"After being once more in the form of a regiment, we retired to a situation behind a wood where the enemy's shot and shells passed over us: here the regiment, about three hundred strong, was re-formed under the command of Colonel ----; we were then marched up to the slaughter afresh, and placed nearly in the centre of the enemy. On our right was the first brigade of cavalry, about the same in number as ourselves. On each side of us were some regiments of infantry formed in squares--some Hanoverian, some British. "Repeatedly during the evening we retired, either by orders given, or voluntarily after the charges were made. But whenever we were out of the fire of the enemy we faced about and resumed our former position. "The infantry squares did the same, but were also brought back to their positions; and I observed the officers in some of the Hanoverian regiments exerting themselves to the utmost to keep their men in order. We were twice led on by the Earl of Uxbridge, and charged the squares of the French infantry opposed to us, but were as often repulsed, losing about half our number every time. "The first time we charged, the first brigade of cavalry on our right charged at the same moment, and having received the fire of their square of infantry before we did ours, they wheeled about and charged as we advanced: so great was the confusion that the General commanding them rode up against me, I being on the left of our brigade, and he in the centre of his. "I said 'Bad work this.' He shook his head, which I construed into 'It's all over with us.' Just as this occurred, the French square opposite to us fired, and a great many of both brigades fell. This reminded me of an old Scotch poacher who always waited till two partridges 'clipt' before he fired, by clipt he meant, came so near that their wings touched each other.