elector purposed to have given us a warm
reception, by burning us in our beds; the cellars of the houses, when we
took possession of them, being found stuffed with straw. But though the
links were there, the link-boys had run away. The townsmen saved their
houses, and our General took possession of the enemy's ammunition in the
arsenals, his stores, and magazines. Five days afterwards a great “Te
Deum” was sung in Prince Lewis's army, and a solemn day of thanksgiving
held in our own; the Prince of Savoy's compliments coming to his Grace
the Captain-General during the day's religious ceremony, and concluding,
as it were, with an Amen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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