The battle of Seneff.

French

quit the field.

perceiving how it had fared with some before me, I clapt my left leg upon the shoulders of one who was thus contending with another, and with a spring threw myself over both their heads and the hedge at the same time. By this means I not only saved my life, (for they were all cut to pieces that could not get over,) but from an eminence, which I soon after attained, I had an opportunity of seeing, and making my observations upon the remaining part of that glorious conflict.

It was from that advantageous situation, that I presently discovered that the Imperialists, who led the van, had now joined the main body. And, I confess, it was with an almost inexpressible pleasure, that I beheld, about three o'clock, with what intrepid fury they fell upon the enemy. In short, both armies were universally engaged, and with great obstinacy disputed the victory till eleven at night. At which time the French, being pretty well surfeited, made their retreat. Nevertheless, to secure

it by a stratagem, they left their lighted matches hanging in the hedges, and waving with the air, to conceal it from the confederate army.

About two hours after, the confederate

forces followed the example of their ene-
mies, and drew off. And though neither
army
had much reason to boast, yet, as
the Prince of Orange remained last in the
field, and the French had lost what they
before had gained, the glory of the day fell
to the Prince of Orange; who, although
but twenty-four years of age, had the suf-
frage of friend and foe, of having played
the part of an old and experienced officer.
There were left that day on the field of
battle, by a general computation, not less
than eighteen thousand men on both sides,
over and above those who died of their
wounds: The loss being pretty equal, only
the French carried off most prisoners. Prince
Waldeck was shot through the arm, which
I was near enough to be an eye-witness of:
and my much lamented friend, Sir Walter

Confede

rate army

drawn off.

Vane, was carried off dead. A wound in the arm was all the mark of honour, that I as yet could boast of, though our cannon in the defiles had slain many near me.

The Prince of Condé (as we were next day informed) lay all that night under a hedge, wrapped in his cloak; and, either from the mortification of being disappointed in his hopes of victory, or from a reflection of the disservice, which his own natural over heat of temper had drawn upon him, was almost inconsolable many days after. And thus ended the famous battle

of Seneff.

But though common vogue has given it the name of a battle, in my weak opinion, it might rather deserve that of a confused skirmish; all things having been forcibly carried on without regularity, or even design enough to allow it any higher denomination for, as I have said before, notwithstanding I was advantageously stationed for observation, I found it very often impossible to distinguish one party

from another. And this was more remark- Prince of

ably evident on the part of the Prince of
Orange, whose valour and vigour having
led him into the middle of the
enemy, and
being then sensible of his error, by a pecu-
liar presence of mind, gave the word of
command in French, which he spoke per-
fectly well. But the French soldiers, who
took him for one of their own generals,
making answer, that their powder was all
spent, it afforded matter of instruction to
him to persist in his attack; at the same
time, that it gave him a lesson of caution,
to withdraw himself as soon as he could, to
his own troops.

Orange in

the midst French

of the

army.

Quarignan.

However, the day after, the Prince of Marches to
Orange thought proper to march to Qua-
rignan, a village within a league of Mons;
where he remained some days, till he could
be supplied from Brussels with those ne-
cessaries which his army stood in need of.
From thence we marched to Valenci-

ennes, where we again encamped, till we
could receive things proper for a siege.

Marches to
Valenci-

ennes, and

besieges

Oudenard.

Upon the arrival whereof, the Prince gave orders to decamp, and marched his army with a design to besiege Aeth. But having intelligence on our march, that the Mareschal De Humiers had reinforced that garrison, we marched directly to Oudenard, and immediately invested it.

This siege was carried on with such application and success, that the besiegers were in a few days ready for a storm; but the Prince of Condé prevented them, by coming up to its relief. Upon which the Prince of Orange, pursuant to the resolution of a council of war the night before, drew off his forces in order to give him battle; and to that purpose, after the laborious work of filling up our lines of contravallation, that the horse might pass more freely, we lay upon our arms all night. Next morning we expected the Imperial General, Count Souches, to join us; but instead of that, he sent back some very frivolous excuses, of the inconveniency of the ground for a battle; and after that, instead